The impact of using portable humidifiers on airborne particles dispersion in indoor environment

Guo, Kangqi; Qian, Hua; Liu, Fan; Jin, Youngeup; Liu, Li; Zheng, Xiaohong

doi:10.1016/j.jobe.2021.103147

Cited by 8 publications

(8 citation statements)

References 30 publications

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“…Government agencies (USEPA 49 and Korea Centers for Disease Control and Prevention 50 ) have identified ultrasonic humidification devices as an indoor contaminant source that affect human health. Ultrasonic humidifiers emit more particles and inorganic contaminants present in tap water than do evaporative/thermal humidifiers 3 . This systematic review summarized published water quality and air quality data associated with ultrasonic humidifiers, correlating them with linear regression analysis.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Ultrasonic humidifiers emit more particles and inorganic contaminants present in tap water than do evaporative/thermal humidifiers. 3 This systematic review summarized published water quality and air quality data associated with ultrasonic humidifiers, correlating them with linear regression analysis. Dissolved and particulate waterborne constituents in the fill water will be emitted into indoor air by ultrasonic humidifiers and degrade indoor air quality, including PM, asbestos, metals, and microbes.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Portable ultrasonic humidifiers with 1.6 MHz ultrasonic nebulizers are commonly used consumer products to emit fine water droplets to increase indoor air humidity, 1,2 and can relieve dryness in the skin, nose, and eyes through fine water droplets. Unlike warm steam humidifiers (also called vaporizers or evaporative humidifiers), which emit pure water steam through heating the water to boiling, the fine water droplets generated by ultrasonic humidifiers (also called cool mist humidifiers) contain aqueous constituents 3 . Once in the room air, water evaporates to form airborne particulate matter (PM) from the dissolved aqueous constituents.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Unlike warm steam humidifiers (also called vaporizers or evaporative humidifiers), which emit pure water steam through heating the water to boiling, the fine water droplets generated by ultrasonic humidifiers (also called cool mist humidifiers) contain aqueous constituents. 3 Once in the room air, water evaporates to form airborne particulate matter (PM) from the dissolved aqueous constituents. Children and adults inhale the PM while using an ultrasonic humidifier.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…water droplets generated by ultrasonic humidifiers (also called cool mist humidifiers) contain aqueous constituents. 3 Once in the room air, water evaporates to form airborne particulate matter (PM) from the dissolved aqueous constituents. Children and adults inhale the PM while using an ultrasonic humidifier.…”

mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Exposure at the indoor water–air interface: Fill water constituents and the consequent air emissions from ultrasonic humidifiers: A systematic review

2022

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This systematic review investigates the emissions from ultrasonic humidifiers (e.g., cool mist humidifiers) within indoor air environments, namely soluble and insoluble metals and minerals as well as microorganisms and one organic chemical biocide. Relationships between ultrasonic humidifier fill water quality and the emissions in indoor air are studied, and associated potential adverse health outcomes are discussed. Literature from January 1, 1980, to February 1, 2022, was searched from online databases of PubMed, Web of Science, and Scopus to produce 27 articles. The results revealed clear positive proportional relationships of the concentration of microorganisms and soluble metals/minerals between fill water qualities and emitted airborne particles, for both microbial (n = 9) and inorganic (n = 15) constituents. When evaluating emissions and the consequent health outcomes, ventilation rates of specific exposure scenarios affect the concentrations of emitted particles. Thus, well‐ventilated rooms may alleviate inhalation risks when the fill water in ultrasonic humidifiers contains microorganisms and soluble metals/minerals. Case reports (n = 3) possibly due to the inhalation of particles from ultrasonic humidifier include hypersensitivity pneumonitis in adults and a 6‐month infant; the young infant exhibited nonreversible mild obstructive ventilator defect. In summary, related literature indicated correlation between fill water quality of ultrasonic humidifier and emitted particles in air quality, and inhalation of the emitted particles may cause undesirable health outcomes of impaired respiratory functions in adults and children.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%