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Infiltration of forest fire and residential wood smoke: an evaluation of air cleaner effectiveness

Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology volume 18, pages 503–511 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Communities impacted by fine-particle air pollution (particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm; PM2.5) from forest fires and residential wood burning require effective, evidence-based exposure-reduction strategies. Public health recommendations during smoke episodes typically include advising community members to remain indoors and the use of air cleaners, yet little information is available on the effectiveness of these measures. Our study attempted to address the following objectives: to measure indoor infiltration factor (Finf) of PM2.5 from forest fires/wood smoke, to determine the effectiveness of high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter air cleaners in reducing indoor PM2.5, and to analyze the home determinants of Finf and air cleaner effectiveness (ACE). We collected indoor/outdoor 1-min PM2.5 averages and 48-h outdoor PM2.5 filter samples for 21 winter and 17 summer homes impacted by wood burning and forest fire smoke, respectively, during 2004–2005. A portable HEPA filter air cleaner was operated indoors with the filter removed for one of two sampling days. Particle Finf and ACE were calculated for each home using a recursive model. We found mean Finf±SD was 0.27±0.18 and 0.61±0.27 in winter (n=19) and summer (n=13), respectively, for days when HEPA filters were not used. Lower Finf±SD values of 0.10±0.08 and 0.19±0.20 were found on corresponding days when HEPA filters were in place. Mean±SD ACE ([Finf without filter–Finf with filter]/Finf without filter) in winter and summer were 55±38% and 65±35%, respectively. Number of windows and season predicted Finf (P<0.001). No significant predictors of ACE were identified. Our findings show that remaining indoors combined with use of air cleaner can effectively reduce PM2.5 exposure during forest fires and residential wood burning.

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Abbreviations

a 1 :

coefficient representing penetration of outdoor particles

a2:

coefficient representing decay of indoor particles

ACE:

air cleaner efficiency

F inf :

infiltration factor

HEPA:

high-efficiency particulate air

pDR:

personal DataRAM

PM2.5:

particles with an aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm

RH:

relative humidity

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Acknowledgements

We thank all study participants for their time, Tim Ma for performing laboratory analysis and Ryan Allen for assistance with data analysis.This study was supported by funding from the BC Ministry of Health with in-kind assistance from the UBC Centre for Health and Environment Research. All authors declare they have no competing financial interests.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Environmental Health, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Prabjit Barn, Susan Kennedy, Ray Copes & Michael Brauer

  2. Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of Washington, Seattle, Washington, USA

    Timothy Larson

  3. Environmental Sciences and Environmental Engineering, University of Northern British Columbia, Prince George, British Columbia, Canada

    Melanie Noullett

  4. Department of Health Care and Epidemiology, The University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Susan Kennedy

  5. British Columbia Centre for Disease Control, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada

    Ray Copes

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  1. Prabjit Barn
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  6. Michael Brauer
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Correspondence to Michael Brauer.

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Barn, P., Larson, T., Noullett, M. et al. Infiltration of forest fire and residential wood smoke: an evaluation of air cleaner effectiveness. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 18, 503–511 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/sj.jes.7500640

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