Page 48 - spaces4learning, Fall 2021

spaces4learning K-12 COLUMN
KEYS TO COMPREHENSIVE
HEALTH AWARENESS IN
YOUR BUILDING
Five key factors prevent spread of infectious disease.
By Jonathan Antar
COVID-19 and many other viruses are thought to spread mainly from person to person through respiratory droplets and aerosols in the air. Studies suggest that emissions from people can span a room and be pulled into air circulation systems
in just a few seconds. A strong
air-monitoring and air-man-
agement strategy can make the
difference between a healthy
environment and one in which
disease easily spreads.
The HALO Smart Sensor is
a key component in the solution
to providing a low-risk environment. HALO monitors Carbon Dioxide (CO2), Particulate, Humidity, Volatile Organic Com- pounds (VOCs) and Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) in the air. These five key factors make up the HALO Health Index, which
can be used to identify the risk level of spreading infectious diseases:
• Key Factor #1: Don’t breathe someone else's air. Elevated
carbon dioxide (CO2) levels are a direct indicator of inadequate ventilation. Rising carbon dioxide levels increase the prob- ability of spreading infections diseases like COVID-19 and influenza. HALO is able to determine the percentage of air that has been exhaled by one or more people and then inhaled by another person by identifying corresponding CO2 levels.
• Key Factor #2: Remove the vehicles that viruses use to travel from person to person. Particulates in the air can con- tain payloads of a virus. The further they penetrate the respira-
tory system, the more effectively the virus is delivered. Vaping, dust, smoke, pollen, sneezing and coughing are just some of the ways that particulates can be introduced into the air.
• Key Factor #3: Protect your lungs from irritation.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted as vapors from certain solids or liquids
KNOW THE RISK FOR THE SPREAD OF INFECTIOUS DISEASE.
and include a variety of chem- icals. VOCs are seen often in cleaning supplies, adhesives, paints and air fresheners. These are irritants to your respiratory system and can make a person more susceptible to infection.
With increased cleaning frequency and alternate cleaning processes, it can be easy to overlook the effects of having these chemicals in the air we breathe.
• Key Factor #4: Maintain ideal relative humidity: Rela-
tive humidity (RH) influences how long particulates remain suspended and how long a virus can survive in the air. An RH below 40% allows for particulates carrying a virus payload to remain suspended for longer periods of time. Similarly, an RH above 60% allows a virus to live longer in the air. Keep the RH within the 40%-60% range in indoor spaces to reduce infection.
• Key Factor #5: Protect your lungs and circulatory sys- tem: Nitrogen dioxide (NO2) is an ambient trace-gas caused by urban combustion. According to the EPA, breathing air with a high concentration of NO2 can irritate airways in the human respiratory system. Such exposures over short periods can aggravate respiratory diseases, particularly asthma,
48 FALL 2021 | spaces4learning.com