1. DIY filter/fan projects in Seattle
Erik Saganić
Air Quality Scientist
March 2018

2. Duwamish Community Action for Clean Air
The group formed as a result of an EPA EJ Cooperative Agreement awarded to the Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition
Georgetown Community Council
South Park Neighborhood Association
American Lung Association
Duwamish River Cleanup Coalition/Technical Advisory Group
Just Health Action
Public Health – Seattle and King County
Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
Western Washington University

3. DIY filter/fans
Assembled in coordination with youth programs in planned community workshops
All supplies cost about $50

4. Why filter/fans?
Original intent was to mitigate the diesel pollution in the industrial valley and near the freeways
Extra bonus: was used during the wildfire smoke last summer
Before
After

5. How to build

6. Testing plan 4 houses Air monitors inside and outside the houses
Measured for:
Fine particles
Black carbon (a diesel exhaust surrogate)

7. Control: no filter equipment

8. Filter/fan running 24-hours a day

9. During wildfire smoke event

10. Youth program also performed demo tests with air monitors with the community

11. Cons
Fans are not UL tested for this use, so we recommend not using while sleeping or away from home
Doesn’t help with the windows open (and is typically hot when we have lots of wildfire smoke)
Not as effective in large spaces (rooms without doors, etc)
Bulky and has lots of storage and transportation constraints
Also lots of cardboard waste generated

12. Pros Relatively cheap and easy
Involves community in air quality awareness
Lots of continuing interest in more fans