DIY air filter can effectively filter out viruses, air pollutants: Study

An simple, easy-to-construct air filter can protect against illness caused not only by viruses but also by chemical pollutants, according to a study.

The filter named Corsi-Rosenthal boxes, or cubes, can be constructed from materials found at hardware stores: four MERV-13 filters, duct tape, a 20-inch box fan and a cardboard box.

"The findings show that an inexpensive, easy-to-construct air filter can protect against illness caused not only by viruses but also by chemical pollutants," said study lead author Joseph Braun, an associate professor at Brown University in the US.

"This type of highly-accessible public health intervention can empower community groups to take steps to improve their air quality and therefore, their health," Braun said in a statement.

As part of a project, boxes were assembled by students and campus community members and installed in the School of Public Health as well as other buildings on the Brown University campus.

To assess the cubes' efficacy at remov