Occupational and Environmental Health Researchers Study Innovative HEPA Filter Treatment for Nicotine and Particulate Matter Reduction

Faculty members from the Department of Occupational and Environmental Health at the OU Hudson College of Public Health—Dr. Toluwanimi Oni, Dr. Changjie Cai and Dr. Evan Floyd—have co-authored a groundbreaking study published in MDPI Air, exploring a novel approach to improving indoor air quality. Their research examines the efficacy of citric acid-treated HEPA filters in capturing airborne nicotine and particulate matter, two common pollutants associated with tobacco smoke and electronic cigarette (EC) use.

The study found that treating HEPA filters with citric acid significantly enhanced their ability to capture airborne nicotine—boosting capture efficiency from around 57% in untreated filters to over 99% in treated ones. Importantly, this treatment did not compromise the filters' ability to remove particulate matter, making it a promising strategy for improving air quality in indoor environments where smoking or vaping occurs.

This research underscores the potential of modified filtration technologies in reducing exposure to harmful airborne contaminants. The full study is available in MDPI Air at https://www.mdpi.com/2813-4168/3/1/8