Definition of an Indoor Air Sampling Strategy for SARS-CoV-2 Detection and Risk Management: Case Study in Kindergartens

• Published in: International journal of environmental research and public health Vol. 19; no. 12; p. 7406
• Main Authors: Borgese, Laura, Tomasoni, Giuseppe, Marciano, Filippo, Zacco, Annalisa, Bilo, Fabjola, Stefana, Elena, Cocca, Paola, Rossi, Diana, Cirelli, Paola, Ciribini, Angelo Luigi Camillo, Comai, Sara, Mastrolembo Ventura, Silvia, Savoldi Boles, Michela, Micheletti, Diletta, Cattivelli, Daniela, Galletti, Serena, Dubacq, Sophie, Perrone, Maria Grazia, Depero, Laura Eleonora
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Switzerland MDPI AG 16.06.2022; MDPI
• Subjects: Aerosols; Air monitoring; Air Pollution, Indoor - prevention & control; Air quality; Air quality standards; Air sampling; Case studies; Child; COVID-19 - diagnosis; Disease control; Efficiency; Health risks; Humans; Hygiene; Indoor air pollution; Indoor air quality; Indoor environments; Kindergarten; Legislation; Outdoor air quality; Risk management; SARS-CoV-2; Severe acute respiratory syndrome; Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2; Strategy; Ventilation; Viruses; COVID-19; bioaerosol sampling; standard guideline; droplet transmission; hazard identification; school; aerosol transmission; sampling plan; risk assessment and control
• ISSN: 1660-4601; 1661-7827; 1660-4601
• DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19127406

In the last two years, the world has been overwhelmed by SARS-CoV-2. One of the most important ways to prevent the spread of the virus is the control of indoor conditions: from surface hygiene to ventilation. Regarding the indoor environments, monitoring the presence of the virus in the indoor air seems to be promising, since there is strong evidence that airborne transmission through infected droplets and aerosols is its dominant transmission route. So far, few studies report the successful detection of SARS-CoV-2 in the air; moreover, the lack of a standard guideline for air monitoring reduces the uniformity of the results and their usefulness in the management of the risk of virus transmission. In this work, starting from a critical analysis of the existing standards and guidelines for indoor air quality, we define a strategy to set-up indoor air sampling plans for the detection of SARS-CoV-2. The strategy is then tested through a case study conducted in two kindergartens in the metropolitan city of Milan, in Italy, involving a total of 290 children and 47 teachers from 19 classrooms. The results proved its completeness, effectiveness, and suitability as a key tool in the airborne SARS-CoV-2 infection risk management process. Future research directions are then identified and discussed.