The Study of the Sterilization of the Indoor Air in Hospital/Clinic Rooms by Using the Electron Wind Generator

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health 2019-12, Vol.16 (24), p.4935
• Main Authors: Pastuszka, Józef S, Mucha, Walter, Wlazło, Agnieszka, Lis, Danuta, Marchwińska-Wyrwał, Ewa, Mainka, Anna
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air Microbiology; Air Pollution, Indoor - analysis; Airborne bacteria; Airborne microorganisms; Airborne particulates; Bacteria; Bacteria - isolation & purification; Bioaerosols; Carbon; Clinics; Electrons; Environmental Monitoring; Fungi; Fungi - isolation & purification; Hospitals; Human behavior; Humans; Indoor air pollution; Indoor air quality; Indoor environments; Inhalation; Microorganisms; Nosocomial infections; Ozone; Particle size distribution; Respiration; Respiratory tract; Size distribution; Sterilization - methods; Ventilation; Wind
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16244935

(1) Background: Since exposure to airborne bacteria and fungi may be especially hazardous in hospitals and outpatient clinics, it is essential to sterilize the air in such rooms. The purpose of this study was to estimate the decrease in the concentration of airborne bacteria and fungi in the selected hospital and clinic rooms due to the work of the electron wind generator (EWG). (2) Methods: EWG is an air movement and air purification device using a sophisticated combination of electrode topology and specially designed high-voltage power supply. (3) Results: The concentration of both bacteria and fungi in the small patient's room dropped to approximately 25% of the initial (background) concentration. In the larger patient's room, the concentration dropped to 50% and 80% of the background concentration for bacteria and fungi, respectively. (4) Conclusions: The obtained data show that the studied sterilization process can be described by the exponential function of time. Moreover, the application of an activated carbon filter into EWG significantly decreases the concentration of ozone in the sterilized room. Sterilization by EWG significantly changes the characteristic of species and genera of airborne bacteria and shifts the main peak of the size distribution of airborne bacteria into the coarser bio-particles.