scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality and Overheating in UK Classrooms – an Archetype Stock Modelling Approach

2021 ◽  
Vol 2069 (1) ◽  
pp. 012175
Author(s):  
Y. Schwartz ◽  
I. Korolija ◽  
P. Symonds ◽  
D. Godoy-Shimizu ◽  
J. Dong ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Building Stock ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Property Data ◽  
Different Seasons ◽  
Data Survey ◽  
Modelling Approach

Abstract Children spend a large part of their waking lives in school buildings. There is substantial evidence that poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and thermal discomfort can have detrimental impacts on the performance, wellbeing and health of schoolchildren and staff. Maintaining good IAQ while avoiding overheating in classrooms is challenging due to the unique occupancy patterns and heat properties of schools. Building stock modelling has been extensively used in recent years to quantify and evaluate performance of large numbers of buildings at various scales. This paper builds on an archetype stock modelling approach which represents the diversity of the school stock in England through an analysis of The Property Data Survey Programme (PDSP) and the Display Energy Certificates (DEC) databases. The model was used for simulating Indoor-to-Outdoor pollution ratios to estimate indoor air pollution levels (NO2, PM2.5 and CO2) and thermal comfort (overheating) in two climate areas in England: London and the West Pennines. analysis highlighted variations in classrooms’ indoor CO2 levels in different seasons and explored the risk of overheating in relation to a classroom’s orientation.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality: Assessment of Dangerous Substances in Incense Products

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (15) ◽  
pp. 8086
Author(s):  
Gabriela Ventura Silva ◽  
Anabela O. Martins ◽  
Susana D. S. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Gaseous Emissions ◽  
Limit Values ◽  
Cone Type ◽  
Guideline Values ◽  
Taking Action ◽  
At Home

Indoor air pollution has obtained more attention in a moment where “stay at home” is a maximum repeated for the entire world. It is urgent to know the sources of pollutants indoors, to improve the indoor air quality. This study presents some results obtained for twelve incense products, used indoors, at home, and in temples, but also in spa centers or yoga gymnasiums, where the respiratory intensity is high, and the consequences on health could be more severe. The focus of this study was the gaseous emissions of different types of incense, performing a VOC screening and identifying some specific VOCs different from the usual ones, which are known or suspected to cause severe chronic health effects: carcinogenic, mutagenic, and reprotoxic. Thirteen compounds were selected: benzene, toluene, styrene, naphthalene, furfural, furan, isoprene, 2-butenal, phenol, 2-furyl methyl ketone, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and acrolein. The study also indicated that incense cone type shows a higher probability of being more pollutant than incense stick type, as from the 12 products tested, four were cone type, and three of them were in the group of the four higher polluters. Benzene and formaldehyde presented worrying levels in the major part of the products, above guideline values established by the WHO. Unfortunately, there are no limit values established for indoor air for all the compounds studied, but this fact should not exempt us from taking action to alert the population to the potential dangers of using those products. From this study, acetaldehyde, acrolein, furfural, and furan emerge as compounds with levels to deserve attention.

scholarly journals Remote Work and the Environment: Exploratory Analysis of Indoor Air Quality of Commercial Offices and the Home Office

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kamrie Sarnosky ◽  
Mark Benden ◽  
Leslie Cizmas ◽  
Annette Regan ◽  
Garett Sansom
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Home Office ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Home Based ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Total Volatile Organic Compounds

Abstract Background: The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated an already existing trend of individuals increasingly working remotely. With the growing popularity of remote working, specifically in a home office, there is a critical need to better understand and characterize the potential environmental differences between these two spaces. Indoor air pollution can have adverse health effects and impair cognitive functioning. Methods: This small pilot cohort study (N=22) recruited home and office workers to better understand the indoor air quality between these spaces. Air contaminants collected and assessed included PM10 and PM2.5, carbon dioxide (CO2), and total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs). Results: Findings showed a strong statistically significant increase in all measured variables within homes in comparison to traditional offices (p<0.001). For instance, The mean PM2.5 level in the traditional office space was 1.93 µg/m3 whereas it was more than twice this amount (5.97 µg/m3) in home offices.Conclusion: These results indicate that those who work from home are at increased risk due to longer exposures to higher levels of certain contaminants, the importance to better develop interventions to mitigate this reality is underscored by the fact that many workers will be moving to home-based offices in the coming years.

scholarly journals Association between Human Health and Indoor Air Pollution in Saudi Arabia: Indoor Environmental Quality Survey

2020 ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Mohd Saleem ◽  
Mohd Adnan Kausar ◽  
Fahmida Khatoon ◽  
Sadaf Anwar ◽  
Syed Monowar Alam Shahid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Natural Light ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality

