title: Controlling Indoor Air Pollution from Moxibustion.
abstract: Indoor air quality (IAQ) control of hospitals plays a critical role in protecting both hospital staffs and patients, particularly those who are highly susceptible to the adverse effects of indoor noxious hazards. However, moxibustion in outpatient departments (OPDs) of traditional Chinese medicine (TCM) may be a source of indoor air pollution in hospitals. Some studies have investigated indoor air pollution during moxibustion in Chinese medicine clinics (CMCs) and moxibustion rooms, demonstrating elevated air pollutants that pose a threat to the health of medical staff and patients. Our study investigated the indoor air pollutants of indoor carbon dioxide (CO₂), carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), airborne particulate matter with a diameter of ≤10 µm (PM10) and ≤2.5 µm (PM2.5) during moxibustion in an acupuncture and moxibustion room of the OPD in a hospital in Taipei. To evaluate the different control strategies for indoor air pollution from moxibution, a comparison of air pollutants during moxibution among the methods of using alternative old moxa wools, local exhaust ventilation and an air cleaner was conducted. In this study, burning alternative old moxa wools for moxibustion obviously reduced all gaseous pollutants except for aerosols comparing burning fresh moxa wools. Using local exhaust ventilation reduced most of the aerosols after burning moxa. We also found that using an air cleaner was inefficient for controlling indoor air pollutants, particularly gaseous pollutants. Therefore, combining replacing alternative old moxa wools and local exhaust ventilation could be a suitable design for controlling indoor air pollution during moxibustion therapy.
authors.affiliation: School of Post-Baccalaureate Chinese Medicine, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan. u100030082@cmu.edu.tw.|Department of Sport and Health Management, Da-Yeh University, Changhua 515, Taiwan. u100030082@cmu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Chung-Yen
authors.initials: CY
authors.lastname: Lu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan. jeffrey.kang@msa.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Sy-Yuan
authors.initials: SY
authors.lastname: Kang
authors.affiliation: Department of Health Care and Social Work, Yu-Da University of Science and Technology, Miaoli 361, Taiwan. liush@ydu.edu.tw.|Department of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung 404, Taiwan. liush@ydu.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Shu-Hui
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Liu
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan. t6679010@ntut.edu.tw.
authors.forename: Cheng-Wei
authors.initials: CW
authors.lastname: Mai
authors.affiliation: Institute of Environmental Engineering and Management, National Taipei University of Technology, Taipei 106, Taiwan. jojeff@ms17.hinet.net.
authors.forename: Chao-Heng
authors.initials: CH
authors.lastname: Tseng
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000032:analysis / Q000517:prevention & control*; D002245:Carbon Dioxide / Q000032:analysis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000032:analysis; D004784:Environmental Monitoring; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000032:analysis; D008516:Medicine, Chinese Traditional; D009071:Moxibustion; D010044:Outpatient Clinics, Hospital; D052638:Particulate Matter / Q000032:analysis; D013624:Taiwan; D014691:Ventilation; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D052638:Particulate Matter; D055549:Volatile Organic Compounds; D002245:Carbon Dioxide; D005557:Formaldehyde; D002248:Carbon Monoxide
keywords: air cleaner; indoor air quality; local exhaust ventilation; moxa wool; moxibustion