Abstract
Currently available nasal filters are not well-suited for protecting humans against the fine and ultrafine airborne particles. In this research, we designed and evaluated a novel nanofiber nasal filter (NNF) capable of reducing personal exposure not only to large allergenic particles but also to ultrafine particles, thus reducing respiratory health risks. A new hybrid filter (HF) medium for the NNF was fabricated by overlaying a carbon filter substrate with nylon nanofibers produced by electrospinning. After optimizing the filter’s production parameters, the HF was produced using the Nylon-6 polymer solution with a concentration of 15 wt%, a substrate based on a MERV 5 carbon filter with a density of 61 kg m–3, and a nanofiber surface coating density of 0.72 g m–2 (or 0.54 g m–2 as a second choice). The new HF was tested with fluorescent polystyrene latex beads sized 0.026–3.1 µm and at operating flow rates of 7.5–30 L min–1. The newly developed NNF showed more than a 90% collection efficiency for particles > 1 µm, representing bacteria and molds, and more than a 50% efficiency for particles < 0.5 µm, including ultrafine particles—about a 2.3-fold improvement compared to commercially available nasal filters. Thus, this NNF may serve as a useful tool to minimize our exposure to airborne pollutants.
Highlights
Outdoor air pollution is a major contributor to the global environmental burden of disease, including the risk of cancer (Reding et al, 2015)
The newly developed nanofiber nasal filter (NNF) showed more than a 90% collection efficiency for particles > 1 μm, representing bacteria and molds, and more than a 50% efficiency for particles < 0.5 μm, including ultrafine particles—about a 2.3-fold improvement compared to commercially available nasal filters
A two-way ANOVA with Holm-Šidák post hoc method indicated the statistically significant effect of both variables; pairwise comparisons showed that the collection efficiency was statistically different (P < 0.05) except the following pairs: concentrations of 20 wt% vs. 25 wt% at every electrospinning time
Summary
Outdoor air pollution is a major contributor to the global environmental burden of disease, including the risk of cancer (Reding et al, 2015). One can avoid exposures to airborne pollutants and limit the resulting health effects by minimizing the time. Despite the apparent practicality of respirators and face masks, they often fall short of efficiently protecting against airborne allergens due to improper fit or facial leakage (Loeb et al, 2009); they impose strain to our breathing (Höppe, 2002). They are used only by 1% of allergy sufferers (Storms et al, 1997; O'Meara et al, 2005). While medication is widely used to alleviate allergy symptoms, it often is inadequate, and many people avoid medications due to their side-effects such as nausea, drowsy, or dizziness (Boulet, 1998)
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