Assessment of the indoor air quality based on airborne bacteria and fungi measurements in a public school of Istanbul

2020 ◽  
Vol 13 (24) ◽  
Author(s):  
Nuket Sivri ◽  
Ahmet Ozgur Dogru ◽  
Arzu Funda Bagcigil ◽  
Kemal Metiner ◽  
Dursun Zafer Seker
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Public School ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Airborne Bacteria ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

scholarly journals Performance of Calcium Chloride and Silica Gel as Solid Desiccant Dehumidifiers for Indoor Air Quality

2021 ◽  
Vol 88 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-70
Author(s):  
Nur Kamila Ramli ◽  
Yusri Yusup ◽  
Christabel Lam Pei Lin ◽  
Baharin Azahari ◽  
Mardiana Idayu Ahmad
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Calcium Chloride ◽  
Silica Gel ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Airborne Bacteria ◽  
Air Velocity ◽  
Ability Test ◽  
Test Room

Desiccant materials are recently discovered as a viable alternative in dehumidification technology due to their naturally hygroscopic qualities and minimal energy requirement. This paper discusses the performance of four brand samples of selected desiccants used for dehumidification. In this study, dehumidification ability and indoor air quality (IAQ) tests were carried out. The dehumidification ability test was conducted in a controlled environmental chamber at a temperature of 25°C, relative humidity of 70%, and air velocity of 2 m/s for 45-minute session. Meanwhile, the IAQ test was carried out in a naturally ventilated test room, and six IAQ parameters (relative humidity, air velocity, air temperature, particulate matter (PM10), airborne bacteria and carbon dioxide (CO2) were studied. The IAQ test was performed for five different conditions: control, application of brand samples A, B, C and D in the test room. From this study, it was found, brand A (0.6823 g/kg) and brand B (0.6849 g/kg) had a relatively good dehumidification ability during the 45-minute dehumidification ability test compared to brand C (0.3108 g/kg) and brand D (0.3982 g/kg). The IAQ test revealed that brand A had the biggest variation in indoor-outdoor relative humidity of 13.12%, while brand D had the smallest difference of 11.83%. Brand B had the highest average PM10 concentration of 0.037 μg/m3. The airborne bacterial count for all conditions had no statistical significance, indicating the application of desiccants were not effective in reducing airborne bacteria. From this study, it can be concluded that calcium chloride (brand A and B) samples performed better than silica gel (brand C and D) samples in terms of dehumidification ability and IAQ profile.

scholarly journals Investigation and Disinfection of Environmental Microbes in Sports Fitness Center

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Nonglak Boonrattanakij ◽  
Sirikorn Yomchinda ◽  
Fang-Jia Lin ◽  
Luzvisminda M. Bellotindos ◽  
Ming-Chun Lu
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Chlorine Dioxide ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Quality Standards ◽  
Weak Acid ◽  
Fitness Center ◽  
Air Quality Standards ◽  
E Coli ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

Abstract The COVID-19 pandemic shows that indoor air disinfection is extremely important. As early as 2012, Taiwan has released indoor air quality standards, and in 2017 announced the second batch of places that should meet indoor air quality standards including sports and fitness places. In this study, the indoor air quality was monitored in the indoor exercise and fitness center under normal operating conditions of air conditioning and ventilation as well as user flow. Chlorine dioxide and weak acid hypochlorite solutions, and water scrubbing were used to improve the quality of the indoor environment under different operating modes. This study investigated the air quality improvement in terms of bacteria and fungi contamination of the indoor exercise and fitness center under normal operating conditions including air conditioning, ventilation, and user flow. In addition, bacteria contamination and disinfection on sports equipment surface were also examined. Background bacteria and fungi densities in bioaerosols were in the range of 249 ± 65 to 812 ± 111 CFU/m3 and 226 ± 39 to 837 ± 838 CFU/m3 in the indoor air of the fitness center and 370 ± 86 to 953 ± 136 CFU/m3 and 465 ± 108 to 1,734 ± 580 CFU/m3 in the outdoor air, respectively. Chlorine dioxide and weak acid hypochlorous water aerosols could remove both bacteria and fungi much better than water scrubbing. Contact time of 15 minutes was sufficient to control both bacteria and fungi to comply with the official air quality standards. User density and carbon dioxide deteriorated both bacteria and fungi disinfection performance whereas temperature was only statistically significant on fungi disinfection. Other factors including relative humidity, airflow velocity, and particulate matters did not have any statistically significant effect on microbial inactivation. Handle of bicycle, dumbbell, and sit-up bench were found to be contaminated with bacteria and E. coli. Detected densities for bacteria and E. coli on the surface of these sport equipment were in the range of 390 ± 2 to 3,720 ± 736 CFU/cm2 and 550 ± 70 to 1,080 ± 114 CFU/cm2, respectively. Microbial densities detected largely depended on the number of users for each specific equipment. Chlorine dioxide and zinc oxide were noticeably better than weak acid hypochlorous water and commercial disinfectant in term of bacteria inactivation whereas all tested disinfectants had comparable effectiveness on E. coli disinfection. Targeted microorganisms were sufficiently inactivated within 2 minutes after the application of disinfectant.

