What does this research mean for the field?

Low-cost CO2 and particulate matter sensors can effectively track variations in indoor air quality driven by ventilation, occupancy, and season, serving as practical tools to assess ventilation adequacy and mitigate airborne infection risk in classrooms. Novelty: ClaimNovelty.INCREMENTAL. Consensus alignment: ConsensusAlignment.NEUTRAL.

May 30, 2026Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering0 citationsOpen Access

Mitigating indoor risk of airborne infections using CO2 and PM measurements in university classroom: the MIRAI project

RMRiccardo Mazzoli TFTommaso Filippini GGGrazia Ghermandi

Key Points

Key points are not available for this paper at this time.

Abstract

Abstract Background Indoor air quality (IAQ) impacts well-being and the spread of airborne diseases, particularly in multi-occupancy environments like classrooms. Carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) and particulate matter (PM) levels have been used in continuous monitoring as indicators of indoor air quality. Methods We used cost-effective sensors to assess levels of CO2 and PM in two Italian university classrooms (Unit 1 and Unit 2), differing in size and ventilation, from March 2022 to May 2023. For CO2 and PM monitoring we used respectively ARANET4 sensors and Optical Particle Counters (OPC) assessing aerosol diameter size distribution between 350 nm and 40 μm in order to evaluate trends in IAQ and the influence of environmental factors including ventilation, occupancy, and season. Results The naturally ventilated classroom (Unit 1) exhibited higher CO2 and PM concentrations with greater variability, whereas the HVAC-supported one (Unit 2) maintained more consistent air quality but faced occasional spikes. Occupancy also affected CO2 and PM levels, with higher variability in Unit 1 characterized by lower size and generally full occupancy. Seasonal trends highlighted increased PM levels during colder months due to reduced ventilation in both units. Conclusions In this feasibility study, variations in building design, ventilation strategies, and occupancy dynamics were associated with corresponding patterns in IAQ, supporting the use of low-cost, user-friendly sensors as practical tools to characterize ventilation performance and to inform interventions aimed at safer learning spaces. Implementation of CO2 and PM measurements as proxy indicators of ventilation adequacy and of potential airborne infection risk, along with outreach programs and guidelines to educate teachers and students about relevance of IAQ assessment is recommended to promote occupant health and mitigate risk of airborne disease transmission.

问 AI

Bookmark

View Full Paper