A Comparison between Temperature-Controlled Laminar Airflow Device and a Room Air-Cleaner in Reducing Exposure to Particles While Asleep

PLoS One. 2016 Nov 29;11(11):e0166882. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0166882. eCollection 2016.

Abstract

People spend approximately one third of their life sleeping. Exposure to pollutants in the sleep environment often leads to a variety of adverse health effects, such as development and exacerbation of asthma. Avoiding exposure to these pollutants by providing a sufficient air quality in the sleep environment might be a feasible method to alleviate these health symptoms. We performed full-scale laboratory measurements using a thermal manikin positioned on an experimental bed. Three ventilation settings were tested: with no filtration system operated, use of portable air cleaner and use of a temperature-controlled laminar airflow (TLA) device. The first part of the experiment investigated the air-flow characteristics in the breathing zone. In the second part, particle removal efficiency was estimated. Measured in the breathing zone, the room air cleaner demonstrated high turbulence intensity, high velocity and turbulence diffusivity level, with a particle reduction rate of 52% compared to baseline after 30 minutes. The TLA device delivered a laminar airflow to the breathing zone with a reduction rate of 99.5%. During a periodical duvet lifting mimicking a subject's movement in bed, the particle concentration was significantly lower with the TLA device compared to the room air cleaner. The TLA device provided a barrier which significantly reduced the introduction of airborne particles into the breathing zone. Further studies should be conducted for the understanding of the transport of resuspended particles between the duvet and the laying body.

Publication types

  • Comparative Study

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis*
  • Air Pollution, Indoor / prevention & control*
  • Environment, Controlled*
  • Environmental Exposure / adverse effects*
  • Environmental Exposure / analysis
  • Filtration / instrumentation*
  • Humans
  • Manikins
  • Respiration
  • Sleep / physiology*
  • Temperature
  • Ventilation / instrumentation
  • Ventilation / methods*

Grants and funding

The authors received no specific funding for this work.