Removal of incense smoke and corollary particulate matter using a portable bipolar air ionizer in an unventilated setup

• Published in: Frontiers in environmental science 2023-08, Vol.11
• Main Authors: Gupta, Nishant, Agarwal, Ashok Kumar, Singhal, Rajeev Kumar, Jindal, Sanjay Kumar, Ali, Daoud, Wanale, Shivraj Gangadhar, Kumar, Goklesh, Yadav, Virendra Kumar, Patel, Ashish
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Air cleaners; Air ionizers; Air pollution; Air quality; Air temperature; bipolar ionizer; Boxes; Byproducts; Effectiveness; Emission control equipment; Empirical equations; Environmental monitoring; Environmental science; Health risks; Incense; incense smoke; indoor air cleaning; Indoor air pollution; Indoor air quality; Indoor environments; Ionizers; Ions; Laboratories; Ozone; ozone emission; Particulate emissions; Particulate matter; Reduction; Relative humidity; Sensors; Smoke
• ISSN: 2296-665X; 2296-665X
• DOI: 10.3389/fenvs.2023.1218283

Introduction: Indoor air pollution-associated health risk is substantially higher than outdoor. Incense smoke represents a group of multiple hazardous air pollutants including particulate matter. Bipolar air ionizers have been one of the most escalated indoor air cleaning options in recent years. Albeit, removal efficiency against incense smoke and potential byproduct ozone have been little understood due to limited studies. Method: The present study assessed a portable needlepoint technology-based bipolar air ionizer’s removal efficacy against incense smoke in unventilated glass boxes (size 0.16 m 3 ). A series of experiments were performed in order to estimate the average efficiency. The total removal efficacy of bipolar air ionizer (BAI eff .) was estimated by using empirical equations of the particulate matter PM 2.5 (BAI eff . pm 2.5 ) and PM 10 removal (BAI eff .pm 10 ). Particulate matter was used as the marker of incense smoke in this study. The concentration of particulate matter, potential byproduct ozone, relative humidity, and the temperature was monitored by a customized sensor-based air quality monitor. Results: The tested bipolar air ionizer showed a significant decline in incense smoke. The average reduction in PM 2.5 and PM 10 concentration was observed by 74%–75%. The overall efficacy (BAI eff ) against incense smoke particulate proportion was 90% ± 10% compared to the control. Byproduct ozone was not exceeded abnormally. However, the marginal elevation in temperature and humidity (up to 5°C or 21%) and humidity (1.8%) were observed when the bipolar air ionizer was conducted. Discussion: Incense smoke consists of multiple hazardous air pollutants including volatile organic compounds and carcinogens. Incense smoke may be the major source of household pollution. A portable bipolar air ionizer could be an auxiliary air cleaning option where incense burning practices are common.