A study of aerosol generation and dispersion in sanitary facilities

C. T. Wang; J. C. Xu; H. Guo

A study of aerosol generation and dispersion in sanitary facilities

C. T. Wang
, J. C. Xu
, H. Guo

The Hong Kong Polytechnic University

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceeding › Conference article published in proceeding or book › Academic research › peer-review

Abstract

Toilets have been recognized as potential transmission hubs of infectious diseases. However, aerosol generation and exposure in a toilet are limited studied. In this work, field measurements of aerosol generation from toilet flushing, urinating, and hand washing were conducted with an optical particle sizer. Aerosol dispersion in a standard public toilet was then investigated by computational fluid dynamics simulation. The generated aerosols from toilets were mainly smaller than 0.5 µm. Toilet flushing generated most aerosols with a concentration of 1.4×10³ #/cm³, followed by urinating of 8×10² #/cm³ and hand washing of 7×10² #/cm³. The released aerosols stayed in the toilet for more than 60 seconds. The users near the cubical, urinary, and water basin had intake fractions of 0.16%, 0.08%, and 0.05% respectively, which are much higher than that in normal indoor environments of 0.001%-0.01%. This study can help propose control measures for sanitary facilities, such as bubble prevention and personalized exhaust.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Healthy Buildings 2023
Subtitle of host publication	Asia and Pacific Rim
Publisher	International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate
ISBN (Electronic)	9781713890850
Publication status	Published - 2023
Event	Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim - Tianjin East, China Duration: 17 Jul 2023 → 19 Jul 2023

Publication series

Name	Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim

Conference

Conference	Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim
Country/Territory	China
City	Tianjin East
Period	17/07/23 → 19/07/23

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

SDG 3 Good Health and Well-being

Keywords

COVID-19
Intake fraction
Public toilet
Urinating
Water flushing

ASJC Scopus subject areas

Civil and Structural Engineering

Cite this

@inproceedings{4b2486590d824d9ca5be7e77924b989d,

title = "A study of aerosol generation and dispersion in sanitary facilities",

abstract = "Toilets have been recognized as potential transmission hubs of infectious diseases. However, aerosol generation and exposure in a toilet are limited studied. In this work, field measurements of aerosol generation from toilet flushing, urinating, and hand washing were conducted with an optical particle sizer. Aerosol dispersion in a standard public toilet was then investigated by computational fluid dynamics simulation. The generated aerosols from toilets were mainly smaller than 0.5 µm. Toilet flushing generated most aerosols with a concentration of 1.4{\texttimes}103 \#/cm3, followed by urinating of 8{\texttimes}102 \#/cm3 and hand washing of 7{\texttimes}102 \#/cm3. The released aerosols stayed in the toilet for more than 60 seconds. The users near the cubical, urinary, and water basin had intake fractions of 0.16\%, 0.08\%, and 0.05\% respectively, which are much higher than that in normal indoor environments of 0.001\%-0.01\%. This study can help propose control measures for sanitary facilities, such as bubble prevention and personalized exhaust.",

keywords = "COVID-19, Intake fraction, Public toilet, Urinating, Water flushing",

author = "Wang, \{C. T.\} and Xu, \{J. C.\} and H. Guo",

note = "Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2023 Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim. All rights reserved.; Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim ; Conference date: 17-07-2023 Through 19-07-2023",

year = "2023",

language = "English",

series = "Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim",

publisher = "International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate",

booktitle = "Healthy Buildings 2023",

}

A study of aerosol generation and dispersion in sanitary facilities. / Wang, C. T.; Xu, J. C.; Guo, H.
Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim. International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 2023. (Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim).

Research output: Chapter in book / Conference proceeding › Conference article published in proceeding or book › Academic research › peer-review

TY - GEN

T1 - A study of aerosol generation and dispersion in sanitary facilities

AU - Wang, C. T.

AU - Xu, J. C.

AU - Guo, H.

PY - 2023

Y1 - 2023

N2 - Toilets have been recognized as potential transmission hubs of infectious diseases. However, aerosol generation and exposure in a toilet are limited studied. In this work, field measurements of aerosol generation from toilet flushing, urinating, and hand washing were conducted with an optical particle sizer. Aerosol dispersion in a standard public toilet was then investigated by computational fluid dynamics simulation. The generated aerosols from toilets were mainly smaller than 0.5 µm. Toilet flushing generated most aerosols with a concentration of 1.4×103 #/cm3, followed by urinating of 8×102 #/cm3 and hand washing of 7×102 #/cm3. The released aerosols stayed in the toilet for more than 60 seconds. The users near the cubical, urinary, and water basin had intake fractions of 0.16%, 0.08%, and 0.05% respectively, which are much higher than that in normal indoor environments of 0.001%-0.01%. This study can help propose control measures for sanitary facilities, such as bubble prevention and personalized exhaust.

AB - Toilets have been recognized as potential transmission hubs of infectious diseases. However, aerosol generation and exposure in a toilet are limited studied. In this work, field measurements of aerosol generation from toilet flushing, urinating, and hand washing were conducted with an optical particle sizer. Aerosol dispersion in a standard public toilet was then investigated by computational fluid dynamics simulation. The generated aerosols from toilets were mainly smaller than 0.5 µm. Toilet flushing generated most aerosols with a concentration of 1.4×103 #/cm3, followed by urinating of 8×102 #/cm3 and hand washing of 7×102 #/cm3. The released aerosols stayed in the toilet for more than 60 seconds. The users near the cubical, urinary, and water basin had intake fractions of 0.16%, 0.08%, and 0.05% respectively, which are much higher than that in normal indoor environments of 0.001%-0.01%. This study can help propose control measures for sanitary facilities, such as bubble prevention and personalized exhaust.

KW - COVID-19

KW - Intake fraction

KW - Public toilet

KW - Urinating

KW - Water flushing

UR - https://www.scopus.com/pages/publications/85189942906

M3 - Conference article published in proceeding or book

AN - SCOPUS:85189942906

T3 - Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim

BT - Healthy Buildings 2023

PB - International Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate

T2 - Healthy Buildings 2023: Asia and Pacific Rim

Y2 - 17 July 2023 through 19 July 2023

ER -

A study of aerosol generation and dispersion in sanitary facilities

Abstract

Publication series

Conference

UN SDGs

Keywords

ASJC Scopus subject areas

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Cite this