Alternative Air Purification Using Traditional Methods
CWSF · 2026 Health & Wellness
Overview
Invisible to the naked eye but potentially harmful to our health, airborne bacteria are a hidden threat that demand an effective mitigation strategy. This study investigated the effect of sage smoke on airborne bacterial populations in indoor environments. Petri dishes were placed in four different indoor environments—a living room, bedroom, laundry room, and medical office—before and after burning sage, to assess changes in airborne bacterial content. It was concluded that not only could sage smoke remove bacteria from the air, but that the antibacterial qualities of the sage lasted in a room long after the smoke cleared. This work shows that sage, a natural alternative to chemicals, can sanitize the air. Viewed through a Two-Eyed Seeing approach, these findings can be appreciated by integrating traditional knowledge with scientific evaluation to better understand the potential of sage as an air treatment.
Awards (1)
- Selected for CWSF 2026
Competition history
- CWSF 2026
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