Buying an air purifier for student accommodation

Studies have shown that students suffer greatly from the effects of indoor air pollution. Exposure to indoor air pollution has been linked to decreases in both the quality of learning and the quality of teaching in higher educational environments¹. For students living on campus, indoor air quality (IAQ) in their residences has a drastic impact on their academic performance. Can an air purifier for student accommodation help? Read on to learn more.

Air quality in student accommodation

In most countries around the world, IAQ in student accommodation is not monitored, Adequate ventilation is also rare in dorm rooms, despite being deemed necessary for health, especially in the reduction of exposure to harmful air pollutants and transmission of airborne diseases². Furthermore, student accommodation on many university campuses consists of ‘high residential density with no individual fresh air systems’³.

Sources of poor air quality in student accommodation

Poor air quality is due to several main factors in dorm rooms, some of which include:

• A combination of small room size and multiple occupancy (body heat, respiration) leading to high humidity levels
• Tracking in allergens (dust, dust mites, pollen, mould spores) from outdoors and on-body (pet hair and dander)
• Disease spread (viruses and bacteria) from other students or visitors
• Poor dorm room hygiene (infrequent washing of soft surfaces like carpets, couches, sheets, clothes, etc. where pollutants may accumulate; presence of spills that may attract pests)
• Building environmental and maintenance issues like leaky rooves, poorly-functioning HVAC systems, and use of cleaning and disinfecting agents^4,5

Multiple types of indoor air pollution is found in university residences, notably particulate matter (PM2.5), ozone, and chemical pollution.

Particulate matter (PM2.5)

In student accommodation, PM2.5 is emitted either indoors or is emitted outdoors and infilters into indoor spaces. Some main sources of PM2.5 in dorm rooms include smoking (cigarettes and cannabis), cooking, and fuel combustion in general (for heating and cooling, for example)⁶.

Ozone

In student accommodation, ozone is released as a result of the use of appliances like printers, photocopiers, and ozone-emitting ionisers⁶.

Chemical pollution

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are commonplace in dorm rooms. They are release by a variety of every day products and building materials including carpets, furniture (especially new furniture), cleaning and sanitising products, air fresheners, fragrances, and pesticides, to name a few⁷.

What are the health risks?

Exposure to indoor air pollution has many negative effects on health. The more obvious consequences are related to disease spread, both viral and bacterial. In student accommodation, with students living together in close quarters, disease transmission is accelerated. This is the case in any indoor setting where people are in close contact: schools, care homes, medical institutions, etc. During the COVID-19 pandemic, one study found that in a university dorm that did not have adequate ventilation (kept the windows closed for more than half the time), viral loads were about twice as high⁸. In student accommodations, the common cold, the influenza virus, pneumonia, strep, and staph infections (like meningitis) are all commonly spread through airborne aerosols.

In addition to the transmission of bacteria and viruses, exposure to air pollution particles causes, contributes to, and/or aggravates numerous health conditions. Depending upon the Studies have shown links between air pollution and the following effects on health, although this is not an exhaustive list:

• Respiratory symptoms and conditions like allergies, asthma, and COPD
• Cardiovascular disease
• Multiple types of cancer (especially lung cancer)
• Mental health (anxiety, depression, and stress)
• Diabetes mellitus
• Obesity
• Reduction in productivity in students and workers
• Reduction in fertility
• Reduction in sleep quality and duration

How to improve air quality in your student accommodation?

A few suggestions can help reduce air pollution concentrations in your dorm room. It is always recommended to practice good personal hygiene by keeping your residence clean to avoid attracting pests that may bring allergens into your space. Clean your bedsheets and bedroom regularly. Ventilate as much as possible by opening bedroom windows and doors, especially during and after cleaning.

In many dorm rooms and student accommodations, opening windows is not possible. This may be due to the fact that windows are not openable, safety hazards or concerns, high levels of outdoor (ambient) air pollution, or extreme outdoor temperatures. This is why many studies recommend air filtration by installing an air purifier in order to improve indoor air quality.

