{"id":206296,"date":"2023-10-30T14:44:48","date_gmt":"2023-10-30T18:44:48","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/?p=206296"},"modified":"2023-11-02T16:37:47","modified_gmt":"2023-11-02T20:37:47","slug":"epa-testing-shows-the-power-of-d-i-y-air-filters-to-trap-viruses","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/today.uconn.edu\/2023\/10\/epa-testing-shows-the-power-of-d-i-y-air-filters-to-trap-viruses\/","title":{"rendered":"EPA Testing Shows the Power of DIY Air Filters to Trap Viruses"},"content":{"rendered":"
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\u2018Owl Force One\u2019 at the EPA began testing on July 26, 2023 in the agency\u2019s large bioaerosol test chamber. Study results show that in 60 minutes this D-I-Y indoor air filter removes over 99 percent of airborne viruses including the virus that causes COVID-19.<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

There is a low-cost way for you to protect yourself and reduce your risk of respiratory diseases such as flu, RSV, and COVID-19. Build yourself a Corsi-Rosenthal box (CR box) in 30 minutes with just $60 worth of common hardware store supplies.<\/p>\n

In July, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency scientists began several weeks of advanced bioaerosol chamber testing to assess the efficacy and power of this air filter against infectious aerosols, like the virus that causes COVID-19. The results<\/a> are in, and they are good.<\/p>\n

The U.S. EPA Office of Research and Development\u2019s 3,000 cubic ft. bioaerosol chamber testing results show that the CR box removes 97% of infectious aerosols in just 30 minutes, and 99.4% within 60 minutes. Importantly, the device successfully captures a surrogate virus for\u00a0SARS-CoV-2,<\/em>\u00a0the virus that causes COVID-19.<\/p>\n

A team of EPA scientists led by\u00a0Katherine Ratliff<\/a> conducted the bioaerosol chamber testing of the CR box after testing more expensive air cleaning technologies throughout the pandemic.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe study results are extremely exciting,\u201d says EPA\u2019s Ratliff. \u201cThese CR boxes really work. The Corsi-Rosenthal box works against infectious aerosols in the air. The results are really powerful. Three different sets of biochamber testing data show that these air filters reduce the amount of infectious virus in the air and capture both smaller and larger sized particles. CR boxes are more effective at reducing concentrations of infectious aerosols in indoor air than some of the more expensive technologies that we tested.\u201d<\/p>\n

\u201cThese scientific results are huge!\u201d says Marina Creed, APRN<\/a>, director of the UConn Indoor Air Quality Initiative. \u201cThese inexpensive, do-it-yourself air filters are for everyone. If you put this in your home, it will remove infectious germs that cause disease from the air. Schools, students, and teachers if you run one of these inside your classrooms it can reduce your exposure to viruses and bacteria, reducing the risk of disease transmission, meaning you are less likely to get sick.\u201d<\/p>\n

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Eniola Shokunbi with her former fifth grade classmates of Macdonough Elementary School in Middletown, Connecticut built ‘Owl Force One’ with UConn experts and decorated it as their school\u2019s owl mascot with rainbows. Their device made it all the way to the EPA for testing.\u00a0<\/em><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

Interestingly, the CR box tested by the EPA, known as \u2018Owl Force One\u2019, was built, named, and decorated this spring by a then\u00a09-year-old fifth grader and her classmates<\/a>\u00a0with members of the\u00a0UConn Indoor Air Quality Initiative<\/a>\u00a0at Macdonough Elementary School in Middletown, Connecticut. The device, decorated as the school\u2019s owl mascot, was driven in July 2023 on a road trip from Connecticut by UConn researchers to the EPA\u2019s Office of Research and Development in Research Triangle Park, North Carolina for the advanced testing. The road trip to the EPA was sparked by then fifth grader, Eniola Shokunbi, 9, now a six-grader, from Middletown who wrote and mailed UConn a letter inviting them to her public school to help her class build the air cleaner and perform experiments.<\/p>\n

“When we first read an article about the Corsi-Rosenthal filters and Eniola wrote a letter to UConn\u2019s Marina Creed, we had no idea what the outcome might be.\u00a0 As a result of the partnership that blossomed, our students learned about air quality, recording data, the scientific process, and so much more,” says Fifth Grade Teacher\u00a0 John Ferrero of Macdonough Elementary School. “The response, support, and collaboration from UConn on this project made this a priceless learning experience for our students and our learning community as a whole.”<\/p>\n

Connecticut’s Lieutenant Governor Susan Bysiewicz attended the October 30 press conference of the EPA and UConn to release the scientific testing findings. She applauded both Eniola, the EPA, and UConn’s Initiative including all the women involved in the collaboration, STEM and science.<\/p>\n

“Eniola, you had this very powerful idea about how we might be able to keep kids safe in classrooms,” shared Bysiewicz. “And then there was this collaboration between the University of Connecticut and the federal government.”<\/p>\n

