Source strengths for indoor human activities that resuspend particulate matter.
A mathematical model was applied to continuous indoor and outdoor particulate matter (PM) measurements to estimate source strengths for a variety of prescribed human activities that resuspend house dust in the home. Activities included folding blankets, folding clothes, dry dusting, making a bed, dancing on a rug, dancing on a wood floor, vacuuming, and walking around and sitting on upholstered furniture. Although most of the resuspended particle mass from these activities was larger than 5 microm in diameter, the resuspension of PM2.5 and PM5 was substantial, with source strengths ranging from 0.03 to 0.5 mg min(-1) for PM2.5 and from 0.1 to 1.4 mg min(-1) for PM5. Source strengths for PM > 5 microm could not be quantified due to instrument limitations. The source strengths were found to be a function of the number of persons performing the activity, the vigor of the activity, the type of activity, and the type of flooring.
Ferro
Andrea R
AR
Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Terman Engineering Center, Stanford University, Stanford, California 94305-4020, USA. Aferro@clarkson.edu
Kopperud
Royal J
RJ
Hildemann
Lynn M
LM
D000203:Activities of Daily Living; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis*; D001512:Bedding and Linens; D004391:Dust; D005430:Floors and Floorcoverings; D006798:Housing; D006801:Humans; D008962:Models, Theoretical; D010316:Particle Size
D004391:Dust