US EPA

2331874 

Journal Article 

Pilot study of high-performance air filtration for classroom applications 

Polidori, A; Fine, PM; White, V; Kwon, PS 

2013 

Yes 

Indoor Air
ISSN: 0905-6947
EISSN: 1600-0668 

23 

3 

185-195 

English 

23137181 

10.1111/ina.12013 

WOS:000318078700003 

A study was conducted to investigate the effectiveness of three air purification systems in reducing the exposure of children to air contaminants inside nine classrooms of three Southern California schools. Continuous and integrated measurements were conducted to monitor the indoor and outdoor concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs), fine and coarse particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10, respectively), black carbon (BC), and volatile organic compounds. An heating, ventilating, and air conditioning (HVAC)-based high-performance panel filter (HP-PF), a register-based air purifier (RS), and a stand-alone air cleaning system (SA) were tested alone and in different combinations for their ability to remove the monitored pollutants. The combination of a RS and a HP-PF was the most effective solution for lowering the indoor concentrations of BC, UFPs, and PM2.5, with study average reductions between 87% and 96%. When using the HP-PF alone, reductions close to 90% were also achieved. In all cases, air quality conditions were improved substantially with respect to the corresponding baseline (preexisting) conditions. Data on the performance of the gas-absorbing media included in the RS and SA unit were inconclusive, and their effectiveness, lifetime, costs, and benefits must be further assessed before conclusions and recommendations can be made. 

Air filtration; Removal effectiveness; School classrooms; Ultrafine particles; Black carbon; Volatile organic compounds