In many aspects of life quality, bio-contaminants and indoor air quality have had catastrophic consequences, including a negative impact on human health with an increased prevalence of allergic respiratory reactions, asthma, and infectious diseases. We aimed to evaluate the quality of indoor air environment and find out the association between human health and indoor air pollution and also to assess the physical health status of a group of Saudi and non-Saudi populations during this pandemic. Also, we aimed to assess the most common health condition or symptoms associated with ventilation. A questionnaire was distributed online to test indoor air quality, ventilation status, common signs and symptoms of any allergy or mental status and their relationship to certain variables. A total of 362 respondents were included. Before living in the current home, flu or Influenza and chapped lips were more prevalent than allergies and chapped lips signs while living in the current home. (12.2% , 10.8% vs. 18.5% , 13.55% before and after respectively) Multiple colds were the second most common symptom (10.2%). Hoarse voice and headaches were the least common symptoms experienced; each constituted 4.4%. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, most respondents wore a facemask, approximately 76.5%; and almost one-third of respondents had bright natural light inside the current home (43.1%). The presence of natural light within the current home was significantly associated with symptoms experienced during living in the current house (p<0.05). Natural sunlight exposure could decrease allergic symptoms and minor health problems associated with poor ventilation and air quality indoors. In current living homes, the majority of respondents never used air purifiers (72.9 percent). In order to get attention from people to enhance the quality and ventilation mechanism of indoor air, special care and awareness of the effects of the use of air purifiers on human health is needed.

Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Systems

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (3) ◽  
pp. 1-14
Author(s):  
Rasha AbdulWahhab ◽  
Karan Jetly Jetly ◽  
Shqran Shakir
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Ad Hoc ◽  
Quality Monitoring ◽  
Monitoring Systems ◽  
Air Quality Monitoring ◽  
Research Activity ◽  
Pollution Levels ◽  
Closed Area

Research activity in the field of monitoring indoor quality systems has increased dramatically in recent years. Monitoring closed areas can reduce health-related risks due to poor or contaminated air quality. In the current COVID pandemic, the population has observed that improving ventilation in the closed area can significantly reduce infection risk. However, the significance of air quality statistics makes highly accurate real-time monitoring systems vital. In this paper, several researchers' protocols and the methodologies for monitoring a good high indoor air quality system are presented. The majority of the reviewed works are aimed to reduce air pollution levels of the atmosphere. The vast majority of the identified works utilized IoT and WSN technology to fix the partial access to sensed data, high cost, and non-scalability of conventional air monitoring systems. Furthermore, ad-hoc approaches are predominantly used to help society change its attitude and impose corrective actions to improve air quality. This paper presents a short but comprehensive review of several researchers works with different approaches to ecological trend analysis capabilities, drawing on existing literature works. Overall, the findings highlight the need for developing systematic protocols for these systems and establishing smart air quality monitoring systems capable of measuring pollutant concentrations in the air.

Bioactive Nano-Filters to Control Legionella on Indoor Air

2012 ◽  
Vol 506 ◽  
pp. 23-26
Author(s):  
P.A.F. Rodrigues ◽  
S.I.V. Sousa ◽  
Maria José Geraldes ◽  
M.C.M. Alvim-Ferraz ◽  
F.G. Martins
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Legionella Pneumophila ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
High Efficiency ◽  
Respiratory Infections ◽  
Public Health Issue

Several factors affect the indoor air quality, among which ventilation, human occupancy, cleaning products, equipment and material; they might induce the presence of aerosols (or bioaerosols in the presence of biological components) nitrogen oxides, ozone, carbon monoxide and dioxide, volatile organic compounds, radon and microorganisms. Microbiological pollution involves hundreds of bacteria and fungi species that grow indoors under specific conditions of temperature and humidity. Exposure to microbial contaminants is clinically associated with allergies, asthma, immune responses and respiratory infections, such as Legionnaires Disease and Pontiac Feaver, which are due to contamination byLegionella pneumophila. Legionnaire's Disease has increased over the past decade, because of the use of central air conditioning. In places such as homes, kindergartens, nursing homes and hospitals, indoor air pollution affects population groups that are particularly vulnerable because of their health status or age, making indoor air pollution a public health issue of high importance. Therefore, the implementation of preventive measures, as the application of air filters, is fundamental. Currently, High Efficiency Particulate Air (HEPA) filters are the most used to capture microorganisms in ventilation, filtration and air conditioning systems; nevertheless, as they are not completely secure, new filters should be developed. This work aims to present how the efficiency of a textile nanostructure in a non-woven material based on synthetic textiles (high hydrophobic fibers) incorporating appropriate biocides to controlLegionella pneumophila, is going to be measured. These bioactive structures, to be used in ventilation systems, as well as in respiratory protective equipment, will reduce the growth of microorganisms in the air through bactericidal or bacteriostatic action. The filter nanostructure should have good air permeability, since it has to guarantee minimum flows of fresh air for air exchange as well as acceptable indoor air quality.

