Batterman Stuart, Godwin Christopher, Jia Chunrong
Environmental Health Sciences, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Michigan 48109-2029, USA.
Environ Sci Technol. 2005 Sep 15;39(18):7260-8. doi: 10.1021/es048951q.
Information regarding the long-term performance of stand-alone room airfilters is limited. In this study, laboratory and field tests were carried out to determine the effectiveness and performance of room filters that are easily deployed in essentially any type of house. Tests were conducted in houses containing strong PM sources, specifically cigarette smokers. Using commercially available four-speed HEPA filter units, we tested flow rate, pressure drop, and power consumption as a function of fan speed and filter loading. Filters were then deployed in four single-family homes over a 2 month period. Between 15 and 40 cigarettes were smoked daily by several smokers in each home. Occupants were instructed to continuously operate the unit at one of the higher speeds. Periodically, we monitored filter usage, fan speed, particulate matter (PM) mass concentrations, PM number concentrations, volatile organic compound (VOC) levels, and other parameters with the filter fan operating and with filters both installed and removed. The filters decreased PM concentrations by 30-70%, depending on size fraction and occupant activities, and significantly reduced the half-life of PM3-1.0. The half-life of 1-5 microm particles, CO2 concentrations, and VOC concentrations, including 2,5-dimethyl furan (a tracer for environmental tobacco smoke), did not change, indicating that occupancy and cigarette smoking intensity did not change overthe monitoring periods. Occupants generally kept the filters operating at a moderate speed. Filter air flow rates decreased 7-14% with extended operation, largely due to the loading of prefilters. Air exchange rates, deposition loss rates, and clean air delivery rates were estimated from the field data. Continuous operation at an intermediate fan speed would incur a total annualized cost of $236. While acceptance of the filters was very high, occupants might benefit from instructions and reminders to clean the prefilter and to keep the unit on. We conclude that adequately sized room air filters can substantially lower PM concentrations in smoker's homes if air exchange rates are limited and that the filters can maintain their performance over extended periods.
关于独立式房间空气过滤器长期性能的信息有限。在本研究中，进行了实验室测试和现场测试，以确定可轻松部署在几乎任何类型房屋中的房间过滤器的有效性和性能。测试在含有强大颗粒物（PM）源的房屋中进行，特别是吸烟者。使用市售的四速高效空气过滤器（HEPA）单元，我们测试了流速、压降和功耗作为风扇速度和过滤器负载的函数。然后在两个月的时间内将过滤器部署在四栋单户住宅中。每户有几名吸烟者每天吸食15至40支香烟。居住者被指示以较高速度之一持续运行该装置。我们定期监测过滤器的使用情况、风扇速度、颗粒物（PM）质量浓度、PM数量浓度、挥发性有机化合物（VOC）水平以及其他参数，包括过滤器风扇运行时以及过滤器安装和拆除时的参数。过滤器可将PM浓度降低30%至70%，具体取决于粒径分数和居住者活动，并显著降低了PM3-1.0的半衰期。1-5微米颗粒的半衰期、二氧化碳浓度和VOC浓度，包括2,5-二甲基呋喃（环境烟草烟雾的示踪剂）没有变化，表明在监测期间居住情况和吸烟强度没有变化。居住者通常将过滤器保持在中等速度运行。随着运行时间延长，过滤器空气流速降低了7%至14%，主要是由于前置过滤器的负载。根据现场数据估算了空气交换率、沉积损失率和清洁空气输送率。以中等风扇速度持续运行每年的总成本将为236美元。虽然对过滤器的接受度非常高，但居住者可能会从清洁前置过滤器和保持设备运行的说明及提醒中受益。我们得出结论，如果空气交换率有限，尺寸合适的房间空气过滤器可以大幅降低吸烟者家中的PM浓度，并且过滤器可以在较长时间内保持其性能。
