艾灸療法為傳統中醫療法之一，艾灸使用的艾葉在燃燒過程易造成艾煙及蒸薰氣味累積，導致中醫醫療院所室內空氣品質不佳。有鑑於此，艾灸治療造成之室內空氣污染問題不能忽視，因此本研究於某醫院中醫部探討艾灸治療過程產生的空氣污染物，以瞭解其對室內空氣品質之影響。 本研究選擇具有空調模式(僅開啟空調出風及回風)與混合通風模式(同時開啟空調出風及回風、整體換氣及局部排氣裝置)之座位區及治療床區，進行艾灸治療前及過程中之室內空氣品質監測。使用各種可攜帶式直讀式儀器量測一氧化碳、二氧化碳、微粒及甲醛；並使用GC/MS分析總揮發性有機化合物及微粒分析儀量測艾煙粒徑分布；此外，以六階生物氣膠採樣器進行細菌及真菌生物氣膠的採樣、培養及菌種鑑定。 研究顯示在兩種通風模式下，艾灸治療時艾燃燒產生大量會沈積呼吸系統肺泡區的可呼吸性小微粒。艾的燃燒產生大量之懸浮微粒係以細微粒分布為主，PM2.5/PM10之比例高達86% ~ 96%。微粒粒徑分布顯示艾煙微粒主要分布在粒徑1 m以下，從奈米到次微米粒徑範圍皆可觀察到大量微粒產生。艾灸治療雖然會增加室內一氧化碳、二氧化碳、總揮發性有機化合物及甲醛濃度，但在空調模式或混合通風模式下，仍皆符合環保署公告之室內空氣品質標準。室內一氧化碳主要來源係來自室內艾燃燒，而二氧化碳主要來源則是艾燃燒及室內人員呼吸代謝。兩種通風模式下，室內細、真菌生物氣膠濃度皆符合室內空氣品質標準，且室內人員為主要的細菌生物氣膠來源。 雖然艾灸治療產生之空氣污染物濃度並未超過室內空氣品質標準，但本研究證實燃燒艾確實會產生大量深入呼吸系統的細小微粒，燃燒產生之微粒可能含有許多重金屬或致癌性物質，長期暴露可能會影響人體健康。建議艾灸時加強空間通風換氣或加裝更多局部排氣裝置，以保護醫護人員及就診病人免於艾煙微粒危害。 Moxibustion therapy is one of traditional Chinese medicine. The moxa smoke and fume odor generated by burning moxa are easily accumulated in moxibustion therapy space. They could deteriorate indoor air in institutions of traditional Chinese medicine. Therefore, indoor air pollution caused by moxibustion therapy cannot be neglected in institutions of traditional Chinese medicine. This study investigated the generated air pollutants during moxibustion therapy in an institution of traditional Chinese medicine to explore the effects of air pollutants on indoor air quality (IAQ).Air pollutants were detected in both chair and bed therapy areas with air conditioning mode (air supply and air return) and mixed ventilation mode (air supply and air return, general ventilation, and local exhaust system) during the periods of before and duration moxibustion therapy. Carbon monoxide (CO), Carbon dioxide (CO2), formaldehyde, and particulate matters were measured by various real-time portable monitors. Volatile organic compounds were sampled by canisters and then analyzed by a gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A dust size analyzer and a scanning mobility particle sizer (SMPS) measured number size distributions. Bacterial and fungal bioaerosols were also sampled by a six-stage biosampler and cultivated to enumerate colony forming units and identify species.Results indicated that burning moxa during moxibustion therapy at two ventilation modes can generate great quantity of respirable small particles which can deposit on pulmonary alveoli of human’s respiratory system. The generated suspended particles by burning moxa were mainly fine particles. The proportions of PM2.5 to PM10 were 86%~96%. Particle size distribution showed that the particle sizes of moxa smoke were mainly distributed below 1 m. It can be observed that great quantities of particles were generated in the size of nanometer to submicrometer.Moxibustion therapy can increase levels of indoor CO, CO2, total volatile organic compounds, and formaldehyde. However, they were all satisfied Taiwan EPA’s IAQ standard at air conditioning mode or mixed ventilation mode. The major indoor CO source was burning moxa. The major indoor CO2 sources were burning moxa and respiration of indoor people. Indoor levels of bacterial and fungal bioaerosols satisfied Taiwan EPA’s IAQ standards at air conditioning mode or mixed ventilation mode. The major indoor bacterial source was originated from indoor people.The levels of generated air pollutants during moxibustion therapy were below Taiwan’s IAQ standard. However, this study demonstrated that burning moxa actually can generate great quantity of small particles which can reach into the respiratory system deeply. These small particles generated from burning probably contain many toxic heavy metals or carcinogens. They could affect human health after long-term exposure. It was recommended that increase space ventilation efficiency or install more local exhaust systems to protect medical personnel and patients from exposure to particle hazards of moxa smoke.
