Extracted Data From: Efficacy of Portable Air Cleaners and Masking for Reducing Indoor Exposure to Simulated Exhaled SARS-CoV-2 Aerosols — United States, 2021

This submission includes publicly available data extracted in its original form. Please reference the Related Publication listed here for source and citation information If you have questions or recommendations related to this metadata entry and extracted data, please contact the CAFE Data Management team at: [e-mail]. If you have questions about the underlying data stored here, please contact Health Effects Laboratory Division, Allergy and Clinical Immunology Branch at [e-mail]. "SARS-CoV-2 can be spread by droplets and aerosols expelled by infected people when they cough, talk, sing, or exhale. To reduce exposure to these droplets and aerosols while indoors, CDC recommends measures including physical distancing, universal mask wearing, and room ventilation. Ventilation systems can be supplemented with portable air cleaners to remove infectious material from the air more quickly and provide greater protection. We conducted a case study using respiratory simulators to examine the efficacy of portable High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) air cleaners and universal masking at reducing exposure to simulated exhaled aerosol particles from an infected meeting participant in a conference room. We found that, in a room with good air mixing, the use of two HEPA air cleaners meeting the EPA recommended Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) reduced the overall exposure by up to 65%, and that the combination of the HEPA air cleaners and universal masking reduced exposure by up to 90%. The air cleaners were most effective when they were close to the aerosol source. Our results demonstrate that portable HEPA cleaners can be an effective method to reduce exposure to airborne particles while meeting indoors, especially in combination with universal masking." [Quote from https://data.cdc.gov/National-Institute-for-Occupational-Safety-and-Hea/Efficacy-of-Portable-Air-Cleaners-and-Masking-for-/wtvk-6zfr/about_data] >