scholarly journals Case Study of In-Cab Pollutants for Nonroad Construction Equipment

10.29007/z2wj ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Phil Lewis ◽  
Rachel Mosier ◽  
Yongwei Shan

Like buildings, nonroad construction equipment with enclosed cabs have doors and windows, and heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems; thus, these machines have their own indoor air quality (IAQ) environment. Understanding the role of thermal comfort and air pollutants can help equipment operators manage in-cab environments to reduce health concerns and increase productivity. The objective of this case study was to collect and analyze IAQ data from the cabs of nonroad equipment as it performed real-world activities. Using state-of-the-art IAQ instrumentation, data were collected for in-cab pollutant concentration levels including carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, and respirable particulate matter. Concentrations of carbon monoxide did not exceed published exposure limits for IAQ, but they did approach the published limits. Concentrations of CO2 frequently exceeded IAQ recommended levels for adequate ventilation. Concentrations of respirable particulate matter frequently exceeded IAQ recommended levels. The case study yielded enough information to conclude that studying IAQ in nonroad equipment cabs is necessary to improve human health, safety, and productivity for equipment operators.

2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (18) ◽  
pp. 3660 ◽  
Author(s):  
Myung Eun Cho ◽  
Mi Jeong Kim

This study is interested in understanding the particulate matter perceptions and response behaviors of residents. The purpose of this study was to identify indoor air quality along with the response behaviors of residents in Seoul, to ascertain whether there is a difference in behaviors when particulate matter is present, according to the characteristics of residents and to grasp the nature of this difference. A questionnaire survey of 171 respondents was conducted. The questionnaire measured the indoor air quality perceived by residents, the health symptoms caused by particulate matter, residents’ response behaviors to particulate matter and the psychological attributes affecting those response behaviors. Residents of Seoul were divided into college students in their twenties, male workers in their thirties and forties and female housewives in their thirties and forties. The data were calibrated by SPSS 23 using a one-way analysis of variance (ANOVA) and multiple regression analyses. The results show that most people found particulate matter to be an important problem but were unable to do sufficient mitigation action to prevent its presence. Residents showed greater psychological stress resulting in difficulty going out than physical symptoms. The most influential factor on response behaviors was psychological attributes. Participants were aware of the risks of particulate matter but believed it to be generated by external factors; thus, they felt powerless to do anything about it, which proved to be an obstacle to response behaviors.


2019 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Prafulla Shriyan ◽  
Giridhara R Babu ◽  
Deepa Ravi ◽  
Yamuna Ana ◽  
Onno CP van Schayck ◽  
...  

Background: Exposure to air pollution (IAP) from the combustion of solid fuels is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Pregnant women exposed to higher pollutant levels are at higher risk of delivering a low-birth-weight (LBW) baby. There is a lack of standardized data regarding the levels and types of specific pollutants and how they impact LBW. We aim to prospectively assess the association between ambient and indoor air pollution levels in pregnancy and low birth weight and understand the subsequent risk of adiposity in these infants. Methods: We will conduct a prospective cohort study of 516 pregnant women recruited before 18 weeks of gestation in the urban slums of Bangalore, who have voluntarily consented to participate. We will estimate the level of air pollutants including coarse particulate matter 10 ug/m3 (PM10 ), fine particulate matter 2.5 ug/m3(PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) parts per million (ppm) levels in both indoor and ambient environment. The follow-up of the delivered children will be done at delivery until the infant is two years old. The association between pollutants and LBW will be evaluated using logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders.Further, we will explore the mediation role of LBW in the hypothesized causal chain of air pollution and adiposity. Nested within a larger Maternal Antecedents of Adiposity and Studying the Transgenerational role of Hyperglycemia and Insulin (MAASTHI) cohort, we can estimate the absolute risk of having low birth weight caused by air pollution and other variables. Discussion: Understanding the association between exposures to ambient and indoor air pollution and low birth weight is essential in India. LBW babies have a higher risk of developing obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) during adulthood. The results from this study can inform the efforts for controlling the air pollution-related chronic diseases in India.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anu Dahal ◽  
Indira Parajuli

