Particulate matter emitted from ultrasonic humidifiers-Chemical composition and implication to indoor air
| Autor: | Boyang Zhao, Max Loebel Roson, R. Zhao, K. Klimchuk, Chester J. Lau, Tania Gautam |
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| Rok vydání: | 2020 |
| Předmět: |
Environmental Engineering
010504 meteorology & atmospheric sciences Indoor air 010501 environmental sciences 01 natural sciences Humidifiers law.invention Indoor air quality law Humans Ultrasonics Organic Chemicals Particle Size Chemical composition 0105 earth and related environmental sciences Air Pollutants Public Health Environmental and Occupational Health Environmental engineering Water Building and Construction Particulates 13. Climate action Atmospheric chemistry Air Pollution Indoor Ventilation (architecture) Environmental science Ultrasonic sensor Particulate Matter Environmental Monitoring |
| Zdroj: | Indoor airREFERENCES. 31(3) |
| ISSN: | 1600-0668 |
| Popis: | Household humidification is widely practiced to combat dry indoor air. While the benefits of household humidification are widely perceived, its implications to the indoor air have not been critically appraised. In particular, ultrasonic humidifiers are known to generate fine particulate matter (PM). In this study, we first conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the size, quantity, and chemical composition of PM generated by an ultrasonic humidifier. The mass of PM generated showed a correlation with the total alkalinity of charge water, suggesting that CaCO3 is likely making a major contribution to PM. Ion chromatography analysis revealed a large amount of SO4 2- in PM, representing a previously unrecognized indoor source. Preliminary results of organic compounds being present in humidifier PM are also presented. A whole-house experiment was further conducted at an actual residential house, with five low-cost sensors (AirBeam) monitoring PM in real time. Operation of a single ultrasonic humidifier resulted in PM2.5 concentrations up to hundreds of μg m-3 , and its influence extended across the entire household. The transport and loss of PM2.5 depended on the rate of air circulation and ventilation. This study emphasizes the need to further investigate the impact of humidifier operation, both on human health and on the indoor atmospheric chemistry, for example, partitioning of acidic and basic compounds. |
| Databáze: | OpenAIRE |
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