Efficiency of Air Purifiers at Removing Air Pollutants in Educational Facilities: A Preliminary Study

Infectious diseases caused by airborne bacteria and viruses are a major problem for both social and economic reasons. The significance of this phenomenon is particularly noticeable during the time of the coronavirus pandemic. One of the consequences is the increased interest in the air purifier (AP) market, which resulted in a significant increase in sales of these devices. In this study, we tested the efficiency of APs in removing bacterial air contamination in the educational context in the Upper Silesia region of Poland during the “cold season” of 2018/2019. During the 6 months of measuring microbiological air quality, an 18% decrease in the concentration of microbiological pollutants as a result of the action of the APs was recorded. Additionally, the results of the particle size distribution of the bacterial aerosols showed a reduction in the share of the respirable fraction (particles with an aerodynamic diameter below 3.3 µm) by an average of 20%. The dominance of gram-positive cocci in the indoor environment indicates that humans are the main source of most of the bacteria present in the building. We conclude that the use of APs may significantly decrease the level of concentration of microbiological air pollutants and reduce the negative health effects of indoor bioaerosols; however, further work that documents this phenomenon is needed.

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Effect on the bactericidal device for decontamination the air microorganisms in poultry house on the content of toxic gases

Ukrainian Journal of Ecology ◽

10.15421/2020_4 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

pp. 24-29

Author(s):

A. P. Palii ◽

O. V. Nanka ◽

Y. O. Kovalchuk ◽

A. O. Kovalchuk ◽

V. S. Kalabska ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Ultraviolet Irradiation ◽

Cold Season ◽

Gas Content ◽

Poultry House ◽

Air Contamination ◽

Toxic Gases ◽

Application Techniques ◽

The Difference ◽

Rational Construction

Litter in the poultry house is a source of toxic gases (ammonia, hydrogen sulphide and carbon dioxide), dust, and is a favourable place for the life and reproduction of microorganisms and helminths. The number of these secretions in the poultry house depends on many factors: the sanitary status of the poultry house, the species, the age of the birds, the microclimate, the season, feeding conditions, and so on. The purpose of the research was to substantiate the rational construction and modes of operation of the device for the decontamination of microorganisms in the air of the poultry house on the basis of the use of sources of ultraviolet irradiation. The necessity of development and application techniques for cage batteries with a litter removal belt system which provide reduction of microbial contamination of air in poultry houses and the content of harmful gases in it have been substantiated. The device was developed and the effective mode of disinfection of the air of the poultry house in the collector air duct of the litter drying system based on the use of sources of ultraviolet irradiation was determined. The application of the bactericidal device made it possible to reduce microbial air contamination on the 1st day of accumulation of the litter during the cold season - by 2.6 times, in the transitional season - by 2.1 times; on 5th day, the accumulation of the litter decreased by 3.0 and 2.3 times, respectively. During the operation of the air irradiation system, the content of toxic gases in it decreased compared to the period when the air was not treated with the ultraviolet irradiation - ammonia by 19.7% and carbon dioxide by 5.9%. The absolute values of microbial air contamination in the poultry house and the toxic gas content in the transitional season were lower than in the cold season, due to the higher indoor air exchange and the increase of clean outside air in the proportion. The difference in microbial air contamination between the basic and the proposed variants in the cold and transitional seasons was statistically significant.

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Assessing the efficacy of photocatalytic oxidation on bacterial contamination in a clinical setting – a randomised controlled trial

Journal of Infection Prevention ◽

10.1177/1757177411415447 ◽

2011 ◽

Vol 12 (6) ◽

pp. 251-253

Author(s):

Anwar Abbas Jafri ◽

Sanjay Gupta ◽

Zaki Ibrahim ◽

Paul Baker ◽

Tamsin Oswald ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Clinical Setting ◽

