Ultrafine particle emissions from cigarette smoldering, incense burning and vacuum cleaner motor operation

Abstract

The particulate matters with aerodynamic diameters less than 100 nm are defined as ultrafine particles (UFP). The UFPs have been recognized to have more adverse health effect than that of coarser particles due to their smaller sizes and more reactive surface area. This study investigated the UFP emission rate of five different brands of cigarettes, five different brands of incenses and five vacuum cleaners. The experiments were conducted in a small experimental chamber located inside a clean room. The mean UFP emission rates of cigarette smoldering and incense burning were found to be 3.36 ± 0.24 and 0.44 ± 0.33 × 1011 particles/min in terms of number emission rate, respectively; and 22.78 ± 1.21 and 3.48 ± 2.98 × 1015 nm2/min in terms of surface area emission rate, respectively. The vacuum cleaners showed their UFP emission rates in the range of 0.013 to 0.066 × 1011 particle/min.