Document Type
Article
Publication Date
2018
Keywords
allergy, asthma, air purifier, portable, photoelectrochemical oxidation, portable, nasal, ocular, sleep
Digital Object Identifier (DOI)
https://doi.org/10.1177/2152656718781609
Abstract
Background: Photoelectrochemical oxidation (PECO) is a new air purification technology developed to reduce circulating indoor allergens. PECO removes particles as small as 0.1 nm with the destruction of organic matter otherwise not trapped by a traditional filter and removes volatile organic compounds.
Objective: We hypothesized that with daily use, the device would reduce user nasal and ocular allergy total symptom scores (TSS) within 4 weeks.
Methods: The study was performed among 46 individuals with self-reported allergies using a portable PECO air purifier. Self-reported TSS were calculated at baseline and weekly for 4 weeks following initiation of continuous use of the system. TSS was the sum of total nasal symptom scores (TNSS) and total ocular symptom scores (TOSS) for the week.
Results: There was a statistically significant change in overall TSS from baseline to 4 weeks (10.1 at baseline and 4.35 postintervention) resulting in a mean difference of 5.75 (95% confidence interval [CI] 4.32–7.18; P < .0001). There was a statistically significant change in TNSS from baseline to 4 weeks (6.3 at baseline and 3.04 postintervention) resulting in a mean difference of 3.26 (95% CI 2.33–3.19; P < .0001). There was a statistically significant change in TOSS from baseline to 4 weeks (3.82 at baseline and 1.3 postintervention) resulting in a mean difference of 2.52 (95% CI 1.74–3.3; P < .0001).
Conclusio:n With the use of PECO air purification technology, TSS, TNSS, and TOSS decreased significantly. These improvements were consistent over the 4-week course of device use.
Rights Information
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 License.
Was this content written or created while at USF?
Yes
Citation / Publisher Attribution
Allergy & Rhinology, v. 9, p. 1-9
Scholar Commons Citation
Rao, Nikhil G.; Kumar, Ambuj; Wong, Jenny S.; Shridhar, Ravi; and Goswami, Dharendra Y., "Effect of a Novel Photoelectrochemical Oxidation Air Purifier on Nasal and Ocular Allergy Symptoms" (2018). Chemical, Biological and Materials Engineering Faculty Publications. 13.
https://digitalcommons.usf.edu/ech_facpub/13
