Antifungal properties of essential oils for improvement of indoor air quality: a review

2018 ◽  
Vol 33 (1) ◽  
pp. 63-76 ◽  
Author(s):  
Harriet Whiley ◽  
Sharyn Gaskin ◽  
Tiffany Schroder ◽  
Kirstin Ross
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Essential Oils ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Tea Tree ◽  
Antifungal Potential ◽  
Published Research

AbstractConcerns regarding indoor air quality, particularly the presence of fungi and moulds, are increasing. The potential for essential oils to reduce, control or remove fungi, is gaining interest as they are seen as a “natural” alternative to synthetic chemical fungicides. This review examines published research on essential oils as a method of fungal control in indoor environments. It was difficult to compare the relative performances of essential oils due to differences in research methods and reporting languages. In addition, there are limited studies that scale up laboratory results and assess the efficacy of essential oils within building environments. However, generally, there appears to be some evidence to support the essential oils clove oil, tea tree oil, oregano, thyme and lemon as potential antifungal agents. Essential oils from heartwood, marjoram, cinnamon, lemon basil, caraway, bay tree, fir, peppermint, pine, cedar leaf and manuka were identified in at least one study as having antifungal potential. Future studies should focus on comparing the effectiveness of these essential oils against a large number of fungal isolates from indoor environments. Studies will then need to focus on translating these results into realistic application methods, in actual buildings, and assess the potential for long-term antifungal persistence.

Statistical Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality Changes after Installation of the PSD System in Seoul’s Metro

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 187-197 ◽  
Author(s):  
Min Jeong Kim ◽  
Yong Su Kim ◽  
Abtin Ataei ◽  
Jeong Tai Kim ◽  
Jung Jin Lim ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Operating Conditions ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Multivariate System ◽  
Metro Station ◽  
Adverse Health Effects ◽  
Subway Stations ◽  
Tele Monitoring

The purpose of this study was to evaluate changes in the concentration of air pollutants in the indoor environments, which could be caused by seasonal changes or changes in operating conditions of subway metro stations. In fact, there are many different types of pollution that can cause contamination in subway stations, and changes in operating conditions can also lead to changes in the indoor air quality (IAQ). Therefore, in order to establish a proper management of IAQ, it would be necessary to evaluate the changes in IAQ according to the changes in conditions. To do this, the present study used a multivariate analysis of variance (MANOVA). The results of testing the hypothesis proved that two groups, divided by the condition of a platform screen door (PSD) system, could differ statistically. Furthermore, those multidimensional differences were caused by installation of a PSD system. When applied to a real-time tele-monitoring system, MANOVA could clearly identify the daily and weekly variations of IAQ in the subway station, as well as the PSD system’s condition. Accordingly, this method could be useful for developing a multivariate system to statistically evaluate the experimental IAQ results in order to optimise operating conditions in a subway metro station to improve IAQ, and to minimise adverse health effects on passengers by exposure to harmful substances.

Investigation of window-opening behaviour and indoor air quality in dwellings situated in the temperate zone in China

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X2092474
Author(s):  
Tingxuan Deng ◽  
Xiong Shen ◽  
Xiaojie Cheng ◽  
Junjie Liu
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Temperate Zone ◽  
World Health ◽  
Formaldehyde Concentration ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Night Time ◽  
Window Opening

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a key factor that could affect the indoor environment and people's health. In this study, we report a comprehensive study on IAQ in 30 dwellings in the temperate zone in China. Thirty naturally ventilated dwellings were selected in the urban area of Kunming, which is the largest city in temperate zone in China. In four seasons, short-term measurement of formaldehyde and benzene, toluene, xylenes-volatile organic compounds and air infiltration rate were conducted in these dwellings. A long-term 1-year monitoring of temperature, relative humidity, fine particulate matter (PM2.5), carbon dioxide (CO2), window-opening behaviour and night-time air change rate (ACR) were conducted in 13 of these dwellings by remote sensors. Short-term measurements showed the mean formaldehyde concentration in summer (100.76 μg/m3), benzene concentration in winter (8.46 µg/m3), PM2.5 concentration (80.4 µg/m3) in spring of 2017 exceeded the Chinese standard, the US Office of Environmental Health Hazard Assessment value and the World Health Organization guidelines. The night-time ACR was the highest in summer (2.1 h−1) and the lowest in winter (1.6 h−1) in bedrooms of 13 long-term monitored dwellings due to seasonal time variation in window opening in bedrooms, which was mainly driven by CO2 concentration, indoor temperature and outdoor PM10 concentration.

scholarly journals Effects of Electronic Cigarettes on Indoor Air Quality and Health

