What is meant by "removal efficiency"?

Removal efficiency refers specifically to the fraction of contaminants that a filter media successfully captures from the air passing through it. This measurement is crucial for evaluating how effective a filter is at improving indoor air quality and ensuring that harmful particles and pollutants are minimized in the environment.

When assessing a filter's performance, understanding its removal efficiency helps inform choices about air filtration systems for various applications, whether in residential, commercial, or industrial settings. It quantifies the filter's capability in terms of removing specific types of particles, including dust, pollen, smoke, and other airborne contaminants.

The other options, while related to air filtration concepts, do not accurately define removal efficiency. The focus of the question is on the effectiveness in quantifying the specific proportion of pollutants eliminated from the air stream, making the selected answer the most precise and relevant definition of removal efficiency.