Indoor Air Quality and COVID-19: A Scoping Review

Axelle Braggion; Adeline Dugerdil; Olwen Wilson; Francesca Hovagemyan; Antoine Flahault

doi:10.3389/phrs.2023.1605803

Indoor Air Quality and COVID-19: A Scoping Review

Public Health Rev. 2024 Jan 11:44:1605803. doi: 10.3389/phrs.2023.1605803. eCollection 2023.

Authors

Axelle Braggion¹, Adeline Dugerdil¹, Olwen Wilson^{1

2}, Francesca Hovagemyan¹, Antoine Flahault¹

Affiliations

¹ Institut de Santé Globale, Faculté de Médecine, Université de Genève, Geneva, Switzerland.
² School of Public Policy, London School of Economics, London, United Kingdom.

Abstract

Objectives: The COVID-19 pandemic has been a major public health concern for the past 3 years. Scientific evidence on the relationship between SARS-CoV-2 infection and indoor air quality still needs to be demonstrated. This scoping review aims to study the association between air quality indoors and COVID-19. Methods: A scoping review analyzing the association between indoor air quality and epidemiological outcomes was conducted. Papers published between 1 January 2020 and 31 October 2022 were included. Hospital settings were excluded from the study. Results: Eight relevant articles met the inclusion criteria. Indoor settings included workplaces, schools, restaurants, and public transport. Types of ventilation used to improve indoor air quality were dilution methods (opening windows) and mechanical systems with or without filtration or purifier. CO₂ sensors were employed in one study. All the studies showed a positive association between indoor air quality and its improvement and epidemiological indicators. Conclusion: The findings of this scoping review indicate that indoor air quality, which can be improved with ventilation methods, may reduce the risk of developing COVID-19. Ventilation could thus be viewed as a possible effective mitigating method.

Keywords: COVID-19; SARS-CoV-2; indoor air quality; mitigation strategy; ventilation.

Publication types

Review