Publication: Experimental measurements of the exposure to exhaled contaminants from different breathing modes
Date
2018
Editor
Director
Advisor
Coordinator
Commentator
Reviewer
Illustrator
Access rights
info:eu-repo/semantics/openAccess
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
SIY Indoor Air Information Oy
Abstract
This experimental study analyses the contaminants exposure of a health worker (HW) to the contaminants exhaled by a lying patient (P) inside a hospital room using breathing thermal manikins. The two possible exhalation ways of P, though the nose (N) or through the mouth (M) are considered while HW always inhales through its nose. In addition, two different respiration functions are tested for P breathing, one corresponding to a 1,8 m height and 80 kg weight male (H) and another corresponding to a 1,5 m height and 50 kg weight female (L). The room is ventilated using a mixing ventilation strategy with 6 ACH as ventilation rate. A tracer gas (R134A) is used to surrogate the contaminants emitted through P exhalation, being the only source of contaminants inside the room. Using field measurements
data, the value of contaminant exposure (𝑒𝐻𝑊𝑐) and the intake fraction (𝐼𝐹) are obtained together with the peak concentration intensity and frequency as the indices to compare the different experimental combinations. Results are intended to be extrapolated, considering the limitations, to the possible exposition of HW to the pathogens released by P exhalation.
Description
UNESCO Categories
Keywords
hospital, human breathing, personal exposure, exhalation airway, breathing functions
Citation
Berlanga, F. A., Olmedo, I., & Ruiz de Adana, M. (2018). Experimental measurements of the exposure to exhaled contaminants from different breathing modes. En R. Kosonen, M. Ahola, & J. Narvanne (Eds.), Roomvent and Ventilation 2018 (pp. 685-690). SIY Indoor Air Information Oy.
Center
Facultades y escuelas::E.T.S. de Ingenieros Industriales
Department
Mecánica