lnstitut für Sensorik und Elektronik
Dauerhafte URI für die Sammlunghttps://irf.fhnw.ch/handle/11654/28068
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Publikation Air cleaners and respiratory infections in schools. A modeling study using epidemiological, environmental, and molecular data(Oxford University Press, 30.12.2023) Banholzer, Nicolas; Jent, Philipp; Bittel, Pascal; Zürcher, Kathrin; Furrer, Lavinia; Bertschinger, Simon; Weingartner, Ernest; Ramette, Alban; Egger, Matthias; Hascher, Tina; Fenner, LukasAbstractBackgroundUsing a multiple-measurement approach, we examined the real-world effectiveness of portable HEPA-air filtration devices (air cleaners) in a school setting.MethodsWe collected environmental (CO2, particle concentrations), epidemiological (absences related to respiratory infections), audio (coughing), and molecular data (bioaerosol and saliva samples) over seven weeks during winter 2022/2023 in two Swiss secondary school classes. Using a cross-over study design, we compared particle concentrations, coughing, and the risk of infection with vs without air cleaners.ResultsAll 38 students (age 13−15 years) participated. With air cleaners, mean particle con-centration decreased by 77% (95% credible interval 63%−86%). There were no differences in CO2levels. Absences related to respiratory infections were 22 without vs 13 with air cleaners. Bayesian modeling suggested a reduced risk of infection, with a posterior probability of 91% and a relative risk of 0.73 (95% credible interval 0.44−1.18). Coughing also tended to be less frequent (posterior probability 93%). Molecular analysis detected mainly non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses in saliva (50/448 positive), but not in bioaerosols (2/105 positive) or HEPA-filters (4/160). The detection rate was similar with vs without air cleaners. Spatiotemporal analysis of positive saliva samples identified several likely transmissions.ConclusionsAir cleaners improved air quality, showed a potential benefit in reducing respiratory infections, and were associated with less coughing. Airborne detection of non-SARS-CoV-2 viruses was rare, suggesting that these viruses may be more difficult to detect in the air. Future studies should examine the importance of close contact and long-range transmission, and the cost-effectiveness of using air cleaners.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher ZeitschriftPublikation Interdisziplinäre Perspektiven zur Bedeutung der Aerosolübertragung für das Infektionsgeschehen von SARS-CoV-2(Thieme, 2022) Held, Andreas; Dellweg, Dominic; Köhler, Dieter; Pfaender, Stephanie; Scheuch, Gerhard; Schumacher, Stefan; Steinmann, Eike; Weingartner, Ernest; Weinzierl, Bernadett; Asbach, ChristofDie Bedeutung der Aerosolübertragung für das Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus Type 2 (SARS-CoV-2) wurde anfangs kontrovers diskutiert. Mit der Zeit haben sich zur Infektionsminderung jedoch neben Abstands- und Hygieneregeln auch aerosolphysikalisch begründete Maßnahmen wie das Tragen von Gesichtsmasken und Lüftung von Innenräumen als effektiv erwiesen. In einem interdisziplinären Workshop „Aerosol & SARS-CoV-2“ der Gesellschaft für Aerosolforschung (GAeF) in Kooperation mit der Deutschen Gesellschaft für Pneumologie und Beatmungsmedizin (DGP), dem Fachverband Allgemeine Lufttechnik im VDMA, der Gesellschaft für Virologie (GfV), der Gesundheitstechnischen Gesellschaft (GG) und der International Society for Aerosols in Medicine (ISAM) unter der Schirmherrschaft des Robert-Koch-Instituts (RKI) im März 2021 wurde der Forschungs- und Abstimmungsbedarf zu diesem Thema aufgegriffen. Wesentliche Grundlagen aus den verschiedenen Disziplinen sowie interdisziplinäre Perspektiven zur Aerosolübertragung von SARS-CoV-2 und zu infektionsmindernden Maßnahmen werden hier zusammengefasst. Abschließend werden offene Forschungsfragen und dringender Forschungsbedarf dargestellt.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher ZeitschriftPublikation The organic coating unit, an all-in-one system for reproducible generation of secondary organic aerosol(06.09.2022) Keller, Alejandro; Kalbermatter, Daniel; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Wolfer, Katherin; Resch, Julian; Kalberer, Markus; Hammer, Tobias; Vasilatou, Konstantina06 - PräsentationPublikation Employment of novel tools for the continuous characterization of the carbonaceous fraction in ambient aerosol(13.09.2021) Keller, Alejandro; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Weingartner, Ernest06 - PräsentationPublikation Performance of the new continuous carbonaceous aerosol measurement system FATCAT during long term unattended measurement