Grantee Research Project Results

2024 Progress Report: Implementation of Cost-Effective Techniques for the Monitoring & Reduction of Indoor Air Pollutant Exposures in Classroom Environments through a Service-Learning Framework

EPA Grant Number: SU840569
Title: Implementation of Cost-Effective Techniques for the Monitoring & Reduction of Indoor Air Pollutant Exposures in Classroom Environments through a Service-Learning Framework
Investigators: Boor, Brandon Emil , Jung, Nusrat
Institution: Purdue University
EPA Project Officer: Brooks, Donald
Phase: I
Project Period: August 1, 2023 through April 23, 2025
Project Period Covered by this Report: August 1, 2023 through July 31,2024
Project Amount: $24,131
RFA: 19th Annual P3 Awards: A National Student Design Competition Focusing on People, Prosperity and the Planet Request for Applications (RFA) (2022) RFA Text |  Recipients Lists
Research Category: P3 Awards

Objective:

Our P3 team – the Global Air Quality Trekkers (GAQT) – is applying a service-learning framework to develop, evaluate, and implement affordable solutions for classroom air quality monitoring in K-12 schools. Exposure to indoor air pollution is associated with adverse human health outcomes. Poor indoor air quality in K-12 classroom environments has been shown to negatively impact student performance and likelihood of attendance. Student exposure to elevated concentrations of indoor air pollutants can cause respiratory problems, headaches, nausea, and worsen asthma symptoms, thereby negatively affecting learning experiences in the classroom. Underfunded K-12 schools may lack proper building ventilation, in-duct air filtration, and source emission control that can further worsen indoor air quality. Cost-effective solutions are needed to monitor the composition of indoor air in classroom environments and to mitigate student exposure to indoor air pollution. To work towards cleaner air in the classroom, the proposed P3 project aims to: (1) utilize low-cost, cloud-based air quality sensors for real-time monitoring of indoor air pollutant concentrations (PM10, PM2.5) in classrooms in a K-12 school in Lafayette, Indiana for one year; (2.) analyze indoor air pollutant source and loss processes in the classroom through use of a mass balance model and estimate student exposure to indoor air pollutants; (3.) apply the Purdue Engineering Projects in Community Service (EPICS) engineering design process to design, evaluate, and implement an affordable, practical, and non-invasive indoor air pollutant exposure mitigation solution based on a portable air filtration device; and (4.) create new service-learning learning opportunities for undergraduate engineering students through active participation in EPICS and experiential learning opportunities for K-12 students through development of educational and informational modules and classroom activities on indoor air quality and air filtration.

Progress Summary:

GAQT has conducted indoor air quality measurements in an elementary school in Lafayette, Indiana using low-cost, cloud- based air quality sensors and is designing, building, and evaluating a portable smart air filtration device. Our P3 team included 12 undergraduate engineering students during the Fall 2023 semester and increased to 16 students during the Spring 2024 semester. Additionally, GAQT

 

is supported by 4 graduate student mentors from our research groups who are mentoring the undergraduate students through the engineering design process. Each GAQT team member completes a weekly reflection on their service-learning activities and project accomplishments. Each week, the team presents a project update as part of their Progress, Issues, and Goals (PIGS) presentation.

 

Our P3 team has made excellent progress in meeting the milestones of the project. Firstly, GAQT is creating their own smart control system for their portable air filtration device for elementary school classrooms called PEEPS: Personalized EnvironmEntal Purification System. This has involved advanced computer programming of an electronics board for interfacing with low-cost particle and gas sensors for indoor air pollution data collection, and then using this data to control the volumetric airflow rate of a fan. The undergraduate students on GAQT, which include many first year engineering (FYE) students, have learned programming languages and the basics of electrical circuits. The team is also learning how to transmit the air quality sensor data to the internet for access by students and teachers in the classroom. The development of the smart control system for PEEPS in oscillating between the conceptual and detailed design phases of the EPICS design process. It is expected that the smart control system for PEEPS will be completed during the Fall 2024 semester, for delivery with fully functioning PEEPS units to our partner school by December 2024.

 

The team developed a prototype filtration module for PEEPS using standard MERV 13 filter media and decided to improve the effectiveness of their device by incorporating electrospun nanofiber media. GAQT purchased and is learning how to fabricate nanofibers using an electrospinning machine. Our P3 team has successfully begun creating their own nanofibers for incorporation into PEEPS. The team will begin fabricating full sections of filter media during the Fall 2024 semester. It is expected that all required filter media will be produced by November 2024, for delivery with fully functioning PEEPS units to our partner school by December 2024.

Future Activities:

Following the successful creation of five PEEPS units during the Fall 2024 semester, we will deliver them to our partner school by December 2024. Field testing of PEEPS in the elementary school classrooms will occur from January through July 2025. GAQT will monitor improvements in classroom air quality using the sensors embedded in PEEPS, along with additional low-cost, cloud-based air quality sensors for real-time monitoring of indoor air pollutant concentrations. GAQT will apply a mass balance model to estimate the clean air delivery rate (CADR) of PEEPS during this period. The successful delivery and installation of PEEPS at our partner school and quantification of improvements in indoor air quality using sensor data and mathematical modeling will conclude our U.S. EPA P3 project in July 2025.

Journal Articles:

No journal articles submitted with this report: View all 1 publications for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

 indoor air, exposure, children, toxics, particulates, VOCs, viruses, pollution prevention, environmental justice, sensitive populations, design for the environment, environmental education, healthy buildings, community monitoring, sensors.

Relevant Websites:

Global Air Quality Trekkers Exit