Infection events - the dose makes the poison

The amount of time spent indoors and the resulting exposure to pathogens is a crucial factor in determining the potential risk of infection. Studies indicate that the risk of infection doubles when the exposure time is doubled, even if the carbon dioxide concentration remains constant.

Indoor air is composed of oxygen, carbon dioxide, and various pollutants, with people often being the primary contributors to these contaminants. When individuals exhale, they emit aerosol particles into the air. If these individuals are suffering from respiratory infections, these particles can pose a potential threat. Due to their minute size, these particles can become airborne and potentially infect others. However, the likelihood of infection depends on various factors. In addition to pathogen-specific and immunological factors, the quantity of inhaled pathogens (dose) is decisive.

The MIRIAQ project, funded by the Heinz Trox Foundation, developed a stationary solution that transmits both the carbon dioxide content of the room air and the inhaled carbon dioxide dose to the person using it. The study results indicate that the longer the duration of mask use, the higher the inhaled dose of carbon dioxide, which increases the risk of pathogen uptake and the situational reproduction number (RS), and therefore the relative risk of infection. The study results indicate that the longer the duration of mask use, the higher the inhaled dose of carbon dioxide, which increases the risk of pathogen uptake and the situational reproduction number (RS), and therefore the relative risk of infection. It is important to display the relative risk of infection.