Please ensure Javascript is enabled for purposes of website accessibility
Can Valley Researchers Wipe Out COVID-19 on Mass Transit?
TLBBHMAP3-U010ALB5ANM-348f959abae2-512-300x300-1
By Jim Jakobs, Digital Producer
Published 4 years ago on
June 25, 2020

Share

Using smoke candles and viruses that infect bacteria (not humans), an experiment to stop COVID-19 with worldwide implications was staged on buses in Selma this week.

A team of researchers is using different approaches to stop and eliminate coronavirus on mass transit — and eventually office buildings with large HVAC systems.

“HVAC systems are likely to just redistribute the air and airborne virus throughout the entire cabin, risking the health of both drivers and passengers.” — Dr. Juris Grasis, assistant professor in molecular and cell biology at University of California, Merced

The study is primarily funded by the California State University Transportation Consortium. Fresno County Rural Transit and Clovis City Transit are providing the buses for the experiments.

“HVAC systems are likely to just redistribute the air and airborne virus throughout the entire cabin, risking the health of both drivers and passengers,” said Dr. Juris Grasis, assistant professor in molecular and cell biology at University of California, Merced.

He’s one of the lead researchers trying to find a way to stop COVID-19 spread on mass transit.

Water Vapor Simulates Airflow

Researchers flipped the switch on a water vapor generator to simulate the normal airflow from people breathing inside the bus Wednesday. In a few minutes, the bus was filled.

Moe Salem, chief technology officer for Air2O Cooling, tells GV Wire℠ the person most impacted is the bus driver. Just above the driver are several air vents that recirculate the cabin air next to the driver’s face the entire drive.

Non-Toxic Candle Smoke Simulates Sneezing, Coughing

Researchers used colored smoke pushed out of non-toxic candles to simulate the movement of the airflow and airborne contamination. The colored smoke demonstrated what happens when a passenger sneezes or coughs. In about six minutes, smoke blanketed the interior of the bus.

One of the non-toxic candles before it’s loaded into a machine to simulate sneezing and coughing. (GV Wire/Jim Jakobs)

Killing, Stopping COVID-19

The research team hopes to stop COVID-19 in several ways.  By creating positive air pressure inside the cabin, and using the following:

  • HEPA (high-efficiency particulate air) filters;
  • concentrated UV exposure combined with charged carbon filters in the HVAC systems;
  • photocatalytic oxidation technology;
  • and surface antiviral agents.
Image of a high-efficiency particulate air filter
High-efficiency particulate air filter used to try to stop COVID-19. (GV Wire/ Jim Jakobs)

“As it gets into the HVAC system, we want to stop it from being spread throughout the bus,” Grasis said. “We’re going to use different types of charging devices to actually charge the water vapor that the virus could be on — and actually help bind and eliminate the virus in that HVAC system so it doesn’t go throughout the whole bus.

“We have done some experiments in the lab. We’ve tested copper solutions and that looks to work pretty well at killing viruses. We’re hoping to get these experiments done in the next month.”

Simulating Other Conditions

The team will later perform experiments under a variety of vehicle conditions, such as having the bus stationary and in motion, with the door and windows open and shut, and with HVAC in cooling and heating operations.

Bigger Than Buses

Dr. Aly Tawfik, associate professor of civil engineering in the Lyles College of Engineering at Fresno State, believes this study could have implications beyond mass transit.

“Results of this study could be significantly valuable and directly lead to improved protection of passengers and drivers on public transportation modes against all forms of air-borne viruses — both locally as well as across the entire globe,” said Tawfik.

Moses Stites, general manager of the Fresno County Rural Transit Agency says, “We plan to make this (research) public so that other companies can also use it and industries such as the school bus system, van operators, and state and national transit organizations as well.”

DON'T MISS

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

DON'T MISS

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

DON'T MISS

Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies

DON'T MISS

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

DON'T MISS

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

DON'T MISS

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

DON'T MISS

‘Fed Up’ Dyer, Councilmembers Unveil Plan to Crack Down on Street Campers

DON'T MISS

House Republicans Slam Trump’s ‘Worst Choice’ for VP Pick JD Vance

DON'T MISS

Companies Cut Prices to Boost Sales, Consumers Respond

DON'T MISS

Stay Cool, Fresno!

UP NEXT

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

UP NEXT

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

UP NEXT

Stay Cool, Fresno!

UP NEXT

Warner Bros. Discovery Sues NBA for Not Accepting Its Matching Offer

UP NEXT

Will Bonta Election Lawsuit Reverse the Will of Fresno County Voters?

UP NEXT

Uber, Lyft, DoorDash Workers Remain Contractors Due to California Supreme Court Ruling

UP NEXT

PINC Donation Gives Big Boost to Fresno’s Neediest Kids

UP NEXT

Where Do Fresno Sex Offenders Live? Arias Rebuts Sheriff’s ‘False Narrative’

UP NEXT

North Korean Charged in Cyberattacks on US Hospitals, NASA and Military Bases

UP NEXT

Looking for a New Best Friend? Fresno Animal Center Waives Fees on 100 Puppies

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

8 hours ago

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

9 hours ago

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

9 hours ago

‘Fed Up’ Dyer, Councilmembers Unveil Plan to Crack Down on Street Campers

9 hours ago

House Republicans Slam Trump’s ‘Worst Choice’ for VP Pick JD Vance

10 hours ago

Companies Cut Prices to Boost Sales, Consumers Respond

10 hours ago

Stay Cool, Fresno!

10 hours ago

Warner Bros. Discovery Sues NBA for Not Accepting Its Matching Offer

11 hours ago

Tanker Plane Crash Kills Firefighting Pilot in Oregon as Western Wildfires Spread

11 hours ago

Will Bonta Election Lawsuit Reverse the Will of Fresno County Voters?

11 hours ago

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

The arch of colorful balloons over the doorway of a storefront on Shaw Avenue in Clovis was a clue that something exciting was happening on ...

7 hours ago

7 hours ago

Crescent View West High Celebrates New Clovis Home

8 hours ago

Fresno Man Sentenced to 29 Years for Sexually Assaulting Children and Dog

8 hours ago

Bulldogs’ Two-Position Standout Tommy Hopfe Signs With Rockies

8 hours ago

Artists, Vendors Plan to Defy City’s ArtHop Crackdown

9 hours ago

Former Bulldog QB Jake Haener: I Have a ‘Rare Form of Skin Cancer’

9 hours ago

The Many Names of GOP Vice Presidential Nominee JD Vance

9 hours ago

‘Fed Up’ Dyer, Councilmembers Unveil Plan to Crack Down on Street Campers

10 hours ago

House Republicans Slam Trump’s ‘Worst Choice’ for VP Pick JD Vance

MENU

CONNECT WITH US

Search

Send this to a friend