Effectiveness of particulate matter filtration: systematic review and meta-analysis.

Abstract

<h4>Objectives</h4>to assess the effectiveness of filters in filtering particulate matter.<h4>Methods</h4>a systematic literature review was conducted with the research question: which filters efficiently adsorb chemical and/or biological particles present in the air when tested in scientific interventions? The databases used were Medical Literature Analysis and Retrieval System Online, Web of Science, Scopus, Latin American and Caribbean Literature in Health Sciences, American Chemical Society, Royal Society Chemistry, Sci Finder, and Scientific Electronic Library Online.<h4>Results</h4>forty-seven studies were included in this review. The High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance filter was tested in 36 studies. The seven studies used for the meta-analysis were homogeneous.<h4>Conclusions</h4>filtration performed using the High Efficiency Particulate Arrestance filter reduced particulate matter concentrations by 70% to 80% in the assessments and interventions presented, contributing to the evidence that this filter reduces particulate matter concentrations.