Air ion and aerosol study in rural dwellings

Abstract

Concentration and size distribution of airborne particles (size range 10–1100nm), using a SMPS+C Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer, and concentrations of positive and negative cluster ions (size range 0.36–1.6nm), using several CDI-06 Gerdien-type integral air ion detectors, have been monitored in three rooms in rural dwellings of Serbia and Slovenia, during periods when nobody was present in the room and while smoking and heating were taking place. The highest particle generation rate was 2.4×1011min−1 while cigarette smoking was taking place and was 1.5×1011min−1 during heating with a cast iron stove with wood burning at 150°C, and 1.1×1010min−1, during heating with an Alpine-type oven at 40–50°C. The related particle loss rate constants were 0.0603min−1, 0.0442min−1, and 0.0067min−1. The estimated mean values of the effective ion attachment rate βeff vary between (2.2–5.4)10−6cm3s−1. A correlation between ions concentration and particles concentration and their sizes has been sought, and findings are discussed and shown.