Booth Id:
MCRO008
Category:
Microbiology
Year:
2022
Finalist Names:
Lynn, Zoe (School: Veritas Christian Community School)
Abstract:
A study in a New York elementary school revealed the spread of bacteria through HVAC systems, explaining that one case of measles spread throughout 14 more classrooms.
This experiment was conducted to see which filter (pleated, MERV 8, MERV 13) would reduce the most airborne bacteria in a classroom setting.
I hypothesized that if the airborne bacteria count in a classroom is changed by the type of HVAC filter inserted into the HVAC unit, then the MERV 13 filter would be most efficient in reducing airborne bacteria numbers present.
To prove my hypothesis, nutrient agar dishes were prepared and put out in a single room testing facility at Mountain View Air Conditioning and Heating over three days, testing three different filters for eight hours each. Three classrooms were then used for eight hours, again running all three filter types in both. The dishes were then incubated for a bacteria count.
At Mountain View Air Conditioning and Heating, the pleated filter had an average of 54 bacteria colonies, the MERV 8 filter had an average of 19.75 colonies, and the MERV 13 filter had 28.75 average bacteria colonies. At the school the pleated filter had an average of 16.1875 colonies, the MERV 8 filter had an average of 16.875 colonies, and the MERV 13 had an average of 9.25 colonies.
My hypothesis was confirmed. I was able to use results from both classrooms to make a correlation between the airborne bacteria count in the air the filter used in the experiment. I concluded the MERV 13 was the filter to succeed in doing this, and should be implemented into schools who are wary about airborne bacteria and the effect the spread has. For further research, test a Global Plasma Solutions filter and compare it against different competing filters.