AAAR 37th Annual Conference October 14 - October 18, 2019 Oregon Convention Center Portland, Oregon, USA
Abstract View
Modeling the Impact of Ventilation Control Strategies on Airborne Infectious Disease Transmission in Schools
SANGEETHA KUMAR, Atila Novoselac, Richard Corsi, The University of Texas at Austin
Abstract Number: 893 Working Group: Control and Mitigation Technology
Abstract This study provides a detailed methodology for assessing the impact of ventilation control strategies on airborne infectious disease, specifically influenza, in schools. A school’s indoor environmental quality is known to have an effect on student performance, productivity, and health. Public school systems can incur losses due to sickness-related missed school days. Given the growing evidence that airborne transmission is of importance to influenza, increased ventilation control strategies can be employed to reduce flu-like illnesses. A simulation framework was developed to assess the costs and benefits of airborne disease infection and ventilation energy usage in schools using CO2 as a measure of ventilation and exposure. The probability of influenza infection in a classroom was approximated by using data from a field campaign in Central Texas schools, reported epidemiological data, and a model developed by Rudnick and Milton (2003). The model is highly dependent on the quanta generation rate or the generation rate of airborne infectious doses of influenza. A fractional removal term was developed to correct for filtration and depositional losses of the infectious quanta generated by the infector. Ventilation energy requirements and associated outdoor air conditioning were estimated using air exchange rates and environmental quality conditions indoors (from the field study) and outdoors. To assess the variability in input parameters, Monte Carlo simulations were performed for varying control strategies, mechanical system types, and fractional removal terms for the peak flu season of December to February. Given the relatively low cost of energy for Central Texas, a hot and humid climate, mild to moderate increases in ventilation rates may prove beneficial for the well-being of students and staff. School systems may strongly benefit from this analysis to make better decisions on ventilating classrooms to reduce financial losses due to sickness related absences during the flu season.