Improving Indoor Air Quality: Occupational and Environmental Health Student Awarded NIOSH Pilot Project

Toluwanimi M. Oni, MPH, a dedicated PhD candidate and Hudson Fellow in Public Health, has been making waves in the field of occupational and environmental health. His groundbreaking work, funded by the Southwest Center for Occupational and Environmental Health (SWCOEH) through the NIOSH Pilot Project Research Training Program, focuses on enhancing High-Efficiency Particle Air (HEPA) filters to reduce nicotine and particulate matter concentrations in indoor environments.

Mr. Oni's project aims to address the health risks associated with electronic cigarette use, particularly concerning vulnerable populations like pregnant women, children, and individuals with respiratory conditions. By modifying HEPA filters with a novel acid treatment, Mr. Oni's research demonstrates a significant improvement in filtering nicotine vapor, a crucial step in improving indoor air quality.

Jenil Patel, PhD, director of the Pilot Projects Research Training Program at SWCOEH, commended Mr. Oni's innovative approach, highlighting its potential impact on public health. Mr. Oni's findings not only contribute to occupational health research but also pave the way for practical interventions to reduce human exposure to harmful substances in indoor settings.

To learn more about Mr. Oni's groundbreaking research and its implications for indoor air quality, visit https://sph.uth.edu/research/centers/swcoeh/news/inside-the-hepa-filter-research-of-a-niosh-pilot-project-awardee