Health benefits of using air purifier to reduce exposure to PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs), heavy metals and ions

Abstract

In this study, the efficiency of air cleaners in removal of chemical components of PM2.5 (PAHs, heavy metals, and ions) in the indoor air of dormitories of Tehran University of Medical Sciences, Iran were assessed. 12 rooms were selected and randomly divided into two groups: sham air purifier system deployed room (SR) vs. true air purifier system deployed room (TR). 24-h PM2.5 samples were simultaneously collected in both TR and SR on PTFE filter papers at a flow rate of 5 L/min. The results showed overall removal efficiency of 76.5 ± 15.5%, 63.1 ± 22.5%, and 66.2 ± 24.8% for PAHs, heavy metals and ions, respectively. Moreover, the fraction of positive ions decreased when air purifiers were used in the rooms. The results showed that the smoking is an important influencing factor on the indoor air quality; smoking can leads to reduction in removal efficiency of PAHs, heavy metals and ions by 26%, 40%, and 51%, respectively. An air purifier could decreased the PM2.5 even lower than the WHO annual guideline level in non-smoker rooms. The present study revealed that use of indoor air purifiers can significantly reduce the risk of carcinogenicity and non-carcinogenicity attributed to heavy metals and PAHs, especially in places without a smoker.