Filters & air cleaning


Pollution solution


Epidemiological evidence has revealed a link between airborne pollution and a range of mental health conditions including depression, anxiety, psychosis, dementia and childhood cognitive development. Peter Dyment from Camfil looks at how contractors can help alleviate the problem


increasing concentrations of airborne pollutants are associated with a spectrum of mental health disorders. New research from Kings College London, for


A


example, concludes that children who live in areas with higher air pollution are significantly more likely to have developed major depression by the age of 18. The Kings College scientists believe their findings


are particularly noteworthy because three-quarters of mental health problems begin in childhood or adolescence, when the brain is developing rapidly. This makes high quality indoor air essential in schools in particular because it improves pupils’ cognitive performance, essential for successful learning. The hazards faced by students and teachers range from general indoor air quality (IAQ) issues, exposure to traffic fumes, toxic gases in labs and deadly viruses in research labs. On any given school day, roughly 51


million people will occupy a school buildings. Yet, many of these buildings are in need of extensive repairs, and report problems related to poor indoor air quality. Effective filtration can help improve IAQ in schools and results in lower absentee rates, better energy efficiency, a healthy environment for people with allergies, including asthma, and reduced liabilities. Most importantly, it helps to protect students – one of our most important investments in the future. But children are not the only victims of poor IAQ;


adults are impacted by it too. A major study in Hong Kong last year revealed that the risk of death rises sharply when air pollution is at its worst. The study – with the rather perplexing title: ‘Spatiotemporal influence of temperature, air quality, and urban environment on cause-specific mortality during hazy days’ – concluded that a combined influence of haze, extreme weather/air quality, and urban environment can result in high fatalities due to mental/behavioural disorders or diseases of the nervous system. Researchers analysed a decade of death statistics


and revealed a strong link, with the mortality risk rising 16% on the first day of haze and 27% on the


 July 2019


lthough insufficient data exists to prove conclusively that air pollution causes mental health problems, there is mounting evidence that


second day compared to normal days. If the haze was accompanied by high ozone pollution, the risk of death increased by 79%. Finally, a 2015 US study found that those with


higher exposures to fine particulate matter, were more likely to experience high anxiety symptom levels. The research – by Dr Melinda Power, a professor at George Washington University – used data from 70,000 women in the Nurses’ Health Study (https://www.nurseshealthstudy.org) who then filled out a survey on their anxiety levels.


air, and harm the health of at least some of the indoor population. To provide a truly healthy and productive indoor air environment in areas with bad air pollution, ventilation systems need filters that are also capable of removing ultrafine particles – the smallest fraction and the most harmful. This means that the focus should be put on filtering particles that are 1 µm (micrometre or micron) or smaller in diameter – particles also known as PM1 (particulate matter 1 micron and below). Air filters that effectively separate PM1 particles


will not only protect people from serious health problems, but they will also help sustain the general mental health and productivity of people by preventing bacteria and viruses (which are often PM1 in size) from spreading through the ventilation system. This is where expertise and technologically- advanced filters, such as those supplied by Camfil, have been proven to help. They proved to be an effective barrier to severe


Camfil industrial air cleaners can help to solve air quality problems


air pollution in a London office in 2015 when they reduced pollution by 93% during what was one of the worst air pollution episodes that year. Camfil engineers investigated air pollution in London between March 16 and 20, 2015. They monitored outdoor air pollution and indoor air quality at Montague Place in central London and tested air filter combinations in the office’s air handling unit. Daily mean outdoor particle air pollution (PM2.5) hit 346 ug/m3


on March 18, nearly She discovered that fine particles in the air were


connected to increased anxiety levels, and that the more recent the exposure, the higher the level of anxiety experienced. Outdoor air pollution is intrinsically linked to indoor air quality because external air tends to find its way inside and is used to ventilate buildings. That’s why the Building Engineering Services Association (BESA) has proposed using buildings in heavily polluted areas such as city centres as ‘safe havens’ (https://bit.ly/2Jy8D4a). Of course, creating these safe havens demands


effective filtration of incoming air. Air pollutants generated outdoors are relevant to IAQ and health if they meet three criteria – they penetrate indoors, comprise a significant portion of pollutants to indoor


14 times the World Health Organisation (WHO) guidelines. The five air filter combinations were measured in outdoor air and the supply air entering the office. The results are telling: • City-Flo XL with ePM1 60% (F7) filter (molecular and particle) – 50-56% • Hi-Flo XLT ePM1 60% (F7) air filters – 52% • Hi-Flo XLT with ePM1 85% (F9) air filters – 83% • CityCarb with ePM1 70% (F7) air – 93% • 1 above plus three standalone City M air filters in the office – 90% The results imply that the most energy efficient solution is likely to combine a higher filter class in incoming air and one or more standalone air cleaners within the office or room to remove the particles and emissions generated indoors such as volatile organic compounds.


www.heatingandventilating.net


www.heatingandventilating.net


Page 1  |  Page 2  |  Page 3  |  Page 4  |  Page 5  |  Page 6  |  Page 7  |  Page 8  |  Page 9  |  Page 10  |  Page 11  |  Page 12  |  Page 13  |  Page 14  |  Page 15  |  Page 16  |  Page 17  |  Page 18  |  Page 19  |  Page 20  |  Page 21  |  Page 22  |  Page 23  |  Page 24  |  Page 25  |  Page 26  |  Page 27  |  Page 28  |  Page 29  |  Page 30  |  Page 31  |  Page 32  |  Page 33  |  Page 34  |  Page 35  |  Page 36  |  Page 37  |  Page 38  |  Page 39  |  Page 40  |  Page 41  |  Page 42  |  Page 43  |  Page 44