Airborne Particulate Matter: An Investigation of Buildings with Passive House Technology in Hungary

Krisztina Szirtesi; Anikó Angyal; Zoltán Szoboszlai; Eniko Furu; Zsófia Török; Titusz Igaz; Zsófia Kertész

doi:10.4209/aaqr.2017.05.0158

Airborne Particulate Matter: An Investigation of Buildings with Passive House Technology in Hungary

Krisztina Szirtesi This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.¹, Anikó Angyal², Zoltán Szoboszlai², Enikő Furu¹^,2, Zsófia Török¹^,2, Titusz Igaz¹, Zsófia Kertész¹^,2

¹University of Debrecen, H-4032 Debrecen, Hungary
²Laboratory of Ion Beam Applications, Institute for Nuclear Research, Hungarian Academy of Sciences (MTA Atomki), H-4026 Debrecen, Hungary

Received: May 3, 2017
Revised: December 9, 2017
Accepted: December 29, 2017
Download Citation: ||https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2017.05.0158

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Cite this article:

Szirtesi, K., Angyal, A., Szoboszlai, Z., Furu, E., Török, Z., Igaz, T. and Kertész, Z. (2018). Airborne Particulate Matter: An Investigation of Buildings with Passive House Technology in Hungary. Aerosol Air Qual. Res. 18: 1282-1293. https://doi.org/10.4209/aaqr.2017.05.0158

HIGHLIGHTS

Indoor aerosol pollution was studied in energy efficient and conventional buildings.
Mass concentration, mass size distribution, and elemental composition were defined.
The results were investigated according to the ventilation modes.
The indoor air quality was not better in energy efficient houses than in other ones.
Further aerosol particulate matter research on buildings with MVHR is needed.

ABSTRACT

In this case study, we investigate the building infiltration rate and indoor aerosol concentration levels in two buildings equipped with passive house technology and one “conventional” house in Ócsa, Hungary. We have aimed to determine the indoor aerosol pollution level and its elemental composition, establish the relationship between the indoor and outdoor concentration levels, and study how the different ventilation rates and modes affect the indoor particulate matter (PM) contamination. Our results indicate that the measured PM concentration levels were well below the recommended limits overall. In particular, the mean PM_fine (aerodynamic diameter < 2.5 µm) concentration was around 5 µg m^–3 while the outdoor PM_fine level was 20 µg m^–3. The mean indoor concentration of the coarse fraction aerosols (aerodynamic diameter > 2.5 µm) varied between 2.5 and 7 µg m^–3, with higher values corresponding to better airtightness of the house. As assessed by the indoor/outdoor elemental ratios and mass size distribution data, the filtration of the coarse mode particles was adequate in the passive houses. However, the PM_fine fraction could get through the filters unhindered, as indicated by PM_fine levels independent of the ventilation modes. The coarse mode particles inside the passive houses mainly originated from indoor sources.

Keywords: Passive House; Mechanical ventilation with heat recovery; Indoor air quality; Airborne particulate matter; Elemental composition of PM.