Reduction in Indoor PM-10 Levels with Enhanced Central System Filtration

摘要

The level of air particulate in a home has an impact on the cleanliness of the home, the performance of the HVAC system, as well as the health of the occupants. Particulate that is less than 10 microns in size, referred to as PM-10, has significant health implications. PM-10 particles are known to contain numerous carcinogenic and mutagenic compounds that are inhaled and deposit in the respiratory system. Since people spend most of their time indoors, indoor PM-10 levels are of concern. Numerous air particulate studies indicate that indoor PM-10 levels are higher than outdoor PM-10 levels. Some studies have been done that indicate that indoor PM-10 levels can be lower than outdoor PM-10 levels. Filtration has been shown to reduce indoor particulate, or PM-10 levels, but these results are sparsely documented. This paper describes the experimental technique used to collect PM-10 samples in a number of field-test homes. The results of this field study indicate that homes with enhanced central system filtration can have indoor PM-10 levels substantially lower than outdoor levels. On average the indoor PM-10 level was 73% lower than the outdoor PM-10 level; the average outdoor PM-10 level was 19.2 μg/m~3 and the average indoor PM-10 level was 5.1 μg/m~3.