Effects of a gas-phase air cleaner in removing human bioeffluents and improving perceived air quality

Abstract

The use of air cleaners to enhance indoor air quality under reduced ventilation for energy conservation has increasingly garnered attention. However, the effects of air cleaners on the removal of gaseous compounds require further research. Reduced ventilation can increase air pollution caused by emissions from humans (bioeffluents); however, little is known about the performance of air cleaners regarding this type of pollution. Thus, this study addressed this gap. Two male participants sitting in a stainless-steel chamber served as a source of bioeffluents at two temperatures (23°C and 28°C), and a gas-phase air cleaner was either operational or idled. Thirteen participants evaluated the air quality, and chemical analyses were performed. The protocols partially followed the ISO Standards 16,000–28 and 16,000–44. The results indicate that pollutants emitted by humans decreased when the air cleaner was operating. In addition, sensory assessments showed a decrease in odour intensity and percentage of dissatisfaction with the operating air cleaner. The clean air delivery rate was higher at 28 °C, and the perceived air freshness also improved at this temperature. Our findings show that air cleaner operation effectively improved the quality of air polluted by human bioeffluents. However, the validation of results in actual environments is recommended.