USC Environmental Health Centers

Current news, events and research projects of the Environmental Health Centers based at USC

INFOGRAPHIC: Do-It-Yourself Air Filter

There are numerous strategies to reduce exposure to pollution levels, including this low-cost DIY air filter. 

EH MATTERS fellow Jennifer Ahumada (USC Health Promotion and Disease Prevention, ‘24) led the infographic. Thanks to the community leaders of Pacoima Beautiful, Yoshira Ornelas Van Horne, and Wendy Gutschow for supporting this work.


DIY AIR Filter by EH

INFOGRAFÍA: Filtro de Aire Hecho en Casa


DIY AIR Filter SPANISH by EH

RESOURCES

Further Instructions for Building a DIY Air Filter

Step by Step Guide: https://edgecollective.io/airbox/

Step by Step Video Guide: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Q6XuVHsan4Y

Step by Step Video Guide (two-filters): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ukyF2xm8cws

Step by Step Video Guide (one-filter): https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ujUFj2G9_-Y

Step by Step Guide (one-filter): https://deohs.washington.edu/sites/default/files/AirFilterInfographic_FINAL.pdf

REFERENCES

DIY Air Filter

Dal Porto, R., Kunz, M. N., Pistochini, T., Corsi, R. L., & Cappa, C. D. (2022). Characterizing the performance of a do-it-yourself (DIY) box fan air filter. Aerosol Science and Technology, 56(6), 564-572.

Srikrishna, D. (2022). Can 10× cheaper, lower-efficiency particulate air filters and box fans complement High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) purifiers to help control the COVID-19 pandemic?. Science of the Total Environment, 155884.

May, N. W., Dixon, C., & Jaffe, D. A. (2021). Impact of wildfire smoke events on indoor air quality and evaluation of a low-cost filtration method. Aerosol and Air Quality Research, 21(7), 210046.

MERV ratings and Air Filtration

Azimi, P., Zhao, D., & Stephens, B. (2016). Modeling the impact of residential HVAC filtration on indoor particles of outdoor origin (RP-1691). Science and Technology for the Built Environment, 22(4), 431-462

Sublett J. L. (2011). Effectiveness of air filters and air cleaners in allergic respiratory diseases: a review of the recent literature. Current allergy and asthma reports, 11(5), 395–402. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11882-011-0208-5

Zhang, J., Huntley, D., Fox, A., Gerhardt, B., Vatine, A., & Cherne, J. (2020). Study of viral filtration performance of residential HVAC filters. ASHRAE J, 62(8), 26-32.

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