Benefits of Eoleaf’s air purifiers for student accommodations

Improve air quality

Naturally, the main purpose of purchasing an air purifier is to improve student accommodation air quality. A high-quality air purifier, like those on offer by Eoleaf, reduces air pollutants that cause and aggravate health issues by trapping and neutralising substances in dorm room air. Indoor air pollutant particles, like particulate matter, gaseous pollutants (gas pollutants like ozone, carbon monoxide, and VOCs like formaldehyde), pollen, dust, mould and spores, bacteria, and viruses all play a negative role when it comes to health.

Minimise allergen and asthma triggers

Allergies and asthma symptoms often have similar triggers: airborne irritants like dust and dust mites, pollen, smoke, pet hair and dander, mould spores, pests, traffic emissions, and rural pesticides are examples that may be problematic for those who suffer from allergies and/or asthma. These air pollutants may cause nasal congestion, nose and throat irritation, coughing, difficulties breathing, and asthma attacks.

Exposure to airborne particulates and allergens in student accommodations whilst sleeping may lead to nighttime allergies, sleep-related breathing issues like sleep apnoea, increased snoring, poor sleep, and even nocturnal asthma attacks.

Get rid of unpleasant odours

Student accommodations may experience a myriad of unpleasant odours. Products used by or poor hygiene of a flat mate, for example, may be disruptive to both a studying and sleeping environment. Sources of dorm room odours may be tobacco and/or cannabis smoke, garbage bins, cooking smells, room fabrics and household items, and personal products that emit persistent odours (by releasing volatile organic compounds or VOCs, for example). Installing a high-quality air purifier in your bedroom in your dorm may improve rest and relaxation.

In order to fight odours, it is crucial to find a device equipped with an activated carbon filter. Activated carbon neutralises odour-causing molecules, creating a fresher-smelling living and sleeping environment.

Increase white noise

An additional benefit of installing an air purifier in your student accommodation is that it acts as a white noise machine. The gentle whirring of an air purifier creates consistent background sound in a bedroom that masks disruptive sounds like a noisy flat mate, voices, traffic, ticking of a clock, and any other sound that may disrupt a person’s sleep. The use of a quiet but powerful air purifier helps to reduce distractions and creates a more efficient working environment and a more soothing sleeping environment.

Factors to consider when choosing an air purifier for student accommodations

Filtration technologies: HEPA + activated carbon filter

Not all air purifiers have the same air filtration capacity. When seeking out the ideal air purifier for dorm rooms, the filtration technologies should be the first consideration to keep in mind. Air purifiers with High-Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA)-certified filters are third-party tested and, thus, guaranteed to remove 99.97% of all pollutants down to a size of 0.3 microns. Eoleaf’s air purifiers take it a step further: our medical-grade HEPA-certified H13 filters filter all particles down to 0.01 microns. This includes:

• Particulate matter (PM10, PM2.5, and PM0.1)
• Tobacco smoke
• Combustion emissions from wood stoves and gas appliances
• Pet dander
• Dust and dust mites
• Pollen
• Mould spores

HEPA filters do have their limitations: they are unable to remove gaseous pollutants and toxins nor unpleasant odours. In order to thoroughly clean air and fight airborne VOCs like formaldehyde and odours, an air purifier must also contain an activated carbon filter working in tandem with a HEPA filter. Eoleaf devices are also all equipped with activated carbon filters.

This is not all that is offered by Eoleaf air purifiers for dorm rooms. In addition to HEPA H13 filters and activated carbon filters, our devices contain 6 other air filtration technologies that ensure the removal of all airborne pollutants.

