4 Comments
⭠ Return to thread

A lot of good information came out during the pandemic. I feel that the most important information has been loudly ignored - the need to have clean indoor air. Modern commercial and residential buildings are built to be energy efficient at the expense of environmental health. To compound this the WHO in the early phase of the pandemic categorically denied airborne transmission in April 2020 despite information presented by particle physicists. The WHO finally admitted that airborne transmission might be a form of transmission later in July

We now know that virus particles (COVID, Measles and more!) and bacteria (Tuberculosis) can remain suspended in the air for long periods, somewhat like tobacco smoke. The easiest way to crudely check room air quality is to measure room air CO2. I was shocked when I first did it in my study when I raised room air CO2 levels from 600 to 1000 ppm. Even more so in my busy veterinary practice when I saw levels go the 1300 ppm within an hour!

The real key to control and prevent respiratory virus/bacterial infections is to change or filter the air in all buildings. Don't ignore the benefits of vaccination, but if you want true overall "herd health", the goal of Epidemiologists, then we must work to improve the quality of indoor air to control many diseases.

I recommend the book: Healthy Buildings: How Indoor Spaces Drive Performance and Productivity, Allen & Macomber

Expand full comment

This seems like the simplest, least invasive solution. I immediately bought air purifiers for my classroom and rehearsal space. I open windows any chance I can.

Expand full comment

And indoor air quality is only getting worse as our buildings and housing stock ages!

Expand full comment

Yes, my best friend's son-in-law, Joe Allen, has been a major resource on the importance of clean air in buildings! I'm vicariously proud of him.

Expand full comment