scholarly journals Overview on the indoor air pollution sources of the ship cabins and the hyperbaric chambers

2020 ◽  
Vol XXIII (2) ◽  
pp. 59-63
Author(s):  
Avram Elena Rita
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Ventilation Rate ◽  
Pollution Sources ◽  
Characteristic Parameters ◽  
Ability To Work ◽  
Specific Degree

The present paper will be focused on analyzing the factors that influence indoor air qualityof the ship cabins and the hyperbaric chambers taking into account the specific degree of pollution, as oxidation of metal surfaces, vaporization, nature of the paints used, respiration, gases or particles coming from the combustion of fuels, chemicals, and allergens. The article will present a synthesis of the influence of characteristic parameters, such as ventilation rate and exposure to mold or chemicals on indoor air quality, as this is strictly and directly related to health, comfort, and ability to work.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality, Information, and Socioeconomic Status: Evidence from Delhi

2021 ◽  
Vol 111 ◽  
pp. 420-424
Author(s):  
Michael Greenstone ◽  
Kenneth Lee ◽  
Harshil Sahai
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Socioeconomic Status ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
World Health ◽  
Quality Information ◽  
Air Purifier ◽  
Health Organization

In Delhi, one of the world's most polluted cities, there is relatively little information on indoor air pollution and how it varies by socioeconomic status (SES). Using indoor air quality monitors (IAQMs), we find that winter levels of household air pollution exceed World Health Organization standards by more than 20 times in both high-and low-SES households. We then evaluate a field experiment that randomly assigned monthlong IAQM user trials across medium-and high-SES households but suffered from significant survey non-response. Among respondents, IAQMs did not affect take-up of subsidized air purifier rentals or other defensive behavior.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Indoor Air Quality after Renovation at the Greens in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

Buildings ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (8) ◽  
pp. 353
Author(s):  
Jihad Awad ◽  
Chuloh Jung
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
United Arab Emirates ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Average Concentration ◽  
Influential Factors ◽  
Actual Condition ◽  
Subjective Response ◽  
Residential Units

The Public Health and Safety Department of Dubai Municipality had evaluated the indoor air quality in public buildings in 2013, then established the IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) regulation. Even though IAQ in public building is in control, indoor air pollution in new and renovated housing is still very problematic. The objective of this paper is to measure the indoor air quality of the residential unit in an apartment after renovation to evaluate the actual condition and to analyze the influential factors. As a methodology, field measurements, resident interviews, and observations were conducted for 20 residential units to investigate basic information, renovation contents, ventilation characteristics, and SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) symptoms. The results showed that renovation related to the indoor air quality was the replacement of finishing materials. It was statistically proven that the average CO2 for each house was 683–2309.4 ppm, and 15 houses exceeded the WHO IAQ standards. TVOC had an average concentration of 0–3.0 ppm per house, exceeding the standard in 10 houses. Formaldehyde (CH2O) had an average concentration of 0–1.02 ppm per house, exceeding the WHO IAQ standard (0.1 ppm) in 12 houses. However, even though the indoor air quality was polluted, the residents were hardly aware of it based on subjective response survey. As the amount of renovation increases, the concentration of formaldehyde (CH2O) increases significantly, and excessive renovation should be avoided. This study will serve as a basic dataset to suggest that the new IAQ regulation not be compulsory for residents; rather, they must induce contractors with stipulation to maintain IAQ during and after renovation.

scholarly journals IoT Based Automatic Air Pollution Monitoring and Purification System

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (9) ◽  
pp. 1378-1383
Author(s):  
Manoj Gurung
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Premature Mortality ◽  
Cost Effective ◽  
Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Air Pollution Monitoring ◽  
Air Purifier

Abstract: Degradation of air quality, like climate change and global warming, has become an all-encompassing existential hazard to humanity and natural life. Exposure to severely polluted air on a regular basis causes pulmonary disorders and contributes to severe allergies and asthma. According to studies, more than 10 million people die each year as a result of irregularities produced directly or indirectly by air pollution. The work of Lelieveld et al. [1] sheds light on the gravity of the problem. It is estimated that by 2050, the worldwide premature mortality from air pollution will exceed 6.6 million fatalities per year (358000 from ozone, the rest from PM 2.5) [1]. As a result, we decided to focus our study on improving indoor air quality. Despite the fact that there are numerous indoor air purifiers on the market, their cost belies their effectiveness, and the effective ones are far too expensive for working-class people to afford [2]. In order to address this issue, we created an automated Internet of Things (IoT) based air filtration system that uses an automated air purifier which is triggered when air quality falls below WHO criteria. Our initiative intends to improve indoor air quality by utilizing the most cost-effective and efficient modules available. Keywords: Indoor Air Pollution, Air Purifier, IAQ, Sharp Dust Sensor GP2Y1010AU0F, IoT, Particulate Matter (PM), HEPA Filter

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