New studies indicate that not all positions within airport smoking lounges are equally effective. Researchers have discovered that the thermal conditions and the location of smokers impact how smoke particles settle in these spaces. Furthermore, smokers who sit further away from ventilation inlets tend to experience lower pollution levels. The team constructed a model of a smoking room using computerized simulations and placed both heated and unheated manikins to represent smokers. They also designed the ventilation setup with three exhaust diffusers.
Although many smoking lounges have been closed in U.S. airports in recent years, they still exist in various international airports. While these lounges can be ventilated, to what extent does it really aid in smoke distribution?
Research published in Physics of Fluids by AIP Publishing reveals that not all standing locations in airport smoking lounges have the same impact.
Researchers from the University of Hormozgan in Iran examined nicotine particles in a simulated airport smoking environment and found that the temperature and positioning of smokers affect the settling of these particles.
Moreover, individuals sitting further from ventilation openings reported the least pollution levels in the area.
“We initially thought that smokers positioned in the corners would have similar levels of particles settling on them,” said author Younes Bakhshan. “However, our findings showed that the airflow created by the ventilation varies significantly.”
The research team developed a smoking room using computational models and simulated smokers with heated and unheated manikins. They also engineered the ventilation system with three exhaust diffusers.
The manikin smokers simulated exhaling cigarette smoke, allowing researchers to track the movement of particles. They observed that as the concentration of particles in the air decreased over time, the amount of particles settling on the smokers increased.
“The results indicate that body heat leads to higher absorption of smoke particles,” Bakhshan stated. “We recommend that smokers choose empty spots in the room if they must smoke.”
The findings provide valuable insights for improving ventilation in smoking lounges.
“Previous studies indicate that a displacement ventilation system is the most effective for smoking areas,” Bakhshan explained. “To enhance the HVAC system, we suggest that exhaust vents be placed on walls in addition to ceiling vents.”
In future research, the team plans to shift focus from just measuring particle movements to looking at ways to reduce particle concentrations.
“We believe that smokers using these lounges for the sake of others’ health should also be shielded from the dangers of secondhand smoke,” Bakhshan concluded.
