Allergy Asthma Respir Dis.  2013 Sep;1(3):248-256. 10.4168/aard.2013.1.3.248.

Effect of air purifier on indoor air quality and atopic dermatitis

• Park HC
• Kim YH
• Kim JE
• Ko JY
• Nam Goung
• Lee CM
• Kim YS
• Ro YS

• KMID: 2262968
• DOI: http://doi.org/10.4168/aard.2013.1.3.248

Abstract

PURPOSE
High level of indoor air pollutant may cause aggravation of atopic diseases long with various allergic respiratory diseases especially in people who spend mostly of their lives indoors. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of air purifier on the reduction of relevant hazards in indoors and the improvement of atopic dermatitis (AD).
METHODS
A total of 24 families, consisted of 18 AD families and 6 normal control families, were enrolled in this study. We examined air quality and AD severity before the installation of air purifiers and after twenty-four weeeks. The assessment of air quality included fine particles (particulate matter, PM2.5 and PM10), gaseous contaminants (CO, CO2, volatile organic compounds [VOCs], formaldehyde, NO2) and density of offloating microorganisms. Severity of AD was assessed by SCORing atopic dermatitis (SCORAD) index and transepidermal water loss (TEWL).
RESULTS
At the end of study, particular air pollutants and VOCs of gaseous air pollutants decreased in both groups (P<0.01). In AD group, SCORAD index decreased from 23.45+/-4.34 to 15.42+/-6.53 (-18.5%) and TEWL decreased from 33.78+/-5.16 to 26.89+/-5.66 (-18.7%) (P<0.01 and P<0.01, respectively). However, the value of total immunoglobulin E and eosinophil did not show significant changes in both groups compared with baseline.
CONCLUSION
These results suggested that air purifier may improve severity of AD by reducing air pollutants like fine particles and VOCs. Our preliminary study could provide a basis for using air purifier to prevent aggravation of AD.

Keyword

Air purifier; Atopic dermatitis; Indoor air quality

MeSH Terms

Air Filters
Air Pollutants
Air Pollution, Indoor
Dermatitis, Atopic
Eosinophils
Formaldehyde
Humans
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Volatile Organic Compounds
Water Loss, Insensible
Air Pollutants
Formaldehyde
Immunoglobulin E
Immunoglobulins
Volatile Organic Compounds
Water Loss, Insensible

Figure

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  Fig. 1 Air purifier (AP-1008BH) and filter system.

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  Fig. 2 Compared to the value of baseline, both PM10 (A) and PM2.5 (B) decreased after 24 weeks with statistical significance. AD, atopic dermatitis; PM, particulate matter. *P<0.01.

• 

  Fig. 3 Gaseous contaminant level. (A) Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) level decreased significantly after using air purifier for 24 weeks. However, CO (B) and CO2 (C) show incoherent levels. AD, atopic dermatitis. *P≤0.01.

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  Fig. 4 Density of offloating bacteria (A) and fungus (B) decreased in both groups compared to baseline, but showed no statistical significance. CFU, colony forming unit; AD, atopic dermatitis.

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  Fig. 5 Both SCORAD (A) and TEWL (B) showed statistically significant decrease in atopic dermatitis patients group after 24 weeks. SCORAD, SCORing of atopic dermatitis; TEWL, transepidermal water loss. *P<0.01.

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  Fig. 6 Mean value of total immunoglobulin (Ig) E (A) and eosinophil (B) after 24 weeks did not show statistically significant changes in both groups compared to baseline. AD, atopic dermatitis.

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