Engineers Take Unique Approach to Combat Indoor Air Quality

Chances are you’ve never thought about the act of breathing. The slow motion of our lungs is self-contained, drawing in air and nourishing our bodies with oxygen before expelling waste products like carbon dioxide (CO₂).

But have you ever thought about all the other microscopic molecules floating around in the air, also making their way into your lungs and body?

“We now know that any particle smaller than 2.5 microns – about 30 times smaller than a hair – can get deep into your lungs, which becomes a health problem,” says Dr. Jonathan Little, professor of health and exercise sciences at UBC Okanagan.

Whether it’s viruses, bacteria, pollen, car exhaust or wildfire smoke, to name a few, our air is sometimes not as clean as it could be.

That’s where UBC Okanagan’s Aerosol Removing Tapestry (ART) comes in.

Cleaner Air with ART: Transforming Indoor Air Filtration

It looks like any other painting hanging on a wall, but positively charged filters from community partner C-Polar Technologies silently remove airborne particles and bacteria from the room beneath an artistic mesh fabric “canvas.”

Developed by Dr. Little and Dr. Sunny Li’s Airborne Disease Transmission Research Group, the device is a low-cost, quiet, and customizable alternative to current filtration devices on the market, many of which are bulky, noisy, and sometimes unsightly.

“Air filtration devices are not new, but we are trying to create a more convenient solution to achieve cleaner air. ART is wall-mounted, modular and silent. It is almost as if it is integrated into the room,” says Dr. Li, professor of mechanical engineering, principal investigator of the cluster and head of its Technology, Research and Development team.

“As a team, we have a lot of questions that need to be answered through research,” he adds. “Essentially, how can we improve indoor air quality on our campus and extend our findings to other sites like hospitals?”

“And second, would people be interested in and use a practical solution like ART at home or in the office?”

After assessing the indoor spaces of the university with the highest risk of viral spread and potential inhalation of pollutants via CO₂ Measurements, cluster team members will use the information to test different sizes and locations of ART, monitoring its effect on the air quality in the room.

This research is timely and relevant, not only in Canada, but around the world, as an estimated 99% of humans currently breathe air that exceeds the limits recommended by the World Health Organization for pollutants.

Indoor and outdoor air pollution is responsible for nearly seven million deaths per year.

“COVID-19 was the first time that issues related to circulation and air quality received this much attention,” says Dr. Little. “But just because the immediate concern about COVID-19 is over doesn’t mean we should stop this research or stop thinking about indoor air circulation.”

“We are still dealing with wildfires, vehicle exhaust and manufacturing emissions that are polluting our air and negatively impacting millions of people. That’s why understanding airflow and indoor air quality issues is critical.”

Interdisciplinary work brings global solutions

Such questions cannot be answered without an interdisciplinary approach.

The whole project would be much more difficult at any institution other than UBC Okanagan, which is currently the only university in B.C. studying indoor air circulation in this way, says Jake Winkler, the group’s research coordinator.

“We are a tight-knit campus that prioritizes research, which allows us to more effectively bring together diverse experts to provide different perspectives. On a topic as complex as indoor air circulation, no single academic discipline can solve this problem.”

The group includes UBC researchers in medicine, engineering, health and exercise sciences, as well as community partners such as C-Polar Technologies and Interior Health. Through UBC Okanagan’s Campus as a Living Lab initiative, UBC Okanagan’s Facilities Management and Health, Safety and Environment offices are also participating in the initiative.

“Ultimately, everyone is affected in some way by air pollution and indoor air quality, so we’re not just looking for an answer for our campus, but one day, for the entire world.”

Campus as a Living Lab partners UBC researchers with campus operations staff to design and implement innovative solutions to campus challenges. The group effectively bridges the difficult gap between theoretical, fundamental research and tangible results.

“These kinds of studies are always exciting because they can lead to research findings that will have positive long-term health impacts,” says Dr. Li.

“Ultimately, everyone is affected in some way by air pollution and indoor air quality, so we’re not just looking for an answer for our campus, but one day, for the entire world.”