Particle Resuspension During the Use of Vacuum Cleaners on Residential Carpet

Abstract

Vacuuming is generally considered to be an important activity with respect to the cleanliness of indoor environments but may lead to short-term resuspension of particulate matter and elevated particle mass in indoor air. Because resuspended particles often contain toxicants, such as lead and pesticides, or consist of biological agents that can trigger allergic reactions, it is important to understand the role of vacuuming on short-term variations in indoor particulate matter concentrations. The inhalation of particles during vacuuming events may affect adversely those whose occupation requires them to clean a wide range of indoor environments, from homes to schools and offices, as well as those who occupy those environments. In response, a series of 46 experiments was completed to determine time-variant concentrations of both PM(10) and PM(2.5) during various vacuuming activities in 12 separate apartments. Experiments involved the use of two different non-HEPA vacuum cleaners and were completed with a vacuum cleaner activated (switched on) as well as deactivated (switched off). The latter was intended to provide insight on the potential for resuspension of particles by the mechanical agitation of vacuum cleaner movement across carpet. Separate experiments were completed also using "mock" vacuuming simulations, that is, walking on the carpet in a manner consistent with using a vacuum cleaner. Results are presented as incremental particulate matter concentration increases, relative to background (prevacuum) concentrations, and peak-to-background particle concentration ratios. Results indicate significant resuspension of PM(10) mass during vacuum cleaning, with a mean time-averaged PM(10) increase of greater than 17 mu g/m(3) above background. Resuspension of PM(2.5) mass was determined to be small, that is, PM(10) mass was dominated by particles greater than 2.5 mu m. The frequency of vacuuming (between a 10-day standard frequency and several experiments at > 24 days between vacuuming) had little influence on resuspended particle mass. Resuspension by mechanical agitation (rolling of vacuum cleaner across carpet) with the vacuum cleaner switched off was determined to be substantial, with a mean time-averaged (during vacuuming) PM(10) increase of 35 mu g/m(3) relative to background. Peak-to-background PM(10) concentrations exceeded 6 for some experiments and averaged between approximately 3 and 4 for experiments when the vacuum cleaner was switched on.

Exposure to particulate matter in a mosque

“…Qian et al (2008) estimated that resuspension by human activity (walking, sitting on furniture, vacuuming) elevate indoor PM 10 concentration 2.5 times on average and 4.5 times at peak concentration, compared to the background levels. The average increase in PM 10 reached up to four times in vacuuming experiments with one type of vacuum cleaner by Corsi et al (2008) whom estimated that approximately half the mass emitted was caused by the action of walking on the carpet. During vacuuming the increase reached up to 29.5 times for 10e25 mm particles while it was only 1.2 times for 0.5e1 mm particles (Thatcher and Layton, 1995).…”

“…Human activities, especially vacuuming have been reported to increase the concentrations 1.2 times to 29.5 times depending on the particle size (Thatcher and Layton, 1995;Corsi et al, 2008;Qian et al, 2008). Overall 46e93% (25 and 75 percentile values, respectively) of the PM 2.5 was found to originate from the outdoors with a median value of 56% (Meng et al, 2005).…”

Effects of relative humidity and particle and surface properties on particle resuspension rates

“…Resuspension is implicated in the lingering of airborne radioactive particles at nuclear weapon test sites or near nuclear power plants (Nicholson 1988) after an accidental release, as well as prolonged exposure to pesticides after spraying (Orgill et al 1976). Human activities, such as walking and cleaning, induce resuspension of particulate matter and affect indoor air quality (Gomes et al 2007;Corsi et al 2008;Qian and Ferro 2008;Oberoi et al 2010). During the anthrax attack in the Hart Senate Office building in 2001, the presence of airborne Bacillus anthracis spores 25 days after the initial release was attributed to resuspension of the spores from contaminated surfaces (Weis et al 2002).…”

Optimization of Occupancy Based Demand Controlled Ventilation in Residences

“…Some pollutants with short emission profiles such as moisture emitted during cooking or showering are often dealt with by source control methods, although they may be considered to be a part of the background emission over the long term. Other short term emission and exposure related issues include chemical reactions and household cleaning products (Singer et al 2006), particulate generation by cooking, particulate resuspension from vacuuming (Corsi et al 2008), and differences in concentrations between breathing zone air and spatial averages (Novoselac et al 2003). Codes and standards for indoor air quality in residences treat short-term high polluting localized events separately from whole house ventilation.…”