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Experimental studies of particle removal and probability of COVID-19 infection in passenger railcars.

A series of experiments in stationary and moving passenger railcars was conducted to measure the removal rates of particles in the size ranges of SARS-CoV-2 viral aerosols, and the air changes per hour provided by the existing and modified air handling systems. The effect of ventilation and air filtration systems on removal rates and their effects on estimated probability (i.e., risk) of infection was evaluated in a range of representative conditions: (1) for two different ratios of recirculated air (RA) to outdoor air (OA) (90:10 RA:OA and 67:33 RA:OA); (2) using minimum efficiency reporting value (MERV) filters with standard (MERV-8) and increased (MERV-13) filtration ratings; and (3) in the presence and absence of a portable high-efficiency particulate-air (HEPA) room air purifier system operated at clean air delivery rate (CADR) of 150 and 550 cfm. The higher efficiency MERV-13 filters significantly increased particle removal rates on average by 3.8 to 8.4 hr-1 across particle sizes ranging from 0.3 to 10 μm (p < 0.01) compared to MERV-8 filters. The different RA:OA ratios and use of a portable HEPA air purifier system had little effect on particle removal rates. MERV-13 filters reduced the estimated probability of infection by 42% compared to MERV-8 filters. Use of a HEPA-air purifier with a MERV-13 filter causes a 50% reduction in estimated probability of infection. Upgrading the efficiency of HVAC filters from MERV-8 to MERV-13 in public transit vehicles is the most effective exposure control method resulting in a clear reduction in the removal rates of aerosol particles and the estimated probability of infection.