Abstract Indoor Air Pollution (IAP) from smoky cooking fires causes deaths over 22,800 per year being the fourth leading cause of death in Nepal. The study aims to compare the pollution level particularly Carbon Monoxide (CO) and Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) in different firewood species. Two households one with ICS and TCS is selected purposively to monitor the concentration of pollutants in Ward no. 3 of Gatlang, Rasuwa, Nepal. IAP Meter based on Laser Sensor principle is used to monitor real time concentration of PM 2.5 and CO. 24 hours mean concentration of PM 2.5 and 8 hours mean average concentrations of CO are found to be above the WHO and National Indoor Air Quality Guidelines i.e. For ICS using household the concentration is found to be 155.26 µg/m 3 and 9 ppm respectively and household using TCS is found to be 385.12 µg/m 3 and 12.2 ppm). Both pollutants’ concentration is found less in Abies Spectabilis than other species. Positive correlation is found in both households along with moisture content, amount of firewood used, etc. This result suggests the use of Abies Spectabilis as it emits less emission as compared to other species as it has less moisture content that reduces the concentration of air pollution. Keywords : Carbon Monoxide 1 , Particulate Matter (PM 2.5 ) 2 , Indoor Air Pollution 3


2018 ◽  
Vol 3 ◽  
pp. 133
Author(s):  
Prafulla Shriyan ◽  
Giridhara R Babu ◽  
Deepa Ravi ◽  
Yamuna Ana ◽  
Onno CP van Schayck ◽  
...  

Background: Exposure to air pollution (IAP) from the combustion of solid fuels is a significant cause of morbidity and mortality in developing countries. Pregnant women exposed to higher pollutant levels are at higher risk of delivering a low-birth-weight (LBW) baby. There is a lack of standardized data regarding the levels and types of specific pollutants and how they impact LBW. We aim to prospectively assess the association between ambient and indoor air pollution levels in pregnancy and low birth weight and understand the subsequent risk of adiposity in these infants. Methods: We will conduct a prospective cohort study of 516 pregnant women recruited before 18 weeks of gestation in the urban slums of Bangalore, who have voluntarily consented to participate. We will estimate the level of air pollutants including coarse particulate matter 10 ug/m3 (PM10 ), fine particulate matter 2.5 ug/m3(PM2.5) and carbon monoxide (CO) parts per million (ppm) levels in both indoor and ambient environment. The follow-up of the delivered children will be done at delivery until the infant is two years old. The association between pollutants and LBW will be evaluated using logistic regression adjusting for potential confounders.Further, we will explore the mediation role of LBW in the hypothesized causal chain of air pollution and adiposity. Nested within a larger Maternal Antecedents of Adiposity and Studying the Transgenerational role of Hyperglycemia and Insulin (MAASTHI) cohort, we can estimate the absolute risk of having low birth weight caused by air pollution and other variables. Discussion: Understanding the association between exposures to ambient and indoor air pollution and low birth weight is essential in India. LBW babies have a higher risk of developing obesity and Non-Communicable Diseases (NCDs) during adulthood. The results from this study can inform the efforts for controlling the air pollution-related chronic diseases in India.


2021 ◽  
Vol 3 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Alberto Baldelli ◽  
Brett Couch ◽  
Benjamin Loosley ◽  
Karen Bartlett

AbstractIn a university library, activities typical of librarians, such as unpacking boxes, removing books from the shelves, dusting, packing boxes, cataloguing, conservation and repair, photocopying, setting materials for class, and walking in a main hallway, were found to reduce indoor air quality through the production of airborne mold spores, metal dusts, and particulate matter of different size bins. Analyzing three libraries, the activity of conservation generated 9000 spores/m3 of mold spores, nearing the exposure limit of 104 spores/m3 reported for Penicillium sp., and silver nanoparticles of about 15 µg/m3, that over 8 h would exceed the occupational exposure limit of 0.19 µg/m3. For none of the activities, the levels of particulate matter with a diameter lower than 2.5 µm (PM2.5) and 10 µm (PM10) did not exceed the 8-h time weight average limits of exposure. However, by analyzing the 5th percentile of the real-time PM10 data, values of about 1.5 mg/m3, which is concerning for occupational exposure. Measuring real-time exposures of PM could generate an estimation of levels of mold spores and metal dusts in libraries. We demonstrate a high Spearman’s rank correlation (0.70) between the 5th percentile of PM with a diameter lower than 1 µm and different metals. A high linearity (R2 = 0.85) is obtained between the total average of PM with a diameter lower than 10 µm and mold spores/m3.


Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document