Articles | Volume 21, issue 17
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13011-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
https://doi.org/10.5194/acp-21-13011-2021
© Author(s) 2021. This work is distributed under
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 License.
Opinion
| Highlight paper
| 
02 Sep 2021
Opinion | Highlight paper |
| 02 Sep 2021
| 02 Sep 2021
Opinion: The germicidal effect of ambient air (open-air factor) revisited
R. Anthony Cox
Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Chemistry, University of Cambridge, Cambridge, CB2 1EP, UK
Laboratory of Environmental Chemistry, Paul Scherrer Institut, 5232 Villigen, Switzerland
Division of Atmospheric Chemistry, Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, 55128 Mainz, Germany
Paul T. Griffiths
National Centre for Atmospheric Science, Department of Chemistry, Cambridge University, Cambridge, CB21EW, UK
Hartmut Herrmann
Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Erik H. Hoffmann
Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Michael E. Jenkin
CORRESPONDING AUTHOR
Atmospheric Chemistry Services, Okehampton, Devon, EX20 4QB, UK
V. Faye McNeill
Department of Chemical Engineering, Columbia University, New York, NY 10027, USA
Abdelwahid Mellouki
ICARE-CNRS, 45071 Orléans CEDEX 2, France
Christopher J. Penkett
NIHR BioResource for Translational Research, University of Cambridge, Hills Road, Cambridge, CB2 0QQ, UK
Andreas Tilgner
Atmospheric Chemistry Department (ACD), Leibniz Institute for Tropospheric Research (TROPOS), 04318 Leipzig, Germany
Timothy J. Wallington
Ford Motor Company, Research and Advanced Engineering, Dearborn, MI 48121-2053, USA
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Cited
11 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Chemical Fate of Oils on Indoor Surfaces: Ozonolysis and Peroxidation Z. Zhou et al. 10.1021/acs.est.3c04009
- Development of a Novel Bioaerosol Chamber to Determine Survival Rates of Airborne Staphylococci M. Clauß et al. 10.3390/atmos13060869
- An Old Defence Against New Infections: The Open-Air Factor and COVID-19 R. Hobday & P. Collignon 10.7759/cureus.26133
- Changes in the Fluorescence of Biological Particles Exposed to Environmental Conditions in the National Capitol Region J. Santarpia et al. 10.3390/atmos13091358
- Actinic Radiation, Viruses, Bacteria, the Open Air Factor (OAF) and Indoor Sterilization with UV-C Radiation A. Tuck 10.3390/pr11102882
- Natural Selection and Scale Invariance A. Tuck 10.3390/life13040917
- NO3 reactivity measurements in an indoor environment: a pilot study P. Dewald et al. 10.1039/D3EA00137G
- Scaling Up: Molecular to Meteorological via Symmetry Breaking and Statistical Multifractality A. Tuck 10.3390/meteorology1010003
- Opinion: Atmospheric multiphase chemistry – past, present, and future J. Abbatt & A. Ravishankara 10.5194/acp-23-9765-2023
- A comparison of real-world outdoor aging of Bacillus thuringiensis bioaerosols using Goldberg rotating drums and synthetic spider webs in Conroe, Texas S. Kinahan et al. 10.1080/02786826.2023.2271990
- Triggering of an Epidemic Outbreak via Long-Range Atmospheric Transport of Bio-Aerosols—Application to a Hypothetical Case for COVID-19 B. Rowe et al. 10.3390/atmos14061050
11 citations as recorded by crossref.
- Chemical Fate of Oils on Indoor Surfaces: Ozonolysis and Peroxidation Z. Zhou et al. 10.1021/acs.est.3c04009
- Development of a Novel Bioaerosol Chamber to Determine Survival Rates of Airborne Staphylococci M. Clauß et al. 10.3390/atmos13060869
- An Old Defence Against New Infections: The Open-Air Factor and COVID-19 R. Hobday & P. Collignon 10.7759/cureus.26133
- Changes in the Fluorescence of Biological Particles Exposed to Environmental Conditions in the National Capitol Region J. Santarpia et al. 10.3390/atmos13091358
- Actinic Radiation, Viruses, Bacteria, the Open Air Factor (OAF) and Indoor Sterilization with UV-C Radiation A. Tuck 10.3390/pr11102882
- Natural Selection and Scale Invariance A. Tuck 10.3390/life13040917
- NO3 reactivity measurements in an indoor environment: a pilot study P. Dewald et al. 10.1039/D3EA00137G
- Scaling Up: Molecular to Meteorological via Symmetry Breaking and Statistical Multifractality A. Tuck 10.3390/meteorology1010003
- Opinion: Atmospheric multiphase chemistry – past, present, and future J. Abbatt & A. Ravishankara 10.5194/acp-23-9765-2023
- A comparison of real-world outdoor aging of Bacillus thuringiensis bioaerosols using Goldberg rotating drums and synthetic spider webs in Conroe, Texas S. Kinahan et al. 10.1080/02786826.2023.2271990
- Triggering of an Epidemic Outbreak via Long-Range Atmospheric Transport of Bio-Aerosols—Application to a Hypothetical Case for COVID-19 B. Rowe et al. 10.3390/atmos14061050
Latest update: 29 Mar 2025
Short summary
The term open-air factor was coined in the 1960s, establishing that rural air had powerful germicidal properties possibly resulting from immediate products of the reaction of ozone with alkenes, unsaturated compounds ubiquitously present in natural and polluted environments. We have re-evaluated those early experiments, applying the recently substantially improved knowledge, and put them into the context of the lifetime of aerosol-borne pathogens that are so important in the Covid-19 pandemic.
The term open-air factor was coined in the 1960s, establishing that rural air had powerful...
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