UConn Health Giving Away 100 DIY Indoor Air Filters to Public for Protection from Wildfire Air Particles

Dec 08, 2023

June 8, 2023 | Lauren Woods - Schools of Medicine and Dental Medicine

Today's distribution of the inexpensive DIY air filters on June 8 will be first-come, first-serve from 4:30pm to 6:30pm at the Outpatient Pavilion's ground floor COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic. Can't make it? Learn from UConn how to build your own device at home with just $60 worth of hardware store supplies and in 30 minutes.

DIY "Corsi Rosenthal" air filter device.

As a public service to help protect the Connecticut community's indoor air quality from the unhealthy particles contained in wildfire smoke, today on June 8 UConn Health will be giving away for free 100+ do-it-yourself indoor air filters known as "Corsi-Rosenthal" boxes built by UConn faculty, students, and staff as part of the ongoing cross-campus UConn Indoor Air Quality Initiative.

Distribution at UConn Health will be first-come, first-serve. It will include dozens of free, already built air filter devices, and dozens of tool kits with the necessary supplies and directions on how to build your own device at home which is 24 x 24 in size.

The California Department of Public Health recommends the inexpensive D-I-Y tool to its state's residents as a helpful wildfire air quality intervention.

Connecticut's DPH is also supportive of this mitigation tool.

The UConn Indoor Air Quality Initiative during COVID-19 was spearheaded by UConn Health nurse practitioner Marina Creed, APRN, director of the Initiative, to protect her immunocompromised multiple sclerosis patients and others vulnerable people in the community by building, donating, and studying the power of hundreds of these inexpensive DIY "Corsi-Rosenthal Box" air purifiers. The donated devices have already helped improve air health in local CT elementary schools and beyond. Research shows the DIY devices stop the spread of COVID-19 by removing 90% of virus-carrying aerosols from the air.

According to UConn School of Medicine experts the DIY air filter devices can help clean the air of the wildfire smoke consisted mostly of tiny particles produced by combustion and suspended in the air. These airborne particles can cause both immediate and long term health effects. People should be advised to take measures to reduce their exposure, especially if they are in a vulnerable population, such as the elderly, young children or people with respiratory diseases.

WHERE: Outside – UConn Health's Outpatient Pavilion's COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic, located on the ground floor.Outpatient Pavilion building is on lower campus of UConn Health and has a circular drive-up option, valet parking, or parking in Garage 1 across the street.**Follow signs on campus to the COVID-19 Vaccine Clinic.Address is: 135 Dowling Way, Farmington, CT

WHEN: Today, June 8, from 4:30 p.m. to 6:30 p.m.Note: Pending availability, UConn Health may be distributing limited supply on Friday as well if any are left. An announcement will be shared if so on Friday morning.