German abattoirs at risk of Covid-19 due to air cooling systems

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Air systems draw the air out of meatpacking halls and cool it before pumping it back in, increasing the risk of spreading Covid-19-laden droplets

A truck with pigs arrives as a Greenpeace activist unveils a banner after landing on the roof of the Toennies meat factory with a powered paraglider, after Germany's largest slaughterhouse was reopened following a lockdown due to the spread of the coronavirus disease among its employees, in Rheda-Wiedenbrueck, Germany, July 16, 2020. The banner reads"End the swine system.

It had to install high-efficiency HEPA filters typically used in hospitals and on aeroplanes before being allowed to reopen on Friday. To keep temperatures between 6°C and 10°C, ventilation systems draw the air out of the meatpacking halls and cool it before pumping it back in, increasing the risk of spreading virus-laden droplets.

There are nearly 1,500 meat production plants in Germany, according to the Federal Statistics Office. A UV lamp that kills germs with radiation can cost a few thousand euros while upgrading a meatpacking hall could amount to a five-figure sum, said Christian Rueth, marketing and sales head at UV air disinfection systems maker Heraeus Noblelight.

HEPA filters are cheaper but have higher maintenance and repair costs as they tend to clog up quickly with dust, he said.

 

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