Various countries’ governments now require people to isolate themselves at home to cooperate with epidemic prevention and control. During this period, they must wear masks to prevent and control them. How should scientific protection be effectively carried out indoors? During the epidemic, how can you use an air purifier to help you protect against viruses?
At the press conference on epidemic prevention and control held in Shanghai, news about the spread of the new crown virus by “aerosols” aroused widespread public concern. Through research, the main transmission route of the new coronavirus is respiratory transmission and contact transmission. The team of Academician Zhong Nanshan and Academician Li Lanjuan respectively detected and isolated the new coronavirus from the stool of patients with new coronary pneumonia. However, there is no evidence that it can be transmitted through fecal-oral route or aerosol. Although it is still officially proved that the new coronavirus can be transmitted through aerosols, pay more attention to it, there is always no harm.
Next, OLANSI will take you a big reveal and see how the air purifier fights viruses and other pollution sources. This starts with a core component of the air purifier-the filter element.
At present, most airifiers on the market use a filter purification method. The working principle is that the built-in fan draws indoor air into the machine, and the inhaled air is filtered through the built-in filter, as long as the built-in filter has a smaller aperture than the microorganisms. Diameter, and can filter out pollution sources in the air. Among the filters used in air purifiers on the market, the most used and most common is the HEPA filter, which is also the high efficiency filter. It is currently recognized as one of the best high-efficiency filter materials in the world, and is generally made of polypropylene or other composite materials. It was initially used in high-cleanliness places such as precision laboratories, pharmaceutical production, atomic research, and surgical operations.
The HEPA filter uses interception, gravity, airflow and van der Waals forces to filter pollutants. Fine particles like “haze” will settle on the HEPA filter at a relatively low speed under the action of its gravity.
According to information released by the Institute for Viral Disease Control and Prevention of the Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention on January 24, the size of the new coronavirus is about 100 nanometers, which is similar to the size of the H1N1 virus, which is 80 nanometers to 120 nanometers in size. It can be attached to carriers such as droplets, saliva, dust, etc., and the droplets are larger than 5 microns in diameter. Ordinary medical surgical masks can block particles larger than 4 microns in diameter. This is why masks can effectively block droplets, reduce the chance of airborne infections, and become one of the most effective personal protection methods.
According to EU standards, according to the level of HEPA filtration efficiency, HEPA filters can be classified into fine grades. A HEPA filter that can reach the H12 level means that the filtration efficiency for 0.3 micron particles is higher than 99.97%. If the air purifier is equipped with a high-efficiency HEPA filter with an antibacterial coating of H12 or higher, it can filter out the H1N1 influenza virus with a diameter similar to the new coronavirus, so theoretically it will also play a role in the new coronavirus. Certain filtering effect.
The air purifier has a certain filtering effect on the new coronavirus, purifying the air and preventing cross-infection when there are too many people. This also gives us a new understanding of air purifiers, which are no longer just home appliances for dealing with “smoggy” weather.
When consumers buy air purifiers, they should buy air purifiers that meet national standards and try to buy air purifiers that use MERV16 or H12 or higher high-efficiency HEPA filters with antibacterial functions. Pay attention to its placement during use. If possible, place it in the center of the room. Don’t let it close to the wall to ensure that the machine enters and exits smoothly and unobstructed, so as to improve indoor air circulation.
Finally, OLANSI reminds you again that during the epidemic, although air purifiers are helpful, you must remember to open windows regularly every day for ventilation if you stay at home for a long time.
