%0 Journal Article
%T Nonthermal plasma air disinfection for the inactivation of airborne microorganisms in an experimental chamber and indoor air.
%A Li Y
%A Wei L
%A Lin J
%A Xie Z
%A Lu L
%A Pan X
%A Xu J
%A Cai R
%J J Appl Microbiol
%V 135
%N 4
%D 2024 Apr 1
%M 38520159
%F 4.059
%R 10.1093/jambio/lxae078
%X <B>OBJECTIVE: </B>Airborne transmission of diseases presents a serious threat to human health, so effective air disinfection technology to eliminate microorganisms in indoor air is very important. This study evaluated the effectiveness of a non-thermal plasma (NTP) air disinfector in both laboratory experiments and real environments.<BR><B>RESULTS: </B>An experimental chamber was artificially polluted with a bioaerosol containing bacteria or viruses. Additionally, classroom environments with and without people present were used in field tests. Airborne microbial and particle concentrations were quantified. A 3.0 log10 reduction in the initial load was achieved when a virus-containing aerosol was disinfected for 60 min and a bacteria-containing aerosol was disinfected for 90 min. In the field test, when no people were present in the room, NTP disinfection decreased the airborne microbial and particle concentrations (P < 0.05). When people were present in the room, their constant activity continuously contaminated the indoor air, but all airborne indicators decreased (P < 0.05) except for planktonic bacteria (P = 0.094).<BR><B>CONCLUSIONS: </B>NTP effectively inactivated microorganisms and particles in indoor air.