Photocatalytic Oxidation ◽

Controlled Trial ◽

Colony Count ◽

Clinical Environment ◽

Randomised Study ◽

Air Contamination ◽

Air Sampler ◽

Airborne Contamination ◽

Air Purifier

Airborne contamination has been shown to be a significant source of wound contamination in orthopaedic surgery. This is the first reported study looking at the efficacy of ActivTek 300, a portable UV/TiO2-based air purifier unit to reduce airborne contamination in a clinical setting. In this randomised study the investigator was blinded as to whether the unit had been on or off for the previous seven days. Air contamination was measured weekly using a validated technique in ward treatment rooms using a Mini Air Sampler (MAS-100) and agar plates, over a period of 12 weeks. The agar plates were then incubated for 24 hours and the results were expressed as number of colony forming units per plate (cfu). The biomedical scientist who manually counted the number of cfus was blinded as to whether the unit was on or off. Measurements were duplicated to improve the accuracy of the study, and in addition to this an identical experiment was set up in a second treatment room on a separate randomisation schedule. Analysis of the data demonstrated median colony count was significantly lower with the unit on (Median = 43 interquartile range (IQR) 30 to 83) than when it was off (median = 95 IQR 44 to 143) ( p < 0.01). This represents a 55% mean reduction in the colony count. This study suggests that the portable UV/TiO2-based air purifier unit is efficacious in reducing airborne contamination in the clinical environment and may have a promising role in reducing overall infection rates in surgical patients.

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Do exposure to outdoor temperatures, NO2and PM10affect the work-related injuries risk? A case-crossover study in three Italian cities, 2001–2010

BMJ Open ◽

10.1136/bmjopen-2018-023119 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 9 (8) ◽

pp. e023119 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Patrizia Schifano ◽

Federica Asta ◽

Alessandro Marinaccio ◽

Michela Bonafede ◽

Marina Davoli ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Crossover Study ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Cold Season ◽

Energy Industry ◽

Effect Of Temperature ◽

Independent Effect ◽

Occupational Activity ◽

Work Related ◽

Case Crossover ◽

Prevention Programmes

ObjectivesStudies on the effect of temperature on rates of work-related injuries (WRIs) are very recent, and are evolving in depth and scope. However, less is known about potential effects of air pollutants. Our objective was to analyse the association between WRI and NO2, PM10and air temperature in three major Italian cities, and to identify groups of workers more at risk in Italy.DesignTime-stratified case-crossover study.SettingsMilan, Turin, Rome, years 2001–2010.ParticipantsA total of 468 816 WRI occurred between 2001 and 2010 in Milan, Turin and Rome were extracted from the Italian national workers’ compensation authority database.Main outcomesAssociations between WRI and temperature, PM10, NO2, separately in the warm and in the cold season (WS, May–September; CS, November–February). Effect modification was studied by economic sector, occupational activity and indoor/outdoor job activity.ResultsExposure to NO2(lag 0–8) showed the highest effect on the risk of WRI,with ORs ranging from 1.20 (95% CI 1.16 to 1.24) in Milan to 1.30 (95% CI 1.24 to 1.37) in Turin in the WS. The effect of exposure to PM10was milder but consistent across all cities: ORs from 1.09 (95% CI 1.05 to 1.12) in Turin to 1.15 (95% CI 1.11 to 1.18) in Rome. Temperature was associated with risk of WRI only among those working in construction (highest association in Rome 1.06; 95% CI 1.01 to 1.12), transportation (highest association in Milan 1.05; 95% CI 0.96 to 1.14) and the energy industry (highest association in Milan 1.57; 95% CI 1.03 to 2.38) in the WS in all cities. A weak effect of low temperatures was observed in the CS only in Rome.ConclusionsExposures to NO2resulted as strongest hazard for WRIs, mainly in warm months, while the independent effect of temperature was significant only in specific subgroups of workers. These results could be considered to better plan safety prevention programmes.

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Exposure Assessment of Environmental Tobacco Aerosol from Heated Tobacco Products: Nicotine and PM Exposures under Two Limited Conditions

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17228536 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (22) ◽

pp. 8536

Author(s):

Tomoyasu Hirano ◽

Tokuaki Shobayashi ◽

Teiji Takei ◽

Fumihiko Wakao

Keyword(s):

Particulate Matter ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Indoor Environment ◽

