2016 ESC Guidelines for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure: The Task Force for the diagnosis and treatment of acute and chronic heart failure of the European Society of Cardiology (ESC). Developed with the special contribution of the Heart Failure Association (HFA) of the ESC.

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(12)61728-0.pdf

Global and regional mortality from 235 causes of death for 20 age groups in 1990 and 2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010

https://hull-repository.worktribe.com/preview/1797952/1-s2.0-S0140673618322797-main.pdf

Global, regional, and national incidence, prevalence, and years lived with disability for 328 diseases and injuries for 195 countries, 1990–2016: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2016

https://www.thelancet.com/pdfs/journals/lancet/PIIS0140-6736(12)61766-8.pdf

A comparative risk assessment of burden of disease and injury attributable to 67 risk factors and risk factor clusters in 21 regions, 1990-2010: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2010

Global, regional, and national prevalence of overweight and obesity in children and adults during 1980–2013: a systematic analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2013

Indoor air quality is a critical factor in the classroom due to high people concentration in a unique space. Indoor air pollutant might increase the chance of both long and short-term health problems among students and staff, reduce the productivity of teachers and degrade the student’s learning environment and comfort. Adequate air distribution strategies may reduce risk of infection in classroom. So, the purpose of air distribution systems in a classroom is not only to maximize conditions for thermal comfort, but also to remove indoor contaminants. Natural ventilation has the potential to play a significant role in achieving improvements in IAQ. The present study compares the risk of airborne infection between Natural Ventilation (opening windows and doors) and a Split-System Air Conditioner in a university classroom. The Wells-Riley model was used to predict the risk of indoor airborne transmission of infectious diseases such as influenza, measles and tuberculosis. For each case, the air exchange rate was measured using a CO2 tracer gas technique. It was found that opening windows and doors provided an air exchange rate of 2.3 air changes/hour (ACH), while with the Split System it was 0.6 ACH. The risk of airborne infection ranged between 4.24 to 30.86 % when using the Natural Ventilation and between 8.99 to 43.19% when using the Split System. The difference of airborne infection risk between the Split System and the Natural Ventilation ranged from 47 to 56%. Opening windows and doors maximize Natural Ventilation so that the risk of airborne contagion is much lower than with Split System.

/pdf/risk-assessment-for-airborne-infectious-diseases-between-34jw2z5mpm.pdf

Risk assessment for airborne infectious diseases between natural ventilation and a split-system air conditioner in a university classroom

A Neutral cluster and Air Ion Spectrometer (NAIS) was used to monitor the concentration of airborne ions on 258 full days between Nov 2011 and Dec 2012 in Brisbane, Australia. The air was sampled from outside a window on the sixth floor of a building close to the city centre, approximately 100 m away from a busy freeway. The NAIS detects all ions and charged particles smaller than 42 nm. It was operated in a 4 min measurement cycle, with ion data recorded at 10 s intervals over 2 min during each cycle. The data were analysed to derive the diurnal variation of small, large and total ion concentrations in the environment. We adapt the definition of Horrak et al (2000) and classify small ions as molecular clusters smaller than 1.6 nm and large ions as charged particles larger than this size...

Diurnal variation of small and large ion concentrations in an urban location

Ship emissions are a major pollutant source in areas surrounding harbours [1], and contribute significantly to global air pollution, which is responsible for 6.4 million deaths worldwide [2]. Quantifying ship emitted pollutants is critical to understand the impact of shipping on climate and health [3]...

Towards the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for the assessment of ship emissions

We analyse the particle mass and number concentration data obtained during the extensive air quality monitoring campaign that was conducted in the Yangtze River Basin in November 2015. The monitoring was carried out aboard an instrumented boat which sailed from the Port of Shanghai up the Yangtze River through a distance of 1075 km to the city of Wuhan and back with a total journey time of 14 days. We will compare and contrast the particle concentrations in the many diverse environments constituting this region such as large cities, industry and rural farmland.

Spatial and temporal variation of airborne particle concentration in the Yangtze River Basin

TO THE EDITOR: I request that Annals retracts Loeb and colleagues' study (1). It was unethical to perform this type of study during the COVID-19 pandemic when the data clearly support transmission of SARS-CoV-2 by aerosol inhalation and not droplets. Surgical masks are not designed to protect the wearer from inhalation of small infectious particles and will not prevent personto-person transmission from patients or coworkers. Respirators must be worn during all exposures—with all patients and coworkers—to ensure user protection. It is clear from the data provided in the Supplement that this was not the case. Without a control (that is, no mask), it is impossible to conclude that surgical masks or respirators were effective. They were probably equally ineffective for different reasons. Many studies in laboratories, clinical settings, and other environments clearly show the efficacy of fit-tested respirators for protecting workers from hazardous aerosol exposures; however, this is true only if they are worn for every exposure. Loeb and colleagues' article does a substantial disservice to health care workers, who have given their jobs and lives caring for patients throughout this pandemic.

Lidia Morawska

Papers

Risk assessment for airborne infectious diseases between natural ventilation and a split-system air conditioner in a university classroom

Diurnal variation of small and large ion concentrations in an urban location

Towards the use of unmanned aerial vehicles for the assessment of ship emissions

Spatial and temporal variation of airborne particle concentration in the Yangtze River Basin

Medical Masks Versus N95 Respirators for Preventing COVID-19 Among Health Care Workers