campaigns(23.06.2021) Keller, Alejandro; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Weingartner, Ernest06 - PräsentationPublikation High resolution unattended particle-bound total carbon measurements and source identification at the Jungfraujoch global GAW station(2021) Keller, Alejandro; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Weingartner, Ernest06 - PräsentationPublikation High resolution unattended particle-bound total carbon measurements and source identification at the Jungfraujoch global GAW station(18.05.2021) Keller, Alejandro; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Weingartner, ErnestTotal aerosol carbonaceous mass (TC) is a major constituent of atmospheric fine aerosol not yet continuously monitored with adequate time resolution. Adding a TC measurement to existing measurement programs is crucial for comprehensive interpretation of the impact of aerosols. To fill this gap, we developed the “fast thermal carbon totalizator” (FATCAT) for long-term unsupervised monitoring of TC. FATCAT has been deployed since 2019 at diverse sites including the Jungfraujoch global GAW station (JFJ). FATCAT collects particles on a metallic filter, and subsequently heats it to 800°C under an oxidizing atmosphere. The limit of detection is LoD=0.2 µg of carbon (µg-C). At the reduced atmospheric pressure of the JFJ, which limits the sampling flow, this corresponds to TC=0.3 µg-C/m3 using a time resolution of two hours. We discuss our experience during the first two year of continuous TC measurements and the possibility of using our instrument to distinguish carbonaceous aerosol from different source using fast, 50 seconds, thermograms. This unique feature allows us to identify source specific fingerprints. Several high TC episodes during September 2020 at JFJ show the typical pattern for biomass combustion. Back trajectories attribute them to long-range transported emissions from Californian wildfires. Graphitic carbon from, e.g., local fossil fuel combustion evolves at higher temperatures. The data collected at the JFJ is already the longest produced TC dataset for this site without instrument related interruptions. The dataset generated by our instrument and post-analysis data products represent an improvement to the available measurement inventory. It can serve as quality control for other measurement systems. Prominently, measurements of eBC via MAAP or Aethalometer and organic mass using ToF-ACSM. TC data can be used in parallel to these devices as a quality check, and to warrant carbon mass closure and reduce systematic biases.06 - PräsentationPublikation The organic coating unit, an all-in-one system for reproducible generation of secondary organic matter aerosol(Taylor & Francis, 18.08.2022) Keller, Alejandro; Kalbermatter, Daniel M.; Wolfer, Kate; Specht, Patrick; Steigmeier, Peter; Resch, Julian; Kalberer, Markus; Hammer, Tobias; Vasilatou, KonstantinaWe report on a novel automated oxidation flow reactor to generate a wide variety of organic aerosol samples. The instrument is equipped with a humidifier, a dosing system for volatile organic precursors and an oxidation flow reactor (OFR) for generation of secondary organic matter (SOM). The instrument, known as organic coating unit (OCU), can produce homogeneously nucleated SOM particles or, used in combination with a standard combustion generator (e.g., a diffusion flame soot generator or any other seed particle), particles coated with a controlled amount of SOM. The physical and chemical properties of the generated particles can be controlled in a simple manner by selecting through a touch-screen target values for parameters, such as organic gaseous precursor concentration, humidity, and UV (ultraviolet) light intensity. Parameters and measured quantities are automatically stored in text files for easy export and analysis. Furthermore, we provide stable operation conditions and characterize the physicochemical properties of the generated aerosols with an array of methods, including transmission electron microscopy (TEM), thermal-optical analysis and liquid chromatography coupled with mass spectrometry (LC-MS). This all-in-one instrument is robust, compact, portable, and user-friendly, making it ideal for laboratory or field-based aerosol studies.01A - Beitrag in wissenschaftlicher ZeitschriftPublikation signalflowgrapher(2020) Schmid, HanspeterThe signalflowgrapher is a tool that allows you to draw signal-flow graphs, calculate transfer functions (SymPy code is generated for further use in Jupyter notebooks), do graph manipulations (e.g., node elimination and graph transposition), and save a graph as TikZ for use in LaTeX documentation.09 - Software