Experimental and Modeled Assessment of Interventions to Reduce PM2.5 in a Residence during a Wildfire Event

Antonopoulos, Chrissi; Dillon, H. E.; Gall, Elliott

doi:10.3390/pollutants4010003

Experimental and Modeled Assessment of Interventions to Reduce PM2.5 in a Residence during a Wildfire Event

Journal Article · Sun Jan 28 04:00:00 EST 2024 · Pollutants

DOI:https://doi.org/10.3390/pollutants4010003· OSTI ID:2283267

; ;

Increasingly large and frequent wildfires affect air quality even indoors by emitting and dispersing fine/ultrafine particulate matter known to pose health risks to residents. With this health threat, we are working to help the building science community develop simplified tools that may be used to estimate impacts to large numbers of homes based on high-level housing characteristics. In addition to reviewing literature sources, we performed an experiment to evaluate interventions to mitigate degraded indoor air quality. We instrumented one residence for one week during an extreme wildfire event in the Pacific Northwest. Outdoor ambient concentrations of PM2.5 reached historic levels, sustained at over 200 μg/m3 for multiple days. Outdoor and indoor PM2.5 were monitored, and data regarding building characteristics, infiltration, and mechanical system operation were gathered to be consistent with the type of information commonly known for residential energy models. Two conditions were studied: a high-capture minimum efficiency rated value (MERV 13) filter integrated into a central forced air (CFA) system, and a CFA with MERV 13 filtration operating with a portable air cleaner (PAC). With intermittent CFA operation and no PAC, indoor corrected concentrations of PM2.5 reached 280 μg/m3, and indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios reached a mean of 0.55. The measured I/O ratio was reduced to a mean of 0.22 when both intermittent CFA and the PAC were in operation. Data gathered from the test home were used in a modeling exercise to assess expected I/O ratios from both interventions. The mean modeled I/O ratio for the CFA with an MERV 13 filter was 0.48, and 0.28 when the PAC was added. The model overpredicted the MERV 13 performance and underpredicted the CFA with an MERV 13 filter plus a PAC, though both conditions were predicted within 0.15 standard deviation. The results illustrate the ways that models can be used to estimate indoor PM2.5 concentrations in residences during extreme wildfire smoke events.

View Journal Article

Sponsoring Organization:: USDOE

Grant/Contract Number:: AC05-76RL01830

OSTI ID:: 2283267

Alternate ID(s):: OSTI ID: 2567017

Journal Information:: Pollutants, Journal Name: Pollutants Journal Issue: 1 Vol. 4; ISSN POLLAD; ISSN 2673-4672

Publisher:: MDPI AGCopyright Statement

Country of Publication:: Country unknown/Code not available

Language:: English

References (43)

