Air Quality Sensing – Aerosols in the room – research says it’s in the air
Because social distancing offers safety-in these unprecedented times, we offer a smart sensor that can assist us be smarter in the fight of COVID and other infectious agents. Because air quality can be compromised with pollutants, bacteria and viruses -which opens risk to Public Safety- we included an air quality sensor in each device to look at various levels of air particles and alert on severe density.
Through the AI backed smart processing- there is intelligence to alarm on severe air quality when pollutants are present. Air quality levels and aerosols in the air are monitored to ensure safe clear and clean air. Smart devices can measure and can be utilized to let us know conditions we can’t see. The smart sensors can be set to alert in response against VOCs and the possibility of harmful substances lingering in dense air space.
The devices also offer continuous monitoring for VOCs Volatile Organic Compounds, that affect what we inhale. The sophisticated ” nose detection” system includes detection of carbon monoxide, harmful gases, level of pollutants, and aerosol density.
Air Quality Sensing-Semi-enclosed environments
Why it’s so important
Two studies published in Clinical Infectious Diseases highlight the role of airborne contaminants and the importance of efficient ventilation systems. One study found that patients can exhale millions of viral RNA particles per hour in the early stages of disease, and the second tied an outbreak affecting 81% of residents and 50% of healthcare workers at a Dutch nursing home to inadequate ventilation.
Breath samples from two patients were positive for coronavirus RNA, but surface swabs of their cell phones, hands, and toilets were negative.
Transmission vs Ventilation
The research letter was written in support of findings of a study published in the same journal on Jul 6 warning of the hazards of airborne pathogen transmission in poorly ventilated environments.
“We advise that prevention of COVID-19 transmission should take into account the possibility of aerosol transmission in healthcare facilities and other buildings where ventilation systems recirculate unfiltered inside air,” the authors of the Aug 28 study wrote.
As new regulations for public safety emerge the KMS-TI smart sensor is purpose built to alert to unsafe conditions.
The lack of universal recognition that COVID-19 is transmitted via airborne particles, along with unclear infection-prevention recommendations, has led to a false sense of security that is putting the public at risk—especially amid reopening’s of workplaces, schools, and colleges, according to a research letter published Clinical Infectious Diseases.
Managing Air Quality – Ambient Air Monitoring
Building Health is an important topic in 2022. Proper HVAC systems filtration is extremely important. Because many types of materials are mass produced, utilizing inexpensive additives, these materials can cause pollutants into the air. It is more evident than before, as supply chain forces various construction shortcuts; to ensure that off gassing of materials is not a concern.
Older legacy buildings being subject to new efficiency requirements, are pushing refurbishments and construction upgrades. The environmental envelope can now be monitored before during and after -to avoid risks to public health or safety.
Air Quality Management -EPA Guidelines
Ambient air monitoring is an integral part of an effective air quality management system. Reasons to collect such data include to:
- assess the extent of pollution
- provide air pollution data to the general public in a timely manner
- support implementation of air quality goals or standards
- evaluate the effectiveness of emissions control strategies
- provide information on air quality trends
- provide data for the evaluation of air quality models; and
- support research (e.g., long-term studies of the health effects of air pollution).
There are different methods to measure any given pollutant.
Alternate E Source has developed a monitoring strategy to examine the options and determine which methods are most appropriate, taking into account the main uses of the data, initial investment costs for equipment, operating costs, reliability of systems, and ease of operation.
The locations for monitoring stations depend on the purpose of the monitoring. Most air quality monitoring networks are designed to support human health objectives, and monitoring stations are established in population centers.
Focusing on Air Quality
We focus on locations of particular concern (e.g., a school, hospital, airports, particular emissions sources), and offer monitoring stations to determine background pollution levels, away from urban areas and emissions sources. We combine expertise and technology to offer test results and data reporting to verify compliance to public safety standards.
Alternate E Source specializes in utilizing IoT technology to mitigate risk. The mission is to assist in keeping people safe and building health “risk free” as we leverage next generation toolsets and know how.
The Multi-Sensor KMS -TI: assists in keeping track- of the very air we breathe.
