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Infection risk in gyms during physical exercise

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Abstract

This study aimed to analyze the risk of infection (influenza and tuberculosis) for individuals participating in physical exercise. This was achieved by assessment of carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations, and examination of the physical characteristics of a number of gyms to determine whether there was a relationship to CO2 levels. This study was performed in three different gyms ventilated with either split system or central system air conditioners. The risk of airborne infection (percent of susceptible persons infected) was estimated for each gym using the Wells-Riley model. The risk of infection increased during periods of peak occupancy where the ventilation required by occupants was greater. In each gym, the highest risk of infection occurred during the evening where occupancy and CO2 levels were high. The infection risk for influenza was high in all situations due to the high quantum generation rate for this agent. This study suggests that inefficient ventilation in gyms is a significant problem, with high CO2 concentrations resulting in impaired air quality and high health risks to users, including increased risk of infections such as influenza and tuberculosis.

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Contributors

AA conceived the study, designed the investigation, reviewed the database, analyzed the data, wrote the first draft of the paper, and approved the final submission. FHD collected the data, reviewed the database, analyzed the data, wrote the first draft of the paper, and approved the final submission. MLP conceived the study, designed the investigation, and analyzed the data. CML collected the data, reviewed the database, analyzed the data, and wrote the first draft of the paper. GB reviewed the first draft of the paper and approved the final submission.

Funding

This study was supported by the Higher Education Personnel Improvement Coordination (CAPES), Public notice (no. 03/2015), through masters scholarship and financially supported by FAPESC (Research and Innovation Support Foundation of the State of Santa Catarina) through research (Project No. 2287/PAP 04/2014).

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Laboratory of Sport and Exercise Psychology, Center of Health and Sport Science, Santa Catarina State University, Pascoal Simone, Coqueiros, 358, Florianopolis, Santa Catarina, 88080-350, Brazil

    Alexandro Andrade, Fábio Hech Dominski & Carla Maria de Liz

  2. Federal Institute of Education, Science and Technology of Santa Catarina, São José, Santa Catarina, Brazil

    Marcelo Luiz Pereira

  3. Department of Civil and Mechanical Engineering, University of Cassino and Southern Lazio, Cassino, FR, Italy

    Giorgio Buonanno

Authors
  1. Alexandro Andrade
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  2. Fábio Hech Dominski
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  3. Marcelo Luiz Pereira
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  4. Carla Maria de Liz
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  5. Giorgio Buonanno
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Alexandro Andrade.

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The authors declare that they have no conflicts of interest.

Additional information

Responsible editor: Philippe Garrigues

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Andrade, A., Dominski, F.H., Pereira, M.L. et al. Infection risk in gyms during physical exercise. Environ Sci Pollut Res 25, 19675–19686 (2018). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1822-8

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11356-018-1822-8

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