This study examined the influence of multiple factors—particularly occupant presence and air purifier operation—on indoor PM2.5 concentrations across 104 households in the Seoul metropolitan area. Both indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations were continuously monitored and integrated with time-specific survey data to analyze spatial and temporal patterns of indoor exposure. Results showed that occupant presence significantly elevated indoor PM2.5 concentrations, especially during periods of high activity (08:00~15:00 and 18:00~20:00). The indoor/outdoor (I/ O) concentration ratio was also significantly higher during these periods, indicating that occupant activities were a major contributor to indoor PM2.5 concentrations. Air purifier use was found to be associated with a consistent reduction in indoor PM2.5 concentrations, regardless of occupancy status. Notably, the I/O ratio also decreased when air purifiers were in operation, demonstrating their effectiveness in controlling both indoor emissions and the infiltration of outdoor pollutants. These findings provide empirical evidence of the multifactorial dynamics governing indoor PM2.5 exposure and highlight the importance of occupant-centered and time-specific strategies for effective residential air quality management.

This study was undertaken to investigate whether HEPA filter-equipped air purifiers can remove aerosolized virus, whether the removed virus can re-scatter through the filter, and how long the removed virus keeps its infectivity in the filter. For this investigation, six HEPA filter-equipped air purifiers produced by different companies were tested against PhiX174 and MS2 phages aerosolized by nebulizers. For viral detection from the air, LB agar plates covered with Escherichia coli hosts and an Andersen air sampler were used, and from the surface, the swab method was used. Both the aerosolized PhiX174 and MS2 viruses absorbed by the HEPA filters in the air purifiers were not detected from the air through filters or the surface of the outlet of the air purifiers. During the operation of the air purifiers at medium mode, the infectious viral concentration of these viruses in the HEPA filters decreased to 0%~12.3% as the time period passed. These results regarding infectious viral concentration differences were assumed to be due to the different wind speed and air volume among the six air purifiers. Based on observations over 5 days, the infectious viral concentration of the PhiX174 phage was 8,600 times lower when the air purifier was operated than when it was not operated. Overall, our results demonstrate that HEPA filter-equipped air purifiers can efficiently remove the two aerosolized viruses and the removed viruses in the HEPA filter could not re-spread and maintain their infectivity.

Many air purifiers have been developed and released with increasing PM. In generally, the performance of air purifiers has been evaluated in the environment chamber by relevant standards. However, as there is a lack of information about air cleaning performance of air purifier in the living area, consumers have difficulty with product selection. In this study, five air purifiers were tested in apartments with different structures. In order to examine the effect of air purifiers, we assumed 3 cases such as inflow of pollutants from outdoors by ventilation, smoking patterns of residents, and cooking methods (e.g., frying fish). The evaluation results showed that the efficiency of air purifier products D and B of the 3-stage configuration (pre-filter + HEPA filter + activity carbon) was the best in most experiments. In the case of the ionizer type E product, the efficiency was very low and, at times, had increased the particulate matter indoors. Considering the cost-performance ratio, it is most reasonable to use an air purifier comprising a pre-filter and a HEPA filter without an additional configuration.

실내 공기질 관리의 중요성이 대두되면서 쾌적한 실내환경에 도움을 주는 공기청정 기능과 습도 조절 기능을 동시에 갖춘 제습기와 공기청정기가 각광받고 있다. 하지만 오랜 기간 동안 공기정화제품을 사용하게 될 시에는 필터가 오염되어 본연의 기능을 상실하게 되는 것으로 알려져 있지만 이에 대한 구체적인 연구나 보고는 드문 편이다. 이에 본 연구에서는 가정과 사무실 등에서 사용한 공기정화제품을 수거하여 주요 부위별 미생물 오염도 및 주요 오염 미생물들을 분석하였다. 그 결과, 4 종류의 공기정화제품에서 오염도가 높은 부위는 필터부위, 물이 직접 닿는 부위 및 공기가 외부로부터 직접적으로 들어오는 입구부위 등에서 미생물학적 오염도가 가장 높았다. 하지만 공기정화제품은 사용하는 환경과 조건에 따라서 미생물학적 오염도 및 오염 미생물의 성상은 각각 다르게 나타났다. 하지만 이들 공기정화제품들에는 공통적으로 Staphylococcus sp., Micrococcus sp. 그리고 Bacillus sp.의 세균과 Cladosporium sp. 및 Penicillium sp.의 진균이 공통적으로 오염되어 있는 우점종인 것으로 분석되었다.