The short-term effect of residential home energy retrofits on indoor air quality and microbial exposure: a case-control study

AbstractWeatherization of residential homes is a popular retrofit procedure to improve the energy efficiency of older homes by reducing building leakage. It is a vital tool in the fight against climate change. Several studies have evaluated the effect of weatherization on indoor pollutants such as formaldehyde and radon, but few studies have evaluated the effect of weatherization on indoor particulates and microbial exposure. In this study, we compared the effect of change in building leakage on indoor pollutants and bacterial communities in weatherized compared to non-weatherized single-family residential homes in New York State. Nine weatherized and eleven non-weatherized single-family homes in Tompkins County, New York were sampled twice: before and after the weatherization procedures for case homes, and at least 3 months apart for control homes that were not weatherized. We found a significant increase in both indoor-outdoor temperature ratio and living-area- and basement-radon levels of weatherized homes compared to control homes. The indoor-outdoor relative humidity ratio significantly decreased in weatherized compared to control homes. The indoor microbiome also became less similar to the outdoor community after weatherization. Compared to the changes in ventilation rate, temperature, relative humidity, and occupancy, the change in season was a more predictive measure of indoor bacterial concentration. Ventilation rate reduction from weatherization procedures led to an increase in indoor radon levels, as well as a warmer and less humid indoor environment. However, it did not affect indoor particulate mass concentration or indoor airborne bacteria load, and did only marginally affect the microbiome composition of residential homes. Finally, we found that changes in airborne bacterial load are more sensitive to shifts in season, whereas radon levels are more sensitive to ventilation rate.

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The short-term effect of residential home energy retrofits on indoor air quality and microbial exposure: A case-control study

PLoS ONE ◽

10.1371/journal.pone.0230700 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 16 (9) ◽

pp. e0230700

Author(s):

Mytien Nguyen ◽

Eric C. Holmes ◽

Largus T. Angenent

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

Indoor Radon ◽

Bacterial Load ◽

New York State ◽

Residential Home ◽

Single Family ◽

Residential Homes ◽

Indoor Pollutants ◽

Microbial Exposure ◽

Before And After

Weatherization of residential homes is a widespread procedure to retrofit older homes to improve the energy efficiency by reducing building leakage. Several studies have evaluated the effect of weatherization on indoor pollutants, such as formaldehyde, radon, and indoor particulates, but few studies have evaluated the effect of weatherization on indoor microbial exposure. Here, we monitored indoor pollutants and bacterial communities during reductions in building leakage for weatherized single-family residential homes in New York State and compared the data to non-weatherized homes. Nine weatherized and eleven non-weatherized single-family homes in Tompkins County, New York were sampled twice: before and after the weatherization procedures for case homes, and at least 3 months apart for control homes that were not weatherized. We found that weatherization efforts led to a significant increase in radon levels, a shift in indoor microbial community, and a warmer and less humid indoor environment. In addition, we found that changes in indoor airborne bacterial load after weatherization were more sensitive to shifts in season, whereas indoor radon levels were more sensitive to ventilation rates.

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Short-Term Effects of Ambient Ozone, PM2.5, and Meteorological Factors on COVID-19 Confirmed Cases and Deaths in Queens, New York

International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health ◽

10.3390/ijerph17114047 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 17 (11) ◽

pp. 4047 ◽

Cited By ~ 17

Author(s):

Atin Adhikari ◽

Jingjing Yin

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York City ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

York City ◽

Air Pollutants ◽

Meteorological Factors ◽

New York State ◽

The United States ◽

York State Department ◽

Short Term

The outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), caused by the virus SARS-CoV-2, has been rapidly increasing in the United States. Boroughs of New York City, including Queens county, turn out to be the epicenters of this infection. According to the data provided by the New York State Department of Health, most of the cases of new COVID-19 infections in New York City have been found in the Queens county where 42,023 people have tested positive, and 3221 people have died as of 20 April 2020. Person-to-person transmission and travels were implicated in the initial spread of the outbreaks, but factors related to the late phase of rapidly spreading outbreaks in March and April are still uncertain. A few previous studies have explored the links between air pollution and COVID-19 infections, but more data is needed to understand the effects of short-term exposures of air pollutants and meteorological factors on the spread of COVID-19 infections, particularly in the U.S. disease epicenters. In this study, we have focused on ozone and PM2.5, two major air pollutants in New York City, which were previously found to be associated with respiratory viral infections. The aim of our regression modeling was to explore the associations among ozone, PM2.5, daily meteorological variables (wind speed, temperature, relative humidity, absolute humidity, cloud percentages, and precipitation levels), and COVID-19 confirmed new cases and new deaths in Queens county, New York during March and April 2020. The results from these analyses showed that daily average temperature, daily maximum eight-hour ozone concentration, average relative humidity, and cloud percentages were significantly and positively associated with new confirmed cases related to COVID-19; none of these variables showed significant associations with new deaths related to COVID-19. The findings indicate that short-term exposures to ozone and other meteorological factors can influence COVID-19 transmission and initiation of the disease, but disease aggravation and mortality depend on other factors.

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Eliezer Ben-Rafael, Crisis and Transformation: The Kibbutz at Century's End, New York: State University of New York Press, 1997, £17.25, xii+282 pp. (ISBN 0-7914-3225-4).

Sociology ◽

10.1017/s0038038598210133 ◽

1998 ◽

Vol 32 (3) ◽

pp. 613-637

Author(s):

CHRISTOPHER WARHURST

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York State ◽

State University ◽

York State

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Cultural Competence Needed to Distinguish Disorder from Difference: Beyond Kumbaya

Perspectives on Communication Disorders and Sciences in Culturally and Linguistically Diverse Populations ◽

10.1044/cds22.2.64 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 22 (2) ◽

pp. 64-76 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Catherine J. Crowley ◽

Kristin Guest ◽

Kenay Sudler

Keyword(s):

New York ◽

New York City ◽

Public Schools ◽

Cultural Competence ◽

York City ◽

Cultural Sensitivity ◽

Graduate Program ◽

Language Disorder ◽

New York State ◽

Deep Understanding

What does it mean to have true cultural competence as an speech-language pathologist (SLP)? In some areas of practice it may be enough to develop a perspective that values the expectations and identity of our clients and see them as partners in the therapeutic process. But when clinicians are asked to distinguish a language difference from a language disorder, cultural sensitivity is not enough. Rather, in these cases, cultural competence requires knowledge and skills in gathering data about a student's cultural and linguistic background and analyzing the student's language samples from that perspective. This article describes one American Speech-Language-Hearing Association (ASHA)-accredited graduate program in speech-language pathology and its approach to putting students on the path to becoming culturally competent SLPs, including challenges faced along the way. At Teachers College, Columbia University (TC) the program infuses knowledge of bilingualism and multiculturalism throughout the curriculum and offers bilingual students the opportunity to receive New York State certification as bilingual clinicians. Graduate students must demonstrate a deep understanding of the grammar of Standard American English and other varieties of English particularly those spoken in and around New York City. Two recent graduates of this graduate program contribute their perspectives on continuing to develop cultural competence while working with diverse students in New York City public schools.

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