Evaluation of PM2.5 in Indoor and Outdoor Orchestra Setting Using Low-Cost PM Sensor Network during Live Orchestra Performance

SHRUTI CHOUDHARY, Stephen Liang, Pratim Biswas, University of Miami

     Abstract Number: 223
     Working Group: Aerosol Science of Infectious Diseases: What We Have Learned and Still Need to Know about Transmission, Prevention, and the One Health Concept

Abstract
With the onset of the COVID-19 pandemic, the airborne transmission of viral particles had raised significant concerns regarding the safety of musicians and audiences during musical activities involving playing wind instruments. Currently, there is a lack of real-world data showing the change in particle concentration while playing wind instruments during live orchestra performances that relate to particle emission while playing wind instruments. In this study, we collaborated with St. Louis Symphony orchestra (an indoor setting) and the MUNY (An outdoor, semi-indoor setting) to study the change in particle concentration on a real-time scale using a network of low-cost particulate matter (PM) sensors. Large PM data sets were recorded in different orchestra configurations- a). Indoor vs. Outdoor configuration, b) Position of instruments in the orchestra, c) Woodwind instrument performance vs. brass instruments performance. We found that changes in particle concentration highly depend on the duration of the instrument being played along with the articulation level. We also found that appropriate ventilation in indoor spaces can reduce the time of aerosol lingering in the air. Moreover, the use of partitions in an orchestra setting was also evaluated for the protection of musicians and the audience from the brass wind instrument aerosol emissions. Overall, the findings of this study can provide insights into infectious aerosol risk analysis, and aerosol mitigation strategies for the protection of musicians and a larger audience. Additionally, this study also suggests the use of low-cost PM sensors to address the issues of airborne transmission of infectious diseases in environments where sophisticated particle measuring instruments cannot be used [1,2].

[1] Prakash, J., et al. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association,71(11), pp1347-1360, 2021.
[2] Choudhary, S., et al. Journal of Infection control and hospital epidemiology, in press, 2022.