Abraham M E
Yale University, New Haven, CT 06520, USA.
Indoor Air. 1999 Mar;9(1):33-40. doi: 10.1111/j.1600-0668.1999.t01-3-00006.x.
Aerosol particles in municipal atmospheres are of increasing public health concern; however, since most of our time is spent indoors, indoor aerosols must be researched in counterpart. Compact High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filter systems are commonly employed in residences to alleviate airborne dust concentrations. In this study, a detailed and original methodology was used to determine concentrations and types of submicrometer aerosols, as well as of large (> 4 microns) dust particles. Scanning electron microscopy was used to quantify and characterize ambient aerosols collected from filtered and non-filtered rooms. Particle concentrations were significantly lower in samples collected in the presence of the filter system (mean 23 to 8 coarse particles liter-1, 63% reduction; 13 to 3 inorganic submicron particles cm-3, 76% reduction; 85 to 33 total submicron particles cm-3, 62% reduction; all P < 0.05). This study provides a new methodology for analysis of indoor aerosols and new data on their physico-chemical characteristics. Since the filter systems are effective at reducing submicron aerosol concentrations, they may improve the health of individuals such as asthmatics, who experience health problems caused by anthropogenic fine particles.
城市大气中的气溶胶颗粒日益引起公众对健康的关注；然而，由于我们大部分时间都待在室内，因此必须对室内气溶胶进行相应的研究。紧凑型高效空气过滤器（HEPA）系统通常用于住宅，以降低空气中的灰尘浓度。在本研究中，采用了一种详细且新颖的方法来测定亚微米气溶胶以及大颗粒（>4微米）灰尘颗粒的浓度和类型。使用扫描电子显微镜对从有过滤系统和无过滤系统的房间收集的环境气溶胶进行定量和表征。在有过滤系统的情况下收集的样本中，颗粒浓度显著降低（平均每升23至8个粗颗粒，减少63%；每立方厘米13至3个无机亚微米颗粒，减少76%；每立方厘米85至33个总亚微米颗粒，减少62%；所有P<0.05）。本研究为室内气溶胶分析提供了一种新方法，并提供了有关其物理化学特性的新数据。由于过滤系统在降低亚微米气溶胶浓度方面有效，它们可能会改善哮喘患者等因人为细颗粒而出现健康问题的人群的健康状况。
