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The SARS-CoV-2 pandemic has underscored the critical importance of ventilation in mitigating indoor airborne pathogen transmission. Numerous studies have consistently observed aerosol transmission in poorly ventilated environments. This article aims to comprehensively review the distribution of respiratory and non-respiratory airborne contaminants across various mechanical and natural ventilation systems, identify the features of different ventilation systems, evaluate their performance in diverse contexts, and highlight their primary limitations and advantages. A total of ten mechanical ventilation systems and three natural ventilation systems were reviewed. Our analysis reveals that the efficiency of these ventilation systems varies significantly based on specific room contexts and the diverse assessment criteria employed. However, as a general trend, mixing ventilation (MV) and diffuse ceiling ventilation exhibit the highest contaminant concentrations and infection risk, while stratum ventilation consistently yields the lowest contamination levels. Notably, laminar airflow ventilation is predominantly employed in cleanrooms, and limited research has been conducted on intermittent ventilation (IV). For natural ventilation systems, window-integrated fans and cost-effective architectural modifications, such as optimizing window placement and dimensions, significantly enhance the effectiveness of cross ventilation (CV) in reducing indoor contaminants. Single-sided ventilation (SSV) consistently demonstrates poorer indoor air quality compared to MV and CV, necessitating additional air cleaning devices. Research on the efficacy of windcatcher ventilation in mitigating respiratory particle emissions is limited. Consequently, specific recommendations are provided for each ventilation method to minimize the transmission of contaminants into occupants' breathing zones. Finally, this review identifies research trends and underscores existing knowledge gaps within each ventilation mode.
Al-Rikabi et al. (Fri,) studied this question.