Estimation of infiltration from leakage and climate indicators Sherman, Max H. Energy and Buildings, Vol. 10, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1016/0378-7788(87)90008-9	journal	February 1987
Indoor air quality and health Jones, A. P. Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 33, Issue 28 https://doi.org/10.1016/S1352-2310(99)00272-1	journal	December 1999
Estimates of HVAC filtration efficiency for fine and ultrafine particles of outdoor origin Azimi, Parham; Zhao, Dan; Stephens, Brent Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 98 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2014.09.007	journal	December 2014
Protecting building occupants against the inhalation of outdoor-origin aerosols Dillon, Michael B.; Sextro, Richard G.; Delp, W. Woody Atmospheric Environment, Vol. 268 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.atmosenv.2021.118773	journal	January 2022
Impact of placement of portable air cleaning devices in multizone residential environments Novoselac, Atila; Siegel, Jeffrey A. Building and Environment, Vol. 44, Issue 12 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2009.03.023	journal	December 2009
Energy saving potential and repercussions on indoor air quality of demand controlled residential ventilation strategies Laverge, J.; Van Den Bossche, N.; Heijmans, N. Building and Environment, Vol. 46, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.01.023	journal	July 2011
Association of residential energy efficiency retrofits with indoor environmental quality, comfort, and health: A review of empirical data Fisk, William J.; Singer, Brett C.; Chan, Wanyu R. Building and Environment, Vol. 180 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2020.107067	journal	August 2020
Mechanical ventilation and indoor air quality in recently constructed U.S. homes in marine and cold-dry climates Antonopoulos, Chrissi A.; Rosenberg, Samuel I.; Zhao, Haoran Building and Environment, Vol. 245 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110480	journal	November 2023
Smart ventilation energy and indoor air quality performance in residential buildings: A review Guyot, Gaëlle; Sherman, Max H.; Walker, Iain S. Energy and Buildings, Vol. 165 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2017.12.051	journal	April 2018
Air-conditioning in low income households; a comparison of ownership, use, energy consumption and indoor comfort in Australia Goldsworthy, Mark; Poruschi, Lavinia Energy and Buildings, Vol. 203 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.enbuild.2019.109411	journal	November 2019
Air quality and health impact of 2019–20 Black Summer megafires and COVID-19 lockdown in Melbourne and Sydney, Australia Ryan, Robert G.; Silver, Jeremy D.; Schofield, Robyn Environmental Pollution, Vol. 274 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envpol.2021.116498	journal	April 2021
Extreme air pollution events from bushfires and dust storms and their association with mortality in Sydney, Australia 1994–2007 Johnston, Fay; Hanigan, Ivan; Henderson, Sarah Environmental Research, Vol. 111, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envres.2011.05.007	journal	August 2011
Trends in global wildfire potential in a changing climate Liu, Yongqiang; Stanturf, John; Goodrick, Scott Forest Ecology and Management, Vol. 259, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foreco.2009.09.002	journal	February 2010
The health impacts and economic value of wildland fire episodes in the U.S.: 2008–2012 Fann, Neal; Alman, Breanna; Broome, Richard A. Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 610-611 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.08.024	journal	January 2018
Assessment of occupant-behavior-based indoor air quality and its impacts on human exposure risk: A case study based on the wildfires in Northern California Luo, Na; Weng, Wenguo; Xu, Xiaoyu Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 686 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2019.05.467	journal	October 2019
Field measurements of PM2.5 infiltration factor and portable air cleaner effectiveness during wildfire episodes in US residences Xiang, Jianbang; Huang, Ching-Hsuan; Shirai, Jeff Science of The Total Environment, Vol. 773 https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.145642	journal	June 2021
Health effects of wildfire smoke in children and public health tools: a narrative review Holm, Stephanie M.; Miller, Mark D.; Balmes, John R. Journal of Exposure Science & Environmental Epidemiology, Vol. 31, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41370-020-00267-4	journal	September 2020
Wildfire smoke impacts respiratory health more than fine particles from other sources: observational evidence from Southern California Aguilera, Rosana; Corringham, Thomas; Gershunov, Alexander Nature Communications, Vol. 12, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-021-21708-0	journal	March 2021
Exposures and behavioural responses to wildfire smoke Burke, Marshall; Heft-Neal, Sam; Li, Jessica Nature Human Behaviour, Vol. 6, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1038/s41562-022-01396-6	journal	July 2022
Residential air-conditioning and climate change: voices of the vulnerable Hansen, Alana; Bi, Peng; Nitschke, Monika Health Promotion Journal of Australia, Vol. 22, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1071/HE11413	journal	January 2011
Climate change presents increased potential for very large fires in the contiguous United States Barbero, R.; Abatzoglou, J. T.; Larkin, N. K. International Journal of Wildland Fire, Vol. 24, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1071/WF15083	journal	January 2015
Wildfire smoke impacts on indoor air quality assessed using crowdsourced data in California Liang, Yutong; Sengupta, Deep; Campmier, Mark J. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, Vol. 118, Issue 36 https://doi.org/10.1073/pnas.2106478118	journal	August 2021
