The PM2.5 level was 291.7ug/m3 in a home in Beijing, which was increased to 1300ug/m3 when exposed to smoking. (Photo/the Beijing News)
(ECNS) -- Risks from exposure to PM2.5 indoors and outdoors could be nearly the same because of activities such as cooking and smoking, which contribute to ambient PM2.5 levels indoors, the Beijing News reported on Wednesday.
Tiny particles 2.5 microns in diameter or smaller, known as PM2.5, can penetrate deep into the lungs and harm health.
The newspaper set up PM2.5 sensors in five communities across Beijing. The results showed that there was nearly no difference in PM2.5 levels indoors and outdoors if no air purifiers were used.
The investigation showed that the concentration of PM2.5 particles indoors is 421.5ug/m3 in a home in Beijing, and that of the outdoors is slightly higher at 430.8ug/m3.
Wang Gengchen, a researcher at the Institute of Atmospheric Physics at the Chinese Academy of Sciences, said that PM2.5 as fine particulate matter can be inhaled indoors if windows are not sealed well, making indoor PM 2.5 levels similar to outdoors.
The study team also looked at data of PM2.5 levels during cooking. The result showed that the concentration of PM2.5 particles was 300ug/m3, which was increased instantaneously to 2000ug/m3 during cooking.
In addition to cooking, smoking is another factor leading to poor air quality and resulting in high concentrations of fine PM2.5 articles. The PM2.5 level was 291.7ug/m3, which was increased to 1300ug/m3 when exposed to smoking, according to the investigation.
Air purifiers are effective at reducing the concentration of PM2.5 to 10 percent of outdoor level, said Deng Gaofeng, the Secretary General of the China Air Purification Industry Alliance.
Zhang Yanping, director of the Building Environmental Testing Center at Tsinghua University, also suggests that people should open windows to ventilate rooms if the outdoor air condition is good; otherwise, people should use air purifiers to clean up smog.
