Indoor Air Quality and COVID-19: A Scoping Review

Overview

Journal Public Health Rev

Specialty Public Health

Date 2024 Jan 26

PMID 38273885

Authors

Axelle Braggion

Adeline Dugerdil

Olwen Wilson

Francesca Hovagemyan

Antoine Flahault

Affiliations

Soon will be listed here.

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major public health concern for the past 3 years. Scientific evidence on the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and indoor air quality still needs to be demonstrated. This scoping review aims to study the association between air quality indoors and COVID-19. A scoping review analyzing the association between indoor air quality and epidemiological outcomes was conducted. Papers published between 1 January 2020 and 31 October 2022 were included. Hospital settings were excluded from the study. Eight relevant articles met the inclusion criteria. Indoor settings included workplaces, schools, restaurants, and public transport. Types of ventilation used to improve indoor air quality were dilution methods (opening windows) and mechanical systems with or without filtration or purifier. CO sensors were employed in one study. All the studies showed a positive association between indoor air quality and its improvement and epidemiological indicators. The findings of this scoping review indicate that indoor air quality, which can be improved with ventilation methods, may reduce the risk of developing COVID-19. Ventilation could thus be viewed as a possible effective mitigating method.

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