A Study to Measure the Settlement Velocity and the Rate of Accumulation of Standard Dust

Abstract

Healthcare and construction professionals maintain that understanding the extent of infection control measures to be taken to protect immunosuppressed and other types of patients from airborne infection agents during construction is crucial knowledge. Aspergillus spores migrate alone and on dust particles. These particles can be transported to an immune compromised individual into a hospital from an adjacent construction zone which can be fatal. Aspergillosis - related fatalities due to dust transmission during construction activity has decreased with the improvement of antifungal therapy, but it is still a significant and ongoing health hazard.

This study reviewed the reasons responsible for Aspergillus related infections and the behavioral aspect of the dust particles carrying the Aspergillus spores. The results from the study indicated a linear regression of settlement of dust particles at normal velocity ranges. The settlement of dust particles decreases with increase in air flow velocities. The suggested future work, is to use similar wind tunnels to accurately identify the particles which remain suspended in the air and are the principal transport vectors for the Aspergillus spores.

This study reviewed the reasons responsible for Aspergillus related infections and the behavioral aspect of the dust particles carrying the Aspergillus spores. The results from the study indicated a linear regression of settlement of dust particles at normal velocity ranges. The settlement of dust particles decreases with increase in air flow velocities. The suggested future work, is to use similar wind tunnels to accurately identify the particles which remain suspended in the air and are the principal transport vectors for the Aspergillus spores.