Evaluating the effectiveness of a commercial portable air purifier in homes with wood burning stoves: A preliminary study

Wood burning for residential heating is prevalent in the rocky mountain regions of the united states. studies have shown that wood stoves can be a significant source of pm2.5 within homes. in this study,the effectiveness of an electrostatic filter portable air purifier was evaluated (1) in a home where a wood stove was the sole heat source and (2) in a home where a wood stove was used as a supplemental heat source. particle count concentrations in six particle sizes and particle mass concentrations in two particle sizes were measured for ten 12-hour purifier on and ten purifier off trials in each home. particle count concentrations were reduced by 61-85 percent. similar reductions were observed in particle mass concentrations. these findings,although limited to one season,suggest that a portable air purifier may effectively reduce indoor particulate matter concentrations associated with wood combustion during home heating. copyright © 2011 julie f. hart et al.