Diffusion Characteristics of PM2.5 in Rural Dwelling under Different Daily Life Behavior: A Case Study in Rural Shenyang of China

Abstract

The highest concentration of PM2.5 in cold rural dwellings of Northeast China is often generated by using mini stoves for cooking and heating, which can directly influence human health. As of yet, little is known about the impact of different daily life behavior on PM2.5 diffusion and residents’ exposure in rural dwellings. In this study, the characteristics of indoor PM2.5 variation and diffusion in rural dwellings was described by measuring some rural dwellings and establishing a multi-zone network model. The calculated results indicated that the relative errors between theoretical calculated results and experimental measured results are within 10%. PM2.5 diffusion in a rural dwelling can be predicted. Furthermore, the impacts of daily life behavior on PM2.5 diffusion and exposure assessment can be analyzed. Through discussion, heating behavior is the most important factor causing high concentrations of PM2.5 in each room, followed by cooking, smoking, and cleaning. Door opening time can lead to different interzonal airflows and PM2.5 diffusion rates. By reducing the inner door opening time to less than 1 min, PM2.5 could decrease to 300 μg/m3. Door closing behavior could decrease risk that PM2.5 diffuses to bedrooms by more than 50%, and exposure of residents in bedrooms could reduce to 100 (μg·h)/m3 effectively.