The Impact of Indoor Air Humidity on the Infiltration of Ambient Particles

Abstract

Ambient particles contribute to occupant exposure as they infiltrate indoor environments through building envelope cracks, impacting indoor air quality. This study investigates the impact of indoor air humidity on the infiltration of ambient particles, highlighting humidity’s crucial role in influencing particle dynamics in indoor environments. Employing a controlled chamber system, we conducted experiments to quantify the infiltration of size-resolved particles under varying relative humidity (RH) conditions. Both the total number and the mass concentration of particles increased with RH in the experimental chamber. The smallest particles (0.3–0.4 μm) experienced reduced infiltration at higher RH levels due to hygroscopic growth, while intermediate-sized particles showed increased infiltration, resulted from coagulation effects. Large particles (>1.0 μm) demonstrated reduced infiltration factors, caused by lower penetration and higher deposition rates, with minimal impact from RH changes. Our findings reveal that RH influences particle hygroscopic growth, deposition rate, and coagulation process, thereby affecting indoor particle size distribution and concentration.