The Role of Portable Air Purifiers and Effective Ventilation in Improving Indoor Air Quality in University Classrooms

Dados Bibliográficos

ID15510754
AutoresMohammad Aldekheel (0000-0002-2704-5116, University of Southern California), Abdulmalik Altuwayjiri (0000-0003-1540-3198, Majmaah University), Ramin Tohidi (0000-0001-7957-4223, University of Southern California), Vahid Jalali Farahani (University of Southern California), Constantinos Sioutas (0000-0001-5146-0857, University of Southern California, autor correspondente)
Ano2022
Volume19
Fascículo21
Páginas14558-14558
Data de publicação2022-11-06
Peer ReviewedSim
Open AccessSim
TipoARTICLE
PeriódicoInternational Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (JOURNAL)
Identificadores do periódicoISSN: 1661-7827 • E-ISSN: 1660-4601
EditoraMultidisciplinary Digital Publishing Institute (PUBLISHER • CH)
DOI10.3390/ijerph192114558
PMID36361438
OpenAlexW4308596744
IdiomaEN
Citações recebidas1
Referências citadas65

In this study we investigated the effectiveness of air purifiers and in-line filters in ventilation systems working simultaneously inside various classrooms at the University of Southern California (USC) main campus. We conducted real-time measurements of particle mass (PM), particle number (PN), and carbon dioxide (CO 2 ) concentrations in nine classrooms from September 2021 to January 2022. The measurement campaign was carried out with different configurations of the purifier (i.e., different flow rates) while the ventilation system was continuously working. Our results showed that the ventilation systems in the classrooms were adequate in providing sufficient outdoor air to dilute indoor CO 2 concentrations due to the high air exchange rates (2.63-8.63 h -1 ). The particle penetration coefficients (P) of the investigated classrooms were very low for PM (<0.2) and PN (<0.1), with the exception of one classroom, corroborating the effectiveness of in-line filters in the ventilation systems. Additionally, the results showed that the efficiency of the air purifier exceeded 95% in capturing ultrafine and coarse particles and ranged between 82-88% for particles in the accumulation range (0.3-2 μm). The findings of this study underline the effectiveness of air purifiers and ventilation systems equipped with efficient in-line filters in substantially reducing indoor air pollution

Air purifier · Air quality index · Indoor air quality · Meteorology · Particulates · Physics · Ultrafine particle · Ventilation (architecture · Air Quality and Health Impacts · Chemical Engineering · Chemistry · Engineering · Environmental Science · Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure · Infection Control and Ventilation · Environmental Engineering · Mechanical Engineering