Themes

This study should be retracted for a conclusion not supported by their own work: ❌Their claim: "HEPA filters don't work" ✅Claim actually supported by their study: "HEPA filters, sized much smaller than experts recommend, and not confirmed to be ON all the time, didn't provide a benefit" Here's why: HEPA FILTER SIZING ❌ they used a device with a CADR of <100 for the common area and <40 for bedroom ✅ To hit the air change target *minimum* where we would expect to see a benefit, you need CADR of 300 for every 500 sqft. (I can't calculate air exchanges b/c they don't publish room sizes, just CADR, *which is an immediate tip-off that they don't know what they're doing*. The study is so deep on epi, so these folks are detail oriented, but the fact they leave out some basic building science is really telling. They also don't report on BASELINE HVAC PERFORMANCE AND FILTRATION?!?!?! WHAT?!?! HEPA USE ❌ There were 5 filters in the communal area and they defined COMPLIANCE as 3 of 5 running (?!) and COMPLIANCE as filters being on at **20%** of the checks (?!) ✅ Um, for filtration devices to have any effect they...need to be turned on... ALSO: -"We have got one client which goes around and turns the one off that he sits nearest to" -"a resident urinated in the air filter" -"Interviewees reported that sometimes staff switched off or moved the HEPA filters" -11% of residents had other HEPA filters (some were in the **control** arm...!) MY BIGGER CONCERN: This is 1 of at least 3 studies I know of that are coming out where the team has no apparent expertise on the air quality side of the house (plenty of MDs and epis...), that *under-sized* the filtration relative to what experts would recommend, and then don't confirm the air filtration was even running continuously, and then claim "they don't work"