A team of researchers from Brown University’s School of Public Health, Brown’s School of Engineering and Silent Spring Institute found that simple air filtration devices called Corsi-Rosenthal boxes are effective at reducing indoor air pollutants.
The study, which analyzed the effectiveness of Corsi-Rosenthal boxes installed at the School of Public Health to help prevent the spread of COVID-19, is the first peer-reviewed study of the efficacy of the boxes on indoor pollutants, according to the authors. The study also collected data regarding indoor air concentrations of commonly-found chemicals.
“The findings show that an inexpensive, easy-to-construct air filter can protect against illness caused not only by viruses, but also by chemical pollutants,” said lead author Joseph Braun, an associate professor of epidemiology. “This type of highly-accessible public health intervention can empower community groups to take steps to improve their air quality and therefore, their health.”
Corsi-Rosenthal boxes can be constructed from materials found at hardware stores: four MERV-13 filters, duct tape, a 20-inch box fan and its cardboard box. As part of a school-wide project, boxes were assembled by students and campus community members and installed in the School of Public Health as well as other buildings on the Brown University campus.
To assess the boxes’ efficacy at removing chemicals from the air, Braun and his team compared a room’s concentrations of semi-volatile organic compounds before and during the box’s operation.