Influence of Indoor Air Filtration Strategies on Occupant Health Indicators

Air pollution is one of the world’s leading factors associated with cardiopulmonary disease, but knowledge on how to effectively reduce this disease burden beyond slow-paced, policy-based source reduction is lacking. As most people in the modern world spend the majority of their time indoors and so are mostly exposed to air pollution indoors, filtering indoor air is a practical strategy to reducing exposure, particularly using filtration systems in central air handling units that can efficiently provide clean air to high-density housing and work environments. However, the relative benefits of different types of air purification technologies are not understood. This study evaluates the changes in air pollutant exposure and biomarkers of cardiopulmonary disease risk in office workers living under different filtration strategies used in their office and living quarters in suburban Changsha. Sampling was completed from December 2014 to January 2015, and the study is now in the data analysis stage.