Prescribed Burns and Wildfires in Colorado: Impacts of Mitigation Measures on Indoor Air Particulate Matter Henderson, David E.; Milford, Jana B.; Miller, Shelly L. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Vol. 55, Issue 10 https://doi.org/10.1080/10473289.2005.10464746	journal	October 2005
Is remaining indoors an effective way of reducing exposure to fine particulate matter during biomass burning events? Reisen, Fabienne; Powell, Jennifer C.; Dennekamp, Martine Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Vol. 69, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2019.1567623	journal	February 2019
Wildfire and prescribed burning impacts on air quality in the United States Jaffe, Daniel A.; O’Neill, Susan M.; Larkin, Narasimhan K. Journal of the Air & Waste Management Association, Vol. 70, Issue 6 https://doi.org/10.1080/10962247.2020.1749731	journal	June 2020
Modeling the impact of residential HVAC filtration on indoor particles of outdoor origin (RP-1691) Azimi, Parham; Zhao, Dan; Stephens, Brent Science and Technology for the Built Environment, Vol. 22, Issue 4 https://doi.org/10.1080/23744731.2016.1163239	journal	April 2016
Indoor air quality and wildfire smoke impacts in the Pacific Northwest Kirk, W. Max; Fuchs, Madeline; Huangfu, Yibo Science and Technology for the Built Environment, Vol. 24, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.1080/23744731.2017.1393256	journal	November 2017
Health benefits and costs of filtration interventions that reduce indoor exposure to PM2.5 during wildfires Fisk, W. J.; Chan, W. R. Indoor Air, Vol. 27, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12285	journal	March 2016
Using portable particle sizing instrumentation to rapidly measure the penetration of fine and ultrafine particles in unoccupied residences Zhao, H.; Stephens, B. Indoor Air, Vol. 27, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12295	journal	March 2016
Indoor air quality in California homes with code‐required mechanical ventilation Singer, Brett C.; Chan, Wanyu R.; Kim, Yang‐Seon Indoor Air, Vol. 30, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1111/ina.12676	journal	May 2020
Indoor particle dynamics Nazaroff, W. W. Indoor Air, Vol. 14, Issue s7 https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1600-0668.2004.00286.x	journal	August 2004
Blower-door estimates of PM_2.5 deposition rates and penetration factors in an idealized room Lai, Yonghang; Ridley, Ian; Brimblecombe, Peter Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 31, Issue 8 https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X20944427	journal	August 2020
Towards the future prospect of control technology for alleviating indoor air pollution Bai, Li; Yu, Chuck Wah Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 30, Issue 7 https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X211010841	journal	May 2021
Monitoring summertime indoor overheating and pollutant risks and natural ventilation patterns of seniors in public housing Tsoulou, Ioanna; He, Ruikang; Senick, Jennifer Indoor and Built Environment, Vol. 32, Issue 5 https://doi.org/10.1177/1420326X221148728	journal	January 2023
Cardio-respiratory outcomes associated with exposure to wildfire smoke are modified by measures of community health Rappold, Ana G.; Cascio, Wayne E.; Kilaru, Vasu J. Environmental Health, Vol. 11, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-11-71	journal	September 2012
Vegetation fire smoke, indigenous status and cardio-respiratory hospital admissions in Darwin, Australia, 1996–2005: a time-series study Hanigan, Ivan C.; Johnston, Fay H.; Morgan, Geoffrey G. Environmental Health, Vol. 7, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1186/1476-069X-7-42	journal	August 2008
Portable air cleaners should be at the forefront of the public health response to landscape fire smoke Barn, Prabjit K.; Elliott, Catherine T.; Allen, Ryan W. Environmental Health, Vol. 15, Issue 1 https://doi.org/10.1186/s12940-016-0198-9	journal	November 2016
Birth Weight following Pregnancy during the 2003 Southern California Wildfires Holstius, David M.; Reid, Colleen E.; Jesdale, Bill M. Environmental Health Perspectives, Vol. 120, Issue 9 https://doi.org/10.1289/ehp.1104515	journal	September 2012
Air quality standards for the concentration of particulate matter 2.5, global descriptive analysis Nazarenko, Yevgen; Pal, Devendra; Ariya, Parisa A. Bulletin of the World Health Organization, Vol. 99, Issue 2 https://doi.org/10.2471/BLT.19.245704	journal	December 2020
Indoor Environmental Quality in Mechanically Ventilated, Energy-Efficient Buildings vs. Conventional Buildings Wallner, Peter; Munoz, Ute; Tappler, Peter International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 12, Issue 11 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph121114132	journal	November 2015
Impact of Outdoor Air Pollution on Indoor Air Quality in Low-Income Homes during Wildfire Seasons Shrestha, Prateek M.; Humphrey, Jamie L.; Carlton, Elizabeth J. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, Vol. 16, Issue 19 https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph16193535	journal	September 2019
Wildfire Smoke Adjustment Factors for Low-Cost and Professional PM2.5 Monitors with Optical Sensors Delp, William W.; Singer, Brett C. Sensors, Vol. 20, Issue 13 https://doi.org/10.3390/s20133683	journal	June 2020
Field Evaluation of Low-Cost Particulate Matter Sensors for Measuring Wildfire Smoke Holder, Amara L.; Mebust, Anna K.; Maghran, Lauren A. Sensors, Vol. 20, Issue 17 https://doi.org/10.3390/s20174796	journal	August 2020

Similar Records

Assessing Indoor versus Outdoor PM2.5 Concentrations during the 2025 Los Angeles Fires Using the PurpleAir Sensor Network

Journal Article · Thu Dec 11 19:00:00 EST 2025 · ACS ES&T Air · OSTI ID:3013759

Experimental and Modeled Assessment of Interventions to Reduce PM2.5 in a Residence during a Wildfire Event

Citation Formats

References (43)

Similar Records

Related Subjects