The present randomized, double-blind crossover study was conducted to investigate the cardiopulmonary health effects of air purification among 81 young healthy college students in Beijing, China. Real or sham purification was performed in the dormitories for 4 days, following a 15-day wash-out period in the intervals. During the study periods, the investigators collected indoor exposure levels of size-fractionated particulate matter (PM), black carbon (BC), noise, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon dioxide, volatile organic compounds, temperature, relative humidity, illumination, and microorganism. Biological specimens (i.e., morning urine, fasting venous blood, exhaled breath condensate, and nasal mucus) were also collected and examined. Some important individual factors including demographical information (age, sex, height, weight, etc.), physical activity, sleep condition, mood and cognition, and food intake were also gathered using questionaire or anthropometric measurements, in order to control for the potential confounding effects. For further data analyses, air pollutants, noise, and other exposures would be controlled as confounders when addressing the health effects associated with air purification, and would also be used to explore their effects on cardiopulmonary health. The interaction effects of air pollutants, noise, and other exposures on cardiopulmonary health would also be explored.
This study aims to explore the cardiopulmonary health effects of indoor air purification and other indoor environmental conditions among young healthy college students in Beijing, China.