UVC sterilisation

One of the technologies included in Eoleaf’s 8-step filtration technology includes UVC sterilisation. This technology is essential in not only combatting airborne disease transmission, but also in sterilising your air purifier’s filter. Once the filter captures and accumulates air pollutants, where do they go? They remain in the filter until the filter is changed. When changing your filter or continuing to use a device that is due for a filter change, these pollutants may be released back into your air unintendedly. Eoleaf devices use the UVC sterilisation function to sterilise the filter, making it impossible for trapped pollutants to escape and gain access to your lungs.

Noise level

In places like student accommodations where studying and sleeping both take place, noise level is a critical consideration. Investing in an air purifier for dorm rooms that is quiet yet efficient is the best way to ensure clean air indoors and an environment conducive for sleep and study. A whisper-quiet, silent operation ensures a calm environment for noise-sensitive activities. Eoleaf air purifiers offer both an Automatic mode and a Night mode (Sleep mode): Automatic mode increases fan speed automatically with the presence of new pollutants, and Night mode leaves the device running at its lowest fan speed with all indicator lights dimmed. Regardless of fan speed, Eoleaf devices never exceed a decibel level of 60 dB, even when left running on fan speed 5.

An added bonus of an air purifier is that it also serves as a white noise machine. The gentle operational noise of an air purifier provides a consistent background sound that makes it easier to rest and sleep between study sessions.

Room size compatibility

Before making your purchase of an air purifier for dorm rooms, it is important to verify that the device is compatible with your accommodation’s size. Two different metrics may be used in determining this: CADR and ACH.

Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) refers to the volume of filtered air capable of being efficiently produced by an air purifier. The higher the CADR, the more effectively the air purifier cleans the air. Be sure to compare CADR between brands! This is an industry standard used by any serious air purifier manufacturer (except for Dyson who refuses to use the CADR standard, for which we have been openly critical).

Air Changes per Hour (ACH) refers to the amount of times the air is replaced in a room in one hour. For high air pollution levels, the recommended ACH rate in order for the air to be completely filtered is 4 or 5 (meaning that the air is replaced 4 or 5 times per hour). Contact an Eoleaf air purification specialist for an ACH calculation using your specific room size to ensure that you purchase a device that will meet your needs.

For small student residences, we recommend our AEROPRO 40 model. The AEROPRO 40, our most modern device, filters the air in rooms up to 40 m2. Read more about the AEROPRO 40 here.

Choose Eoleaf for clean dorm room air

University is hard enough: your breathing air should not be an added concern. We are here to help you breathe cleaner air in your student accommodations and protect your health. Reach out to our team anytime for help in choosing the right device for you. Also feel free to refer to our detailed Buying Guide for assistance in considering all of the details necessary when purchasing an air purifier.

Frequently asked questions

Are air purifiers good for dorm rooms?

Absolutely! An air purifier is an excellent way to ensure that you are breathing pollutant-free air in the place you live, study, and sleep. Breathing clean air helps safeguard you against the air pollution and its dangers to health.

Is an air purifier worth it for college?

Investing in an air purifier is an investment in your health. Air pollution is either responsible for or aggravates many health conditions. Read more about the dangers of air pollution here.

How to purify air in a dorm?

It is always recommended to properly ventilate indoor spaces to evacuate stale air. For situations where this is not possible (safety concerns, high levels of outdoor air pollution, extreme outdoor temperatures, etc.), an air purifier is the perfect solution for purifying the air. It is even better to both ventilate and purify the air with an air purifier.

Should I get an air purifier or humidifier for my dorm?

This depends upon your needs. These devices have very different functions: an air purifier uses one or more filtration technologies to remove toxins and pollutants from the air. A humidifier adds humidity to indoor air for those suffering from symptoms related to dry air.

Is it OK to sleep in a room with an air purifier?

Absolutely! Eoleaf air purifiers are designed for 24-hour use. Eoleaf devices also offer Night mode which keeps the device running at its slowest fan speed with all indicator lights switched off to ensure sound sleep.

How to keep a dorm room smelling fresh?

An air purifier equipped with an activated carbon filter can help with this! Eoleaf devices all contain odour-fighting activated carbon filters. Activated carbon fights airborne odours of all types.