Tobacco Products ◽

Health Concerns ◽

Standard Value ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Impact ◽

Indoor Pm2.5 ◽

Pm2.5 Concentration

It is too early to provide a clear answer on the impact of exposure to the second-hand aerosol of heated tobacco products (HTPs) in the planning of policy for smoke-free indoors legislation. Here, we conducted a preliminary study to evaluate indoor air quality with the use of HTPs. We first measured the concentration of nicotine and particulate matter (PM2.5) in the air following 50 puffs in the use of HTPs or cigarettes in a small shower cubicle. We then measured these concentrations in comparison with the use equivalent of smoking 5.4 cigarettes per hour in a 25 m3 room, as a typical indoor environment test condition. In the shower cubicle test, nicotine concentrations in indoor air using three types of HTP, namely IQOS, glo, and ploomTECH, were 25.9–257 μg/m3. These values all exceed the upper bound of the range of tolerable concentration without health concerns, namely 3 µg/m3. In particular, the indoor PM2.5 concentration of about 300 to 500 μg/m3 using IQOS or glo in the shower cubicle is hazardous. In the 25 m3 room test, in contrast, nicotine concentrations in indoor air with the three types of HTP did not exceed 3 μg/m3. PM2.5 concentrations were below the standard value of 15 μg/m3 per year for IQOS and ploomTECH, but were slightly high for glo, with some measurements exceeding 100 μg/m3. These results do not negate the inclusion of HTPs within a regulatory framework for indoor tolerable use from exposure to HTP aerosol, unlike cigarette smoke.

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Indoor Environment Quality in Modern Life

Advanced Materials Research ◽

10.4028/www.scientific.net/amr.664.207 ◽

2013 ◽

Vol 664 ◽

pp. 207-210 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Ying Han ◽

Li Fen Yi

Keyword(s):

Air Pollution ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Indoor Environment ◽

Building Materials ◽

Indoor Air Pollution ◽

Living Environment ◽

Contributing Factors ◽

Adverse Health Effects ◽

Indoor Air Pollutants

There is a great improvement in modern people’s working and living environment. As the new building materials and technology appear, it brings some problems to indoor environment. more and more people pay attention to their living conditions especially the quality of indoor environment. Every year ,there are 110,000 people who die from indoor air pollution every year in China, hence indoor air pollution is affecting human health. In this paper, through analysis of the sources, adverse health effects of several common indoor air pollutants, air pollutants are major contributing factors to chronic diseases and mortality. It should be treated urgently with the people’s standard of living improvement.

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Preliminary study—air contamination with microorganisms during use of air turbine handpieces

The Journal of the American Dental Association ◽

10.14219/jada.archive.1963.0038 ◽

1963 ◽

Vol 66 (2) ◽

pp. 237-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 12

Author(s):

Ray E. Stevens

Keyword(s):

Air Contamination ◽

Air Turbine ◽

Preliminary Study

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A PRELIMINARY STUDY TO INVESTIGATE THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN INDOOR ENVIRONMENT AND ITS EFFECT ON PHYSICAL AND MENTAL HEALTH

Air Pollution XXVI ◽

10.2495/air180531 ◽

2018 ◽

Author(s):

HIROKO NAKAOKA ◽

NORIMICHI SUZUKI ◽

YOSHITAKE NAKAYAMA ◽

KAZUNARI TAKAYA ◽

EMIKO TODAKA ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Mental Health ◽

Indoor Environment ◽

Physical And Mental Health ◽

Preliminary Study ◽

The Relationship

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The Association between the Concentration of Heavy Metals in the Indoor Atmosphere and Atopic Dermatitis Symptoms in Children Aged between 4 and 13 Years: A Pilot Study

Children ◽

10.3390/children8111004 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 8 (11) ◽

pp. 1004

Author(s):

Hyun Seung Choi ◽

Michelle J. Suh ◽

Sung Chul Hong ◽

Ju Wan Kang

Keyword(s):

Heavy Metals ◽

Atopic Dermatitis ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Control Group ◽

Living Room ◽

Chi Square ◽

Chi Square Test ◽

Adjusted Logistic Regression ◽

Bacterial Aerosols

Background: A correlation between the harmful effects of air pollutants and atopic dermatitis has been reported. There are few studies on the correlation between the concentration of heavy metals in the indoor atmosphere and symptoms of atopic dermatitis. Methods: Twenty-two homes of children showing atopic dermatitis symptoms were enrolled, and eighteen homes with similarly aged children without symptoms or a history of atopic dermatitis participated as a control group. We measured the concentrations of various air pollutants (particulate matter 10, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide, formaldehyde, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), ozone, radon, bacterial aerosols, and mold) as well as various heavy metals, such as lead, cadmium, and mercury, in the living room and children’s bedroom of each home. Results: Lead was more commonly detected in the indoor air in houses of children with atopic dermatitis (15/22) as compared to in the control group (3/18) (chi square test, p = 0.002). In adjusted logistic regression analysis, VOCs and lead were significantly associated with atopic dermatitis (p < 0.05). Conclusion: Our study shows that lead in indoor air might be associated with atopic dermatitis, even if the concentrations of airborne lead are below the safety levels suggested by health guidelines.

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