Real-World Effectiveness of Portable Air Cleaners in Reducing Home Particulate Matter Concentrations
Frederic T Lu1, Robert J Laumbach1,2, Alicia Legard1
1Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA.
Aerosol and Air Quality Research
|April 15, 2024
Summary
Portable air cleaners with HEPA filters effectively reduce indoor particulate matter (PM) in homes. These air filtration devices showed significant PM reduction in both the room with the cleaner and adjacent rooms.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Indoor Air Quality
- Public Health
Background:
- Portable air cleaners (PACs) with HEPA filters are increasingly used to improve indoor air quality by reducing particulate matter (PM) and airborne pathogens.
- The real-world effectiveness of PACs, especially in spaces beyond the immediate room of operation, requires further investigation.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the effectiveness of HEPA-filtered portable air cleaners in reducing indoor PM concentrations in naturalistic home settings.
- To assess PAC performance in both the room containing the device and a secondary, adjacent room.
- To investigate the influence of central air handling systems on PAC efficacy.
Main Methods:
- A single-blinded, randomized cross-over study was conducted in 29 homes of individuals with COVID-19.
- Interventions included PAC operation with a HEPA filter versus a sham (filter removed) condition over consecutive 24-hour periods.
- Air sampling for PM2.5 and PM10 was performed in the primary room (with PAC) and a secondary room.
Main Results:
- PACs significantly reduced PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations in primary rooms by 78.8% and 63.9%, respectively.
- Effectiveness in secondary rooms was also substantial, with reductions of 57.9% for PM2.5 and 60.4% for PM10.
- When central air handlers were active, PACs showed significant daytime and nighttime reductions in primary rooms and significant daytime reductions in secondary rooms.
Conclusions:
- HEPA-filtered portable air cleaners demonstrate significant real-world effectiveness in reducing indoor PM levels in both the immediate vicinity and adjacent rooms.
- The findings highlight the potential of PACs as a strategy for improving indoor air quality in homes, with implications for public health.
- Central air systems can influence PAC performance, suggesting integrated approaches to air filtration may be beneficial.