Where is the best place to put an air purifier in a dorm room?

An air purifier for dorm rooms should be placed in a location with optimal air flow. It should never be obstructed by furniture, room corners, or other fixtures that may block its grilles. If there is a continual entry of air pollution, it is ideal to place an air purifier as close to the source of pollution as possible. Read more about our placement recommendations here.

Are air purifiers allowed in dorms?

If electronic devices are allowed (which is usually the case), an air purifier should be allowed. However, it is worth checking with your student accommodation regulations before installing one in your dorm room.

What size air purifier is suitable for a typical student room?

This answer depends upon the size of your student accommodation. It is essential to purchase an air purifier that is properly sized to your space. Eoleaf air purifiers are sized as follows:

• AEROPRO 40: 0 to 40 m2
• AEROPRO 100: 0 to 100 m2
• AEROPRO 120: 0 to 120 m2

Can an air purifier help with mould and dampness in student housing?

An air purifier helps hinder mould spread because it filters out airborne mould spores. However, an air purifier does not help reduce humidity or dampness. Air purifiers are designed to remove air pollutants from the air, and drastic changes in humidity and temperature may damage an air purifier’s delicate filter.

Are there specific air purifiers designed for students or small spaces?

Yes! Eoleaf’s AEROPRO 40 is designed for spaces up to 40m2. This is ideal for small spaces like student accommodation.

How portable are air purifiers for moving between different accommodations?

This will depend upon the model of air purifier that you purchase. Eoleaf devices all come equipped with either wheels (AEROPRO 100 and 120) or handles (AEROPRO 40) to facilitate movement between different accommodations.

Resources

¹ Brink HW, Loomans MGLC, Mobach MP, Kort HSM. Classrooms' indoor environmental conditions affecting the academic achievement of students and teachers in higher education: A systematic literature review. Indoor Air. 2021 Mar;31(2):405-425. doi: 10.1111/ina.12745. Epub 2020 Oct 21. PMID: 32969550; PMCID: PMC7983931.

² McNeill VF, Corsi R, Huffman JA, King C, Klein R, Lamore M, Maeng DY, Miller SL, Lee Ng N, Olsiewski P, Godri Pollitt KJ, Segalman R, Sessions A, Squires T, Westgate S. Room-level ventilation in schools and universities. Atmos Environ X. 2022 Jan;13:100152. doi: 10.1016/j.aeaoa.2022.100152. Epub 2022 Jan 26. PMID: 35098105; PMCID: PMC8789458.

³ Li, H., Li, X., & Qi, M. (2014). Field testing of natural ventilation in college student dormitories (Beijing, China). Building and Environment, 78, 36–43. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.04.009

⁴ Environment, Health & Safety: Facilities Planning & Management. (n.d.). Air Quality Management Strategies for Dorm Rooms. Madison, Wisconsin; University of Wisconsin.

⁵ Environmental Protection Agency. (2023, September 20). How Does Indoor Air Quality Impact Student Health and Academic Performance?. EPA. https://www.epa.gov/iaq-schools/how-does-indoor-air-quality-impact-student-health-and-academic-performance

⁶ Yang Z, Shen J, Gao Z. Ventilation and Air Quality in Student Dormitories in China: A Case Study during Summer in Nanjing. Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2018 Jun 25;15(7):1328. doi: 10.3390/ijerph15071328. PMID: 29941805; PMCID: PMC6068894.

⁷ Liu, H., Zhang, Z., Wen, N., & Wang, C. (2018). Determination and risk assessment of airborne endotoxin concentrations in a university campus. Journal of Aerosol Science, 115, 146–157. doi:10.1016/j.jaerosci.2017.09.002

⁸ Anthes, E. (2021, September 5). A new study of dorm rooms shows how ventilation curbs virus levels. The New York Times. https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/05/health/covid-ventilation-college-dorm.html