Indoor Air Quality Investigation of Public Sites in Isolated Islands within Taiwan Strait

2012 ◽  
Vol 209-211 ◽  
pp. 1576-1579 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kuo Jung Hsien ◽  
Yi Tun Wang ◽  
Yi Chyun Hsu ◽  
Ting Nien Wu ◽  
Yun Hwei Shen ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Taiwan Strait ◽  
High Co2 ◽  
Threshold Levels ◽  
Crowd Control ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

The selected 21 public sites for indoor air quality (IAQ) investigation located at Penghu and Kinmen Islands (Taiwan). IAQ measurements include CO2, CO, HCHO, TVOCs, bacteria, fungi, PM10, PM2.5, O3 and temperature, which were conducted during year 2010 and 2011. The results showed that the concentrations of CO, HCHO, PM10 and PM2.5 were below Taiwan EPA’s suggested IAQ threshold levels at all public sites. CO2 concentrations at hospitals and school are all exceeding category 1 threshold of 600 ppm. Besides, the levels of O3 and bacteria for hospitals and fungi for schools were all higher than the suggested IAQ threshold levels. One supermarket was found exceeding the suggested IAQ threshold levels on TVOCs and CO2. The theater was found exceeding the suggested bacteria threshold. This study discovered that the high CO2, bacteria and fungi levels occurred at various public sites. Accordingly, the regulated strategy of crowd control and air conditioning management was required for a healthy indoor environment.

scholarly journals Effect of Air Purification Systems on Particulate Matter and Airborne Bacteria in Public Buses

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (1) ◽  
pp. 55
Author(s):  
Jae Jung Lee ◽  
Hyemin Hwang ◽  
Suk Chan Hong ◽  
Jae Young Lee
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
South Korea ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Transport Systems ◽  
Air Purification ◽  
Airborne Bacteria ◽  
Pm2.5 And Pm10

The indoor air quality in public transport systems is a major concern in South Korea. Within this context, we investigated the effect of air purification systems on the indoor air quality of intercity buses, one of the most popular transport options in South Korea. Air purifiers were custom designed and equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters to remove particulate matter and ultraviolet light-emitting diodes (UV-LEDs) to remove airborne bacteria. To investigate the effectiveness of the air purification systems, we compared concentrations of particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), airborne bacteria, and carbon dioxide (CO2) in six buses (three with air purification systems and three without) along three bus routes (BUS1, BUS2, BUS3) in Gyeonggi Province, South Korea, between 6 April and 4 May 2021. Compared to the buses without air purification, those with air purification systems showed 34–60% and 25–61% lower average concentrations of PM2.5 and PM10, respectively. In addition, buses with air purification systems had 24–78% lower average airborne bacteria concentrations compared to those without air purification systems (when measured after 30 min of initial purification).

scholarly journals EFFECTS OF HOOVERING ACTIVITIES ON BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS AND PARTICULATE MATTER LEVELS IN MAIN PRAYER HALLS OF MALAYSIAN MOSQUES

2019 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 134-142
Author(s):  
Nor Azam Ramli ◽  
Nur Baitul Izati Rasli ◽  
Mohd Rodzi Ismail ◽  
Syabiha Shith ◽  
Noor Faizah Fitri Md Yusof ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Fungal Growth ◽  
Fungal Species ◽  
Bacterial Counts ◽  
Code Of Practice ◽  
Bacillus Spp ◽  
Ventilation Strategies ◽  
Bacteria And Fungi

In Malaysia, carpets are commonly used as finishing flooring material in the main prayer hall of mosques. In cleaning carpets, hoovering has been the most popular method, but it directly triggers the uplifting of dust that may contain bacteria and fungi. Hoovering activities and ventilation strategies (air conditioning split units (ACSUs) or by active ventilation (non-ACSUs)) can affect the prevalence of bacterial and fungal growth. This study aimed to establish the total bacterial counts, total fungal counts and also PM10 concentrations under different ventilation strategies (ACSUs and non-ACSUs) in the main prayer halls of mosques. Identification of bacterial and fungal species also took place in this study. Sampling was performed in 25 mosque buildings (17 ACSUs and 8 non-ACSUs) with carpeted flooring on Zohor-Asar and Friday-Asar prayer sessions at Pulau Pinang, Malaysia. Results revealed that the total bacterial counts, total fungal counts and mean PM10 concentrations were higher in mosques with ACSUs than in mosques with non-ACSUs at concentrations ranging from 166cfu/m3 to 660 cfu/m3, from 118 cfu/m3 to 660 cfu/m3 and from 11.15 ± 9.32 µg/m3 to 49.30 ± 13.13 µg/m3, respectively. The total bacterial counts exceeded the acceptable guideline limit by the Industrial Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (ICOP), but the total fungal counts and PM10 concentrations did not. In some mosques, the total bacterial and fungal counts did not decrease even after hoovering activities were completed. The dominant types of bacteria found in the mosque buildings were Staphylococcus spp., Bacillus spp. and Micrococci spp., whilst the dominant fungal species was Aspergillus niger. Although the findings were not alarming, care should be taken by mosques authorities especially while and after hoovering, to ensure that, the indoor air quality in mosques are being maintained within the permissible limit to protect worshippers from being exposed to bacterial and fungal.

Feinstaubfiltrierung: Saubere Luft atmen

2017 ◽  
Vol 22 (07/08) ◽  
pp. 106-107
Author(s):  
Marc Lichtenthäler
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Eine Hohe

Viele Studien belegen, dass durch eine hohe Indoor Air Quality die Produktivität gesteigert, Fehlzeiten abgebaut und Herz-Kreislauf-Erkrankungen vermieden werden können. Neben Behandlungs-, OP- und Pflegebereichen eines Klinikums sollten deshalb auch Bereiche mit gut aufbereiteter Raumluft bedacht werden, in denen sich ausschließlich Mitarbeiter aufhalten.

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