2020 ◽  
Vol 41 (1) ◽  
pp. 363-380 ◽  
Author(s):  
Liqiao Li ◽  
Yan Lin ◽  
Tian Xia ◽  
Yifang Zhu
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Ultrafine Particles ◽  
Electronic Cigarettes ◽  
Cardiovascular Effects ◽  
Health Concern ◽  
Chemical Compositions ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Toxic Substances

With the rapid increase in electronic cigarette (e-cig) users worldwide, secondhand exposure to e-cig aerosols has become a serious public health concern. We summarize the evidence on the effects of e-cigs on indoor air quality, chemical compositions of mainstream and secondhand e-cig aerosols, and associated respiratory and cardiovascular effects. The use of e-cigs in indoor environments leads to high levels of fine and ultrafine particles similar to tobacco cigarettes (t-cigs). Concentrations of chemical compounds in e-cig aerosols are generally lower than those in t-cig smoke, but a substantial amount of vaporized propylene glycol, vegetable glycerin, nicotine, and toxic substances, such as aldehydes and heavy metals, has been reported. Exposures to mainstream e-cig aerosols have biologic effects but only limited evidence shows adverse respiratory and cardiovascular effects in humans. Long-term studies are needed to better understand the dosimetry and health effects of exposures to secondhand e-cig aerosols.

Review of the effects of plants on indoor environments

2020 ◽  
pp. 1420326X1990021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ahu Aydogan ◽  
Ryan Cerone
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Soil Microorganisms ◽  
Root Zone ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Cognitive Benefits ◽  
Biological Methods

Although well-established technologies can remove certain toxins from indoor environments, methods capable of eliminating all of them do not yet exist. Biological methods, however, which are based on plants and their associated microorganisms, could hold significant promise. To achieve high toxic remediation, utilization of the soil microorganisms in the root zone of the plant is vital. Moreover, evidence suggests that in addition to cleaning the air, plants in indoor environments offer psychological, physiological and cognitive benefits. This paper provides an overview of the effects of plants on indoor air quality on the broader benefits of incorporating vegetation into indoor environments.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality Certification and Consumers’ Willingness: Taiwan’s Experience and Survey

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1320
Author(s):  
Chih-Pei Hu ◽  
Jen-Hsiung Cheng
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Information Disclosure ◽  
High Speed ◽  
International Standards ◽  
Hierarchical Regression ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
High Speed Rail ◽  
Factors Affecting

People spend about 80–90% of their time in indoor environments, and poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can seriously endanger people’s health, work quality, and efficiency. The Taiwan Government began regulating IAQ in 2011 and implemented the self-managed IAQ certification in 2021. Before the Taiwan Government officially implemented the certification, we conducted a questionnaire survey from 26 to 27 September 2020. Moreover, this survey selected Banqiao and Wuri High-Speed Rail Plaza as the survey sites and completed 337 valid questionnaires. According to the hierarchical regression results, this research found the following: firstly, IAQ certification complies with international standards and has continuous monitoring and information disclosure methods, both of which are key factors affecting people’s willingness to consume; secondly, the respondents, who are female, familiar with the regulations, and living in the northern Taiwan area, have more willingness to consume in the certificated places.

scholarly journals Determination of indoor air quality in collective living spaces utilizing Fuzzy logic analysis

2020 ◽  
Vol 19 (3) ◽  
pp. 288-300
Author(s):  
Ahmet Cosgun ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Fuzzy Logic ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Environmental Protection Agency ◽  
Environmental Pollutants ◽  
The United States ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Negative Effects

Individuals have to work in collective living spaces which might be indoor or outdoor areas. In indoor works, people spend approximately 90% of their time in a closed space. There are many parameters affecting indoor air quality. Among these, for indoor and outdoor, important parameters can be listed as carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), particles, nitrogen oxides (NOx), various microorganisms, harmful allergens, and powders. Some health problems might emerge in people who stay in indoor environments for a long time. For instance, newborns and infants are more likely to stay indoors. It is the primary reason for occurring many acute and chronic diseases at an early age, as babies and children are more sensitive to environmental pollutants. Recently published studies, which report that appendicitis failures might be fatal and air pollution can increase the rate of these failures, are remarkable. On the other hand, there are many negative effects of polluted indoor air on human health such as attention deficit and excessive daytime sleepiness. Moreover, the negative effects of this kind of indoor air quality on human learning and perception can not be neglected. The researchers focusing on indoor air quality are conducting studies showing that air pollution has an effect on physical activity and neurological interaction in humans. Even though air pollutants in outdoor air content were evaluated with fuzzy logic method in many studies, there are quite few studies using the fuzzy approach for indoor air quality. In this study, through the standard formula developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), calculations were made using fuzzy logic in MATLAB utilizing air quality index. In the study, indoor air quality measurement parameters were evaluated with the “Mamdani” method used in fuzzy logic. In the study, the model suitable for the logic structure created with the fuzzy tool in MATLAB was analyzed with the help of Mamdani method, and the suitability of evaluating the indoor air quality with artificial intelligence was investigated. A set of suggestions has been made evaluating and criticizing the results

scholarly journals Efficiency of an Air Cleaner Device in Reducing Aerosol Particulate Matter (PM) in Indoor Environments

