Deposition of Tobacco Smoke Particles in a Low Ventilation Room

Abstract

Deposition on indoor surfaces is an important removal mechanism for tobacco smoke particles. We report measurements of deposition rates of environmental tobacco smoke particles in a room-size chamber. The deposition rates were determined from the changes in measured concentrations by correcting for the effects of coagulation and ventilation. The airflow turbulent intensity parameter was determined independently by measuring the air velocities in the chamber. Particles with diameters < 0.25 μm coagulate to form larger particles of sizes between 0.25 and 0.5 μm. The effect of coagulation on the particles > 0.5 μm was found to be negligible. Comparison between our measurements and calculations using the theory of Crump and Seinfeld (1981) showed smaller measured deposition rates for particles from 0.1 to 0.3 μm in diameter and greater measured deposition rates for particles larger than 0.6 μm at three mixing intensities. Comparison of Nazaroff and Cass' model (1989a) for natural convection flow showed good agreement with the measurements for particles > 0.1 μm in diameter; however, measured deposition rates exceeded model predictions by a factor of approximately 4 for particles in size range of 0.05–0.1 μm in diameter. These results were used to predict deposition of sidestream smoke particles on interior surfaces. Calculations predict that in 10 hours after smoking one cigarette, 22% of total sidestream particles by mass will deposit on interior surfaces at 0.03 air change per hour (ACH), 6% will deposit at 0.5 ACH, and 3% will deposit at 1 ACH.