Lidia Morawska

Bio: Lidia Morawska is an academic researcher from Queensland University of Technology. The author has contributed to research in topics: Particle number & Ultrafine particle. The author has an hindex of 100, co-authored 746 publications receiving 95412 citations. Previous affiliations of Lidia Morawska include University of Surrey & Jinan University.

Coronavirus Disease 2019 and Airborne Transmission: Science Rejected, Lives Lost. Can Society Do Better?

Abstract: Abstract This is an account that should be heard of an important struggle: the struggle of a large group of experts who came together at the beginning of the COVID-19 pandemic to warn the world about the risk of airborne transmission and the consequences of ignoring it. We alerted the World Health Organization about the potential significance of the airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the urgent need to control it, but our concerns were dismissed. Here we describe how this happened and the consequences. We hope that by reporting this story we can raise awareness of the importance of interdisciplinary collaboration and the need to be open to new evidence, and to prevent it from happening again. Acknowledgement of an issue, and the emergence of new evidence related to it, is the first necessary step towards finding effective mitigation solutions.

Comprehensive particle characterization during four nanotechnology processes

Abstract: Production and handling of engineered nanomaterials is currently the subject of an increasingly large number of studies addressing workplace exposure; specifically, its quantification and mitigation. This intense focus is the result of an emerging appreciation of the toxicological characteristics of airborne nanoparticles (< 100 nm) following inhalation and their subsequent health effects (Maynard and Aitken, 2007). Efforts addressing this issue have been impeded somewhat by a lack of knowledge regarding the most appropriate instrumental means by which to quantify nanoparticle concentration and exposure (Methner et al., 2010). In order to contribute towards the filling of this knowledge gap, we deployed a comprehensive suite of particle instrumentation during four distinct nanoparticle-generating processes across three workplaces. The aim of this was to assess the relative importance of numerous measurement technologies in terms of quantifying worker exposure.

Ventilation procedures to minimize the airborne transmission of viruses at schools

Abstract: Reducing the transmission of SARS-CoV-2 through indoor air is the key challenge of the COVID-19 pandemic. Crowded indoor environments, such as schools, represent possible hotspots for virus transmission since the basic non-pharmaceutical mitigation measures applied so far (e.g. social distancing) do not eliminate the airborne transmission mode. There is widespread consensus that improved ventilation is needed to minimize the transmission potential of airborne viruses in schools, whether through mechanical systems or ad-hoc manual airing procedures in naturally ventilated buildings. However, there remains significant uncertainty surrounding exactly what ventilation rates are required, and how to best achieve these targets with limited time and resources. This paper uses a mass balance approach to quantify the ability of both mechanical ventilation and ad-hoc airing procedures to mitigate airborne transmission risk in the classroom environment. For naturally-ventilated classrooms, we propose a novel feedback control strategy using CO2 concentrations to continuously monitor and adjust the airing procedure. Our case studies show how such procedures can be applied in the real world to support the reopening of schools during the pandemic. Our results also show the inadequacy of relying on absolute CO2 concentration thresholds as the sole indicator of airborne transmission risk.

Air pollution control efficacy and health impacts: A global observed study from 2000 to 2016

Abstract: Background: PM2.5 concentrations vary between countries with similar CO2 emissions, possibly due to differences in air pollution control efficacy. However, no indicator of the level of air pollution control efficacy has yet been developed. We aimed to develop such an indicator, and to evaluate its global and temporal distribution and its association with country-level health metrics. Method: A novel indicator, ground level population-weighted average PM2.5 concentration per unit CO2 emission per capita, (written as PC in abbreviation ), was developed to assess country-specific air pollution control efficacy. We estimated and mapped the global average distribution of PC and PC changes during 2000-2016 across 196 countries. Pearson correlation coefficients and Generalized Additive Mixed Model (GAMM) were used to evaluate the relationship between PC and health metrics. Results: PC varied by country with an inverse association with the economic development. PC showed an almost stable trend globally from 2000 to 2016 with the low income groups increased. The Pearson correlation coefficients between PC and life expectancy at birth (LE), Infant-mortality rate (IMR), Under-five mortality rate (U5MR) and logarithm of GDP per capita (LPGDP) were -0.566, 0.646, 0.659, -0.585 respectively (all P-values <0.001). Compared with PM2.5 or CO2 , PC could explain more variation of LE, IMR and U5MR. The association between PC and health metrics was independent of GDP per capita. Conclusions: PC might be a good indicator for air pollution control efficacy and was related to important health indicators. Our findings provide a new way to interpret health inequity across the globe from the point of air pollution control efficacy. Keywords:air pollution, climate change, health inequity, air pollution control efficacy