\"Eniola<\/a>
Eniola Shokunbi meeting Connecticut's Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz.<\/div>
EPA event Eniola meeting Lt Gov of CT Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Eniola Shokunbi meeting Connecticut's Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz.<\/div><\/div>\"Eniola<\/a>
Eniola meeting Lt. Governor of Connecticut and State Sen. Matt Lesser.<\/div>
EPA Eniola meeting Lt Gov and State Sen Lesser Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Eniola Shokunbi, meeting Connecticut Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz and State Sen. Matt Lesser.<\/div><\/div>\"Eniola<\/a>
Eniola Shokunbi unveiling the EPA testing results on D-I-Y air filters.<\/div>
EPA event Aniola Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Eniola Shokunbi unveiling the EPA testing results on D-I-Y air filters.<\/div><\/div>\"Lt.<\/a>
Lt. Governor of Connecticut listens to Eniola Shokunbi share the EPA test results.<\/div>
EPA event Aniola presenting Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Lt. Governor of Connecticut listens to Eniola Shokunbi share the EPA test results.<\/div><\/div>\"Lt.<\/a>
Lt. Governor of Connecticut listens to Eniola Shokunbi share the EPA test results.<\/div>
EPA event Aniola presenting Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Lt. Governor of Connecticut listens to Eniola Shokunbi share the EPA test results.<\/div><\/div>\"Deputy<\/a>
Deputy Mayor of Middletown also spoke at the School's event.<\/div>
EPA event deputy Mayor of Middletown Photo Oct 30 2023, 11 41 25 AM<\/div>
Deputy Mayor of Middletown also spoke at the School's event.<\/div><\/div>\"Dr.<\/a>
Dr. Kristina Wagstrom of the UConn School of Engineering speaking about the UConn Initiative.<\/div>
EPA event Dr Kristina Wagstrom of UConn ENgineering Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Dr. Kristina Wagstrom of the UConn School of Engineering speaking about the UConn Initiative.<\/div><\/div>\"EPA<\/a>
EPA Scientist Katherine Ratliff presenting her team's exciting scientific findings.<\/div>
EPA event EPA Katherine Ratliff presenting findings Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
EPA Scientist Katherine Ratliff presenting her team's exciting scientific findings.<\/div><\/div>\"Connecticut's<\/a>
Connecticut's Lt. Governor Bysiewicz applauding the women in STEM leaders of the EPA and UConn's cross-campus collaboration - and future leaders like Eniola.<\/div>
EPA event Lt Gov applauding women in STEM Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Connecticut's Lt. Governor Bysiewicz applauding the women in STEM leaders of the EPA and UConn's cross-campus collaboration - and future leaders like Eniola.<\/div><\/div>\"Lt.<\/a>
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz speaking to the School's 5th graders in attendance.<\/div>
EPA event Lt Gov Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz speaking to the School's 5th graders in attendance.<\/div><\/div>\"Lt.<\/a>
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz speaking at the event.<\/div>
EPA event Lt Governor Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz speaking at the event.<\/div><\/div>\"Lt.<\/a>
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz reviewing the EPA testing results.<\/div>
EPA event Photo Lt Gov Oct 30 2023<\/div>
Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz reviewing the EPA testing results.<\/div><\/div>\"Principal<\/a>
Principal Reardon welcoming the Lt. Governor and other guests to the School and the event.<\/div>
EPA event Principal Reardon Photo Oct 30 2023,<\/div>
Principal Reardon welcoming the Lt. Governor and other guests to the School and the event.<\/div><\/div>\"State<\/a>
State Sen. Matt Lesser speaking at the press conference.<\/div>
EPA event Stat Sen Lesser Photo Oct 30 2023, 11 39 11 AM<\/div>
State Sen. Matt Lesser speaking at the press conference.<\/div><\/div>\"5th<\/a>
5th graders raising their hands when asked by the Lt. Governor if they want to go to UConn someday for college.<\/div>
EPA event students raising hands that they want to go to UConn Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
5th graders raising their hands when asked by the Lt. Governor if they want to go to UConn someday for college.<\/div><\/div>\"EPA<\/a>
EPA scientists Katherine Ratliff discussing her and her team's findings.<\/div>
EPA Katherine Ratliff releasing the findings Photo Oct 30 2023<\/div>
EPA scientists Katherine Ratliff discussing her and her team's findings.<\/div><\/div>\"'Owl<\/a>
'Owl Force Two' was on display in the School's library during the EPA press conference with UConn.<\/div>
EPA Owl Force Two at the press conference event oct 30<\/div>
'Owl Force Two' was on display in the School's library during the EPA press conference with UConn, the School, and state and local officials.<\/div><\/div>\"After<\/a>
After the EPA released its exciting testing results about the power of D-I-Y air filters, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz took a celebratory photo with 5th graders at Macdonough Elementary School in Middletown, Conn. along with State Sen. Matt Lesser, and researchers from the EPA and UConn's Indoor Air Quality Initiative.<\/div>
EPA event group photo with LT gov Photo Oct 30 2023 cropped<\/div>
After the EPA released its exciting testing results about the power of D-I-Y air filters, Lt. Governor Susan Bysiewicz took a celebratory photo with 5th graders at Macdonough Elementary School in Middletown, Conn. along with State Sen. Matt Lesser, and researchers from the EPA and UConn's Indoor Air Quality Initiative.<\/div><\/div><\/div><\/div>