2019 ◽  
Vol 17 (1) ◽  
pp. 18 ◽  
Author(s):  
Paola Fermo ◽  
Valeria Comite ◽  
Luigi Falciola ◽  
Vittoria Guglielmi ◽  
Alessandro Miani
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Particle Number ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Aerodynamic Diameter ◽  
Healthy Environment ◽  
Household Environment ◽  
Commercial Device

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in household environments is mandatory since people spend most of their time in indoor environments. In order to guarantee a healthy environment, air purification devices are often employed. In the present work, a commercial household vacuum cleaner has been tested in order to verify its efficiency in reducing the mass concentration and particle number of aerosol particulate matter (PM). The efficiency has been tested measuring, while the instrument was working, PM10 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 10 μm), PM2.5 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 2.5 μm), PM1 (particles with aerodynamic diameter less than 1 μm), and 7 size-fractions in the range between 0.3 and >10 μm. Measurements have been carried out by means of a portable optical particle counter instrument and simulating the working conditions typical of a household environment. It has been found that the tested commercial device significantly reduces both PM concentrations and particle number, especially in the finest fraction, i.e., particles in the range 0.3–0.5 μm, allowing an improvement of indoor air quality.

A systematic approach to assessing indoor air quality of long term care facilities

2018 ◽  
Vol 16 (4) ◽  
pp. 224-238
Author(s):  
M. te Kulve ◽  
M.G.L.C. Loomans ◽  
E.R.C.M. Huisman ◽  
H.S.M. Kort
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Systematic Approach ◽  
Long Term Care ◽  
Term Care ◽  
Care Facilities

Electronic Noses for Indoor Air Quality Assessment

2018 ◽  
pp. 202-223
Author(s):  
Tomasz Majchrzak ◽  
Wojciech Karol Wojnowski ◽  
Tomasz Dymerski ◽  
Jacek Gębicki ◽  
Jacek Namieśnik
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Electronic Noses ◽  
Air Quality Assessment ◽  
Air Control ◽  
Near Future ◽  
Structural Solutions

This chapter presents a proposal of the use of electronic noses in the monitoring of indoor air quality. The main focus is put on the detailed characteristics of today's indoor air quality control methods, the types of pollution in the air, and the development of electronic noses for air testing. Currently, scientists seek methodological and structural solutions that would enable real-time online indoor air control. It has been shown that using electronic noses in this situation is advantageous. In addition, potential uses of these devices are discussed, with particular focus on closed food processing spaces. The authors of the chapter argue that in the near future, the proposed solution could improve the quality of indoor air and thus the health of the users of the indoor environments, as well as the quality of the products prepared there.

scholarly journals Design and Feasibility Evaluation of Self-Reporting Application for Indoor Air Quality and Health Measures

Proceedings ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 47 ◽  
Author(s):  
Heidi Similä ◽  
Salla Muuraiskangas ◽  
Jussi Ronkainen ◽  
Kaisa Vehmas ◽  
Johanna Kallio
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
The Self ◽  
School Buildings ◽  
Fast Reaction ◽  
Health Measures ◽  
Feasibility Evaluation ◽  
World Environment

Indoor air quality (IAQ) plays an important role in human health as people spend the majority of their time indoors. A self-reporting application was developed to collect long-term perceived IAQ data and symptoms caused by poor IAQ immediately at the onset of symptoms. The feasibility of the application was tested in a real-world environment by four teachers in two school buildings for 18 weeks. The participants received two questionnaire notifications per day to answer IAQ, symptoms, productivity, stress, sleep, and pupil concentration/restlessness related questions. They were also able to report those issues any other time. During the pilot, the participants answered 569 questionnaires in the application. They found the application to be usable and useful, however, the frequency of questionnaire notifications became heavy, because the perceived IAQ did not change much. The feasibility study showed the potential of the self-reporting application to capture perceived IAQ and symptoms, promptly enabling fast reaction to possible problems in IAQ.

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