
handle: 10044/1/101306
Indoor, airborne, transmission of SARS-CoV-2 is a key infection route. We monitored fourteen different indoor spaces in order to assess the risk of SARS-CoV-2 transmission. PM2.5 and CO2 concentrations were simultaneously monitored in order to understand aerosol exposure and ventilation conditions. Average PM2.5 concentrations were highest in the underground station (261 ± 62.8 μgm−3), followed by outpatient and emergency rooms in hospitals located near major arterial roads (38.6 ± 20.4 μgm−3), the respiratory wards, medical day units and intensive care units recorded concentrations in the range of 5.9 to 1.1 μgm−3. Mean CO2 levels across all sites did not exceed 1000 ppm, the respiratory ward (788 ± 61 ppm) and the pub (bar) (744 ± 136 ppm) due to high occupancy. The estimated air change rates implied that there is sufficient ventilation in these spaces to manage increased levels of occupancy. The infection probability in the medical day unit of hospital 3, was 1.6-times and 2.2-times higher than the emergency and outpatient waiting rooms in hospitals 4 and 5, respectively. The temperature and relative humidity recorded at most sites was below 27 °C, and 40% and, in sites with high footfall and limited air exchange, such as the hospital medical day unit, indicate a high risk of airborne SARS-CoV-2 transmission.
exhaled CO<sub>2</sub>, SARS-CoV-2, Coronaviruses, 610, 37 Earth Sciences, FOS: Health sciences, 3702 Climate Change Science, air change rates, Infectious Diseases, Emerging Infectious Diseases, indoor air sampling, Meteorology. Climatology, SARS-CoV-2; airborne transmission; air change rates; exhaled CO<sub>2</sub>; indoor air sampling, 3701 Atmospheric Sciences, 2.2 Factors relating to the physical environment, airborne transmission, 0401 Atmospheric Sciences, 0502 Environmental Science and Management, QC851-999, Infection, Lung
exhaled CO<sub>2</sub>, SARS-CoV-2, Coronaviruses, 610, 37 Earth Sciences, FOS: Health sciences, 3702 Climate Change Science, air change rates, Infectious Diseases, Emerging Infectious Diseases, indoor air sampling, Meteorology. Climatology, SARS-CoV-2; airborne transmission; air change rates; exhaled CO<sub>2</sub>; indoor air sampling, 3701 Atmospheric Sciences, 2.2 Factors relating to the physical environment, airborne transmission, 0401 Atmospheric Sciences, 0502 Environmental Science and Management, QC851-999, Infection, Lung
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