scholarly journals The comfort parameters in indoor air of sports facilities with different ventilation regimes

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Cátia Peixoto ◽  
Klara Slezakova ◽  
Maria do Carmo Pereira ◽  
Simone Morais
Keyword(s):  
Indoor Air ◽  
Fitness Centers ◽  
Comfort Levels ◽  
Guideline Values ◽  
Air Ventilation ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Comfort Parameters ◽  
Normal Ventilation ◽  
Specific Health ◽  
Ventilation Conditions

Introduction: In Portugal, during COVID19pandemic, sport and fitness facilities were closed. When lockdown has been lifted, in order to prevent the spread of infection, indoor sport facilities were subject to specific regulations that limited indoor occupancy as well as manner of air ventilation. This study aims to analyze the impacts of these ventilation restrictions on indoor air comfort parameters in sport fitness facilities. Methodology: Temperature (T; ºC), relative humidity (RH; %), and carbon dioxide (CO2) were continuously monitored (41 days; spring and autumn) in four fitness centers situated in Oporto metropolitan area: two of them under normal ventilation conditions (i.e. before lockdown; NV1 and NV2) and two of them under temporary restrictions for indoor ventilations and occupancy (RV1 and RV2). Results and Discussion: Under normal ventilation conditions, T in fitness centers slightly varied (in NV1:22-25 ºC; NV2: 20-23 ºC) but in both clubs the comfort recommendations (18-25 ºC) were fulfilled. On contrary, RH were below guideline values (55-75%) in NV1 (47-54%) whereas at NV2 (66-73%) it fulfilled the recommendations. When specific health regulations took place, mean T ranges were similar in both clubs (RV1: 21-23 ºC; RV2:21-23 ºC) but they both exceeded recommended comfort levels (16-21 ºC). Mean RH were in accordance with the legislative values, but the very high temporal maxima (up to 75 and 89%) indicate the possible discomforts the that exercisers might have experienced. Concerning the CO2, the obtained results showed that indoorlevels decreased when specific health restrictions were in force (11-121%) most likely due imposed guidelines for human occupancy. Conclusions: The restrictions for ventilation and human occupancy positively impacted indoor levels of CO2. However, T and RH were on several occasions outside the recommended comfort levels, especially during group activity classes. As regular exercising in environmental conditions, such as elevated T and increased RH can cause health discomforts, these parameters should be carefully maintained within the recommended ranges even under restricted ventilation scenarios.

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 Air Ventilation Performance of School Classrooms with Respect to the Installation Positions of Return Duct

2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (11) ◽  
pp. 6188
Author(s):  
Sungwan Son ◽  
Choon-Man Jang
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Numerical Analysis ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Three Dimensional ◽  
Cross Infection ◽  
School Students ◽  
Height Range ◽  
Air Ventilation ◽  
Ventilation Performance

For students, who spend most of their time in school classrooms, it is important to maintain indoor air quality (IAQ) to ensure a comfortable and healthy life. Recently, the ventilation performance for indoor air quality in elementary schools has emerged as an important social issue due to the increase in the number of days of continuous high concentrations of particulate matter. Three-dimensional numerical analysis has been introduced to evaluate the indoor airflow according to the installation location of return diffusers. Considering the possibility of the cross-infection of infectious diseases between students due to the direction of airflow in the classroom, the airflow angles of the average respiratory height range of elementary school students, between 1.0 and 1.5 m, are analyzed. Throughout the numerical analysis inside the classroom, it is found that the floor return system reduces the indoor horizontal airflow that causes cross-infection among students by 20% compared to the upper return systems. Air ventilation performance is also analyzed in detail using the results of numerical simulation, including streamlines, temperature and the age of air.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality Real-Time Monitoring in Airport Terminal Areas: An Opportunity for Sustainable Management of Micro-Climatic Parameters

Sensors ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 18 (11) ◽  
pp. 3798 ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Zanni ◽  
Francesco Lalli ◽  
Eleonora Foschi ◽  
Alessandra Bonoli ◽  
Luca Mantecchini
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Real Time ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Electronic Monitoring ◽  
Ventilation System ◽  
Real Time Monitoring ◽  
Airport Terminal ◽  
Air Ventilation ◽  
Gaseous Contaminants

Indoor air quality (IAQ) management in public spaces is assuming a remarkable importance. Busy environments, like airport terminals, are currently regarded as possible hotspots and IAQ is a crucial element for passengers and staff protection, as well as a key aspect of airport passenger experience. A one-month monitoring period has been performed on IAQ in the airport of Bologna (Italy), as prototypal example of large regional airport. Four strategic areas within the airport have been equipped with electronic monitoring platforms, including different contaminants and two microclimatic sensors. Data suggest that daily variation in IAQ parameters typically follow the activity pattern of the different environments under study (i.e., passengers’ flows) for gaseous contaminants, where particulate matter counts oscillate in a definite range, with a significant role played by ventilation system. Gaseous contaminants show a correlation between indoor and outdoor concentrations, mainly due to airside activities. Micro-climatic comfort parameters have been tested to match with standards for commercial environments. As results appears in line with typical households IAQ values, the current air ventilation system appears to be adequate. Nevertheless, an integrated air management system, based on real-time monitoring, would lead to optimization and improvement in environmental and economical sustainability.

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 Indoor Particulate Matter (PM2.5) and Comfort Parameters in a University Building

2020 ◽  
Vol 8 (2) ◽  
pp. 61-67
Author(s):  
Nurul Bahiyah Abd Wahid ◽  
Intan Idura Mohamad Isa ◽  
Ahmad Khairuddin Hassan ◽  
Muhammad Izzat Iman Razali ◽  
Ahmad Haziq Hasrizal ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Particulate Matter ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
National Policy ◽  
Lecture Hall ◽  
Airborne Microorganisms ◽  
Code Of Practice ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Indoor Particulate Matter ◽  
Comfort Parameters

This study aims to determine the particulate matter (PM2.5) mass concentrations and the comfort parameters (total bacterial counts (TBC), total fungal counts (TFC), relative humidity and temperature) in a university building. The samplings were carried out in three different indoor areas, including lecture hall, laboratory and lecturer office. PM2.5 samples were collected over a period of 8 h sampling using a low volume sampler (LVS). The anemometer Model Kestrel 0855YEL was used to measure relative humidity and temperature parameters. The sampling of airborne microorganisms was conducted by using microbial sampler at 350 L air sampled volume. The results showed that the highest average of PM2.5 was at lecture hall (88.54 ± 26.21 µgm-3) followed by lecturer office (69.79 ± 19.06 µgm-3) and laboratory (47.92 ± 24.88 µgm-3). The mean of TBC and TFC readings recorded as follow; 32.71 ± 5.91 cfu m-3 and 76.71 ± 21.5 cfu m-3 for laboratory, 112.1 ± 29.06 cfu m-3 and 124.67 ± 23.35 cfu m-3 for lecturer office, 121.74 ± 19.33 cfu m-3 and 115.33 ± 8.08 cfu m-3 for lecture hall. The average of all comfort parameter was within the prescribed standard by Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality 2010 for all sampling sites. Therefore, all occupants of the building can work in a conducive and comfortable environment. This study is in line with the objectives of National Policy on the Environment (DASN), which focusing on achieving a clean, safe, healthy and productive environment for present and future generations.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality Evaluation of Commercial Buildings In Kuantan

2018 ◽  
Vol 225 ◽  
pp. 05018
Author(s):  
Noor Huwaida Yahaya ◽  
Ftwi Yohaness Hagos ◽  
Mohamad Firdaus Basrawi
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Quality Evaluation ◽  
Commercial Buildings ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Pm 10 ◽  
Respirable Particulate

This work focuses on indoor air quality evaluation of commercial buildings in Kuantan. Some buildings have been selected to monitor indoor air quality. The research has been carried out only in Kuantan, which focused on hotels and government buildings. Some sample measurements were taken which include air temperature, relative humidity, and air movement, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), ozone (O3), respirable particulate matter (PM 10), formaldehyde and total volatile organic compound (TVOC). In addition, questionnaires were conducted on a number of workers in each building to determine the level of health and illness caused by air in the building where they work. Hence, this study has analyzed the link between the questioner results and the results of indoor air measurements that were carried out. From surveys, it appears there are four buildings that have low air flow, four buildings have a lot of dust and five buildings have a high temperature. In contrast, four buildings have a good indoor air quality.

scholarly journals Variability of Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOC) in the Indoor Air of Retail Stores

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (23) ◽  
pp. 4622 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jia ◽  
Cao ◽  
Valaulikar ◽  
Fu ◽  
Sorin
Keyword(s):  
Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Organic Compounds ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
High Sensitivity ◽  
Temporal Variations ◽  
Retail Stores ◽  
Volatile Organic ◽  
Systematic Understanding ◽  
Total Volatile Organic Compounds ◽  
Comfort Parameters

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released to the indoor air of retail stores from numerous products and activities, but available literature lacks a systematic understanding of the variability of VOC concentrations. In this study, we measured concentrations of total VOCs (TVOC) in 32 retail stores using a high-sensitivity photoionization detector (PID). Indoor thermal comfort parameters, including temperature, relative humidity, and air velocity, were simultaneously measured using an anemometer. The store-level TVOC concentrations ranged from 30 to 869 ppb and exceeded the LEED guideline in 31 stores. TVOC levels were notably high in hardware stores (median = 536 ppb, p = 0.0002) and paints, household, and home accessories sections within stores (p < 0.05). TVOC levels were elevated in mornings and evenings, possibly due to low ventilation and cleaning activities at the beginning and end of business hours. The between-store, within-store, and temporal variations accounted for 85%, 0.5%, and 14% of the total variance, respectively. The variance structure suggested that in-store VOC concentrations were predominantly driven by their source location, and representative monitoring should first consider covering various store types. Current store VOC levels present health concerns, but further studies are needed to evaluate risks among customers.

scholarly journals Indoor air quality and health in schools

2014 ◽  
Vol 40 (3) ◽  
pp. 259-268 ◽  
Author(s):  
Ana Maria da Conceição Ferreira ◽  
Massano Cardoso
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Respiratory Diseases ◽  
Reference Value ◽  
Signs And Symptoms ◽  
Co2 Concentration ◽  
Air Pollutant ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
The City

Objective: To determine whether indoor air quality in schools is associated with the prevalence of allergic and respiratory diseases in children. Methods: We evaluated 1,019 students at 51 elementary schools in the city of Coimbra, Portugal. We applied a questionnaire that included questions regarding the demographic, social, and behavioral characteristics of students, as well as the presence of smoking in the family. We also evaluated the indoor air quality in the schools. Results: In the indoor air of the schools evaluated, we identified mean concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO2) above the maximum reference value, especially during the fall and winter. The CO2 concentration was sometimes as high as 1,942 ppm, implying a considerable health risk for the children. The most prevalent symptoms and respiratory diseases identified in the children were sneezing, rales, wheezing, rhinitis, and asthma. Other signs and symptoms, such as poor concentration, cough, headache, and irritation of mucous membranes, were identified. Lack of concentration was associated with CO2 concentrations above the maximum recommended level in indoor air (p = 0.002). There were no other significant associations. Conclusions: Most of the schools evaluated presented with reasonable air quality and thermal comfort. However, the concentrations of various pollutants, especially CO2, suggest the need for corrective interventions, such as reducing air pollutant sources and improving ventilation. There was a statistically significant association between lack of concentration in the children and exposure to high levels of CO2. The overall low level of pollution in the city of Coimbra might explain the lack of other significant associations.

scholarly journals Analysis of Carbon Dioxide Concentration Prediction Model and Diffusion Tendency of Expiratory by Simultaneous Multipoint Sensing

2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (13) ◽  
pp. 4631
Author(s):  
Motokazu Moritani ◽  
Norifumi Watanabe ◽  
Kensuke Miyamoto ◽  
Kota Itoda ◽  
Junya Imani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Carbon Dioxide ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Prediction Model ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Concentration ◽  
Predicted Values ◽  
Carbon Dioxide Co2 ◽  
Intellectual Activities ◽  
And Diffusion

Recent indoor air quality studies show that even 1000 parts per million (ppm) concentration of Carbon Dioxide (CO2) has an adverse effect on human intellectual activities. Therefore, it is required to keep the CO 2 concentration below a certain value in a room. In this study, in order to analyze the diffusion tendency of carbon dioxide by breathing, we constructed a simultaneous multi-point sensing system equipped with a carbon dioxide concentration sensor to measure indoor environment. Furthermore, it was evaluated whether the prediction model can be effectively used by comparing the prediction value by the model and the actually measured value from the sensor. The experimental results showed that CO 2 by exhaled breathing diffuses evenly throughout the room regardless of the sensor’s relative positions to the human test subjects. The existing model is sufficiently accurate in a room which has above at least a 0.67 cycle/h ventilation cycle. However, there is a large gap between the measured and the model’s predicted values in a room with a low ventilation cycle, and that suggests a measurement with a sensor still is necessary to precisely monitor the indoor air quality.

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