News

Air Filters Breaking the Wall of Indoor Air Pollution

The findings show that an inexpensive, easy-to-construct air filter can protect against illness caused not only by viruses but also by chemical pollutants. This type of highly-accessible public health intervention can empower community groups to take steps to improve their air quality and therefore, their health.

Corsi-Rosenthal boxes, or cubes, can be constructed from materials found at hardware stores: four MERV-13 filters, duct tape, a 20-inch box fan, and a cardboard box. As part of a school-wide project, boxes were assembled by students and campus community members and installed in the School of Public Health as well as other buildings on the Brown University campus.

To assess the cubes’ efficacy at removing chemicals from the air, Braun and his team compared a room’s concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds before and during the box’s operation.

Advertisement



The results, published in Environmental Science & Technology, showed that Corsi-Rosenthal boxes significantly decreased the concentrations of several PFAS and phthalates in 17 rooms at the School of Public Health during the period they were used (February to March 2022).

PFAS, a type of synthetic chemical found in a range of products including cleaners, textiles, and wire insulation, decreased by 40% to 60%; phthalates, commonly found in building materials and personal care products, were reduced by 30% to 60%.

PFAS and phthalates have been linked to various health problems, including asthma, reduced vaccine response, decreased birth weight, altered brain development in children, altered metabolism, and some cancers, said Braun, who studies the effect of these chemicals on human health.

They are also considered to be endocrine-disrupting chemicals that may mimic or interfere with the body’s hormones. What’s more, PFAS have been associated with reduced vaccine response in children and also may increase the severity of and susceptibility to COVID-19 in adults.

The reduction of PFAS and phthalate levels is a wonderful co-benefit to the Corsi-Rosenthal boxes. These boxes are accessible, easy to make, and relatively inexpensive, and they’re currently being used in universities and homes across the country.

This interesting research showing that the air filters not only reduce particles carrying the COVID-19 virus but also reduce other indoor air pollutants could be very significant as we continue to work to create a cleaner and safer indoor air.

The researchers also found that the Corsi-Rosenthal boxes increase sound levels by an average of 5 decibels during the day and 10 decibels at night, which could be considered distracting in certain settings, such as classrooms. However, the health benefits of the box likely outweigh the audio side-effects.

The box filters do make some noise. But you can construct them quickly for about $100 per unit, with materials from the hardware store. They are not only highly effective but also scalable.

Source: Eurekalert

Source link
#Air #Filters #Breaking #Wall #Indoor #Air #Pollution

Related Articles

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *