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PARIS: It may seem obvious, but research from the US confirms that opening your car windows can significantly reduce the risk of Covid-19 contamination.
According to the Brown University study, published in Science Advances, effectiveness varies with the number of windows open and the speed of the car.
Based on a series of simulations, the study of airflow patterns inside the cabin of a car shows that opening the windows can play an important role in minimizing the circulation of potentially dangerous particles, such as those that can spread COVID-19. 19, between different occupants of the vehicle.
With all windows open, the study shows two distinct airflows in the vehicle’s cabin, noticeably separating the left and right sides and maximizing the number of air changes per hour (ACH) inside the car.
In fact, as long as it is not too annoying for the occupants of the vehicle, opening all the windows is by far the best solution to reduce the risk of contamination.
Among the tested scenarios, keeping all windows closed and using the air conditioning system to provide air flow was by far the riskiest. Between the two, opening either the front two windows or the two rear windows gave mixed results.
Keep in mind that the speed of the car can also affect the flow of air through the vehicle. The lower the speed of the car, the lower the ACH.
That means that the particles stay a little longer in the air inside the cabin. As speed increases, the air changes more quickly.
Car users should consider wearing a mask and disinfecting the steering wheel, gear stick, and front door handles with an alcohol-based solution before any trip, especially with passengers on board.
