A risk assessment scheme of infection transmission indoors incorporating the impact of resuspension

You, S. and Wan, M. P. (2015) A risk assessment scheme of infection transmission indoors incorporating the impact of resuspension. Risk Analysis, 35(8), pp. 1488-1502. (doi: 10.1111/risa.12350)

Full text not currently available from Enlighten.

Abstract

A new risk assessment scheme was developed to quantify the impact of resuspension to infection transmission indoors. Airborne and surface pathogenic particle concentration models including the effect of two major resuspension scenarios (airflow-induced particle resuspension [AIPR] and walking-induced particle resuspension [WIPR]) were derived based on two-compartment mass balance models and validated against experimental data found in the literature. The inhalation exposure to pathogenic particles was estimated using the derived airborne concentration model, and subsequently incorporated into a dose-response model to assess the infection risk. Using the proposed risk assessment scheme, the influences of resuspension towards indoor infection transmission were examined by two hypothetical case studies. In the case of AIPR, the infection risk increased from 0 to 0.54 during 0–0.5 hours and from 0.54 to 0.57 during 0.5–4 hours. In the case of WIPR, the infection risk increased from 0 to 0.87 during 0–0.5 hours and from 0.87 to 1 during 0.5–4 hours. Sensitivity analysis was conducted based on the design-of-experiments method and showed that the factors that are related to the inspiratory rate of viable pathogens and pathogen virulence have the most significant effect on the infection probability under the occurrence of AIPR and WIPR. The risk assessment scheme could serve as an effective tool for the risk assessment of infection transmission indoors.

Item Type:Articles
Status:Published
Refereed:Yes
Glasgow Author(s) Enlighten ID:You, Dr Siming
Authors: You, S., and Wan, M. P.
College/School:College of Science and Engineering > School of Engineering > Systems Power and Energy
Journal Name:Risk Analysis
Publisher:Wiley
ISSN:0272-4332
ISSN (Online):1539-6924
Published Online:24 March 2015

University Staff: Request a correction | Enlighten Editors: Update this record