@kprather88 I can share what I've been told so often over the years about why =>N95/FFP2 respirators/masks😷& filters may not "significantly" reduce⬇️ #AirPollution health risk. Some= valid points to consider:
1- health effects of varying concentrations of PM2.5 exposures aren't linear.
1/
1- health effects of varying concentrations of PM2.5 exposures aren't linear.
1/
@kprather88 cont...
2- they share poorly-designed studies in which too little filter surface area/efficiency/air flow rate is installed to provide enough cycles (i.e., air changes) per hour through filters for the space. When this is pointed out, they reply "solutions must be affordable" 2/
2- they share poorly-designed studies in which too little filter surface area/efficiency/air flow rate is installed to provide enough cycles (i.e., air changes) per hour through filters for the space. When this is pointed out, they reply "solutions must be affordable" 2/
@kprather88 cont...
When one highlights that affordability, while very valid, answers & takes us toward a policy question rather than simply answering "do filters work" to reduce exposure of occupants to outdoor/indoor #AirPollution, they continue to conflate the #IndoorAirQuality science 3/
When one highlights that affordability, while very valid, answers & takes us toward a policy question rather than simply answering "do filters work" to reduce exposure of occupants to outdoor/indoor #AirPollution, they continue to conflate the #IndoorAirQuality science 3/
@kprather88 Physicists/engineers/#IndoorAirQuality experts agree that the solution to #AirPollution requires us to adopt #healthy/#sustainable methods to stop pollution at the source. But, protection/prevention is a large part of what we can do to⬇️contagion/allergen health risks indoors. 4/
@kprather88 Filters & masks unquestionably reduce our risk to contagions, allergens, & #AirPollution. We can argue about how much the risk is reduced depending on the concentrations & a number of factors.
But, to say filters "dont work" or RCTs are required to prove they do is foolish. 5/
But, to say filters "dont work" or RCTs are required to prove they do is foolish. 5/
@kprather88 Examples I often use are:
a-Would they claim that pedestrian crossings (painted 'zebra stripes') engineered for urban roadways "dont work" or require randomized controlled trials in order to "prove they work"?
There'll always be uncertainty in quantifying preventive risk⬇️. 6/
a-Would they claim that pedestrian crossings (painted 'zebra stripes') engineered for urban roadways "dont work" or require randomized controlled trials in order to "prove they work"?
There'll always be uncertainty in quantifying preventive risk⬇️. 6/
@kprather88 b-Would they claim that fish aquarium pump/filter systems "dont work" based upon data from randomized controlled trials or prospective studies that install a smaller pump/filter designed for a 20-liter aquarium in a 100-liter volume aquarium? 7/
@kprather88 #indoorairquality experts find building owners wondering why the #indoorairquality is unhealthy when they have contracted for & installed an air delivery & filter (HVAC) system that is not 'fit for purpose' or is unable to cycle enough air through filters/UV/outdoor exchange. 8/8
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