Improving Classroom Indoor Air Quality with DIY Corsi-Rosenthal Boxes
Misti Zamora, Sharmin Akter, Marina Creed, Jessica Hollenbach, Angela Jiang, Noah Kosh, Britney Russell, Alexis West, Martin Wolek, KRISTINA WAGSTROM, University of Connecticut
Abstract Number: 589
Working Group: Reducing Aerosol Exposure with Control Technologies and Interventions
Abstract
Poor classroom ventilation creates an environment where particles can accumulate, leading to reduced indoor air quality (IAQ), heightened risks of infectious disease transmission, and exacerbating asthma symptoms. Children are particularly vulnerable to the health consequences of poor classroom ventilation due to a combination of physiological factors, such as developing respiratory and immune systems and higher breathing rates, and the significant amount of time they spend in school environments. Therefore, practical and effective air purification strategies are crucial for mitigating these risks in classrooms. Corsi-Rosenthal boxes (C-R boxes), low-cost DIY purifiers using box fans and MERV-13 filters, represent a practical and accessible intervention. This study, conducted by the UConn Indoor Air Quality Initiative, assessed C-R box effectiveness and practicality in two occupied classrooms without mechanical ventilation. We measured PM1, PM2.5, and PM10 mass and number concentrations with the C-R boxes on and off. They achieved an average particle reduction of 60% for both mass and number concentrations. Spatially resolved measurements showed consistent particle reduction throughout classrooms, which is key to ensuring all students are benefiting from the filter. These results demonstrate that C-R boxes can substantially and rapidly improve classroom IAQ by reducing particle exposures. We will also discuss additional tests of the effectiveness of C-R boxes built by different teams and with common “mistakes”. This accessible, DIY intervention, offers a highly effective strategy to lower children's airborne particle exposure in schools, potentially mitigating respiratory health risks and improving public health in school environments.