Indoor air pollution (IAP) is a recognized risk factor for various diseases. This paper examines the role of indoor solid fuel exposure in the risk of mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) in Delhi Metropolitan, India. Using a cross‐sectional design, subjects were screened for a history of active TB and lifelong exposure to IAP sources, such as solid fuel burning and kerosene. The TB prevalence rate in the

Secondary exposure to e‐cigarette aerosol (passive vaping) will soon become a pressing public health issue in the world. Yet, the current knowledge about respiratory depositions of e‐cigarette aerosol through passive vaping in human airways is limited due to critical weaknesses of traditional experimental methods. To fill in this important knowledge gap, this study proposed a special approach involving

The performance of an air cleaner is evaluated by the clean air delivery rate (CADR), which is defined as the measure of the delivery of contaminant‐free air. Herein, we conducted comparative analyses of various particulate air filters with various collection efficiencies. We installed each filter in identical commercial air cleaners to determine the effects of the collection efficiency on the CADR

In this study, we examined the cognitive performance of subtropically acclimatized subjects at an extreme high indoor temperature and the effect of decreased humidity on the cognitive performance at the high temperature. Forty‐eight healthy subjects experienced the three exposure conditions: 26°C/relative humidity (RH) 70%, 39°C/RH50%, and 39°C/RH70% in a climate chamber. During 140‐minute‐long exposures

Indoor settled dust may result in substantial human exposure to chemicals, especially by ingestion following hand‐to‐mouth or hand‐to‐object‐to‐mouth contact. As with other environmental media related to exposure, dust may thus be subject to regulation. An international scientific workshop was convened in Paris in September 2019 firstly to assess the relevance for public health of setting guidelines

The determinants of the temporal variability of indoor dust concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) remain mostly unexplored. We examined temporal variability of dust concentrations and factors affecting dust concentrations for a wide range of SVOCs. We collected dust samples three times from 29 California homes during a period of 22 months and quantified concentrations of 47 SVOCs

Household incense burning is a common ritual behavior in the Asia‐Pacific region but has been associated with inferior developmental outcomes in term infants. We aimed to examine these associations among preterm infants.

We aimed to evaluate the association of the exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) during pregnancy and infancy with the risk of upper respiratory tract infections (URTI) in infants based on a Chinese birth cohort study. Among 4178 infants who constituted the final study population, 46.8% experienced URTI in their first year of life. The hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI) for

This study reports the outcomes of a systematic literature review, which aims to determine the influence of four indoor environmental parameters — indoor air, thermal, acoustic, and lighting conditions —on the quality of teaching and learning and on students' academic achievement in schools for higher education, defined as education at a college or university. By applying the Cochrane Collaboration

This paper presents pollutant concentrations and performance data for code‐required mechanical ventilation equipment in 23 low‐income apartments at 4 properties constructed or renovated 2013‐2017. All apartments had natural gas cooking burners. Occupants pledged to not use windows for ventilation during the study but several did. Measured airflows of range hoods and bathroom exhaust fans were lower

The intensity, frequency, duration, and contribution of distinct PM2.5 sources in Asian households have seldom been assessed; these are evaluated in this work with concurrent personal, indoor, and outdoor PM2.5 and PM1 monitoring using novel low‐cost sensing (LCS) devices, AS‐LUNG. GRIMM‐comparable observations were acquired by the corrected AS‐LUNG readings, with R2 up to 0.998. Twenty‐six non‐smoking

During the 2020 COVID‐19 pandemic, an outbreak occurred following attendance of a symptomatic index case at a weekly rehearsal on 10 March of the Skagit Valley Chorale (SVC). After that rehearsal, 53 members of the SVC among 61 in attendance were confirmed or strongly suspected to have contracted COVID‐19 and two died. Transmission by the aerosol route is likely; it appears unlikely that either fomite

Inhalation of particulate matter is associated with adverse health outcomes. The fluorescent portion of supermicron particulate matter has been used as a proxy for bioaerosols. The sources and emission rates of fluorescent particles in residential environments are not well‐understood. Using an ultraviolet aerodynamic particle sizer (UVAPS), emissions of total and fluorescent supermicron particles from

This study comprehensively investigated the impact of indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration on sleep quality. Three experimental conditions (800, 1900, 3000 ppm) were created in chambers decorated as bedroom and other environmental parameters that may influence the sleep quality were under strict control. Sleep quality of 12 subjects (6 men and 6 women) was monitored for 54 consecutive days through

Increased outdoor concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and oxides of nitrogen (NO2, NOx) are associated with respiratory and cardiovascular morbidity in adults and children. However, people spend most of their time indoors and this is particularly true for individuals with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Both outdoor and indoor air pollution may accelerate lung function loss

The aim of this study was to explore the association between the building‐related occupants’ reported health symptoms and the indoor pollutant concentrations in a sample of 148 office rooms, within the framework of the European OFFICAIR research project. A large field campaign was performed in 37 office buildings among eight countries, which included (a) 5‐day air sampling of volatile organic compounds

In this study, fifteen participants were exposed to different carbon dioxide (CO2) concentrations in an enclosed environmental chamber to investigate the potential effects of elevated CO2 concentrations on human vigilance and sentiment. The psychomotor vigilance test (PVT), the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS), and the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) were measured before and after each

With an increasing use of indoor disinfectants such as chlorine (Cl2) and hypochlorous acid, a convenient sampler for estimating exposure to oxidants, such as effective chlorine, is necessary. Here, we developed a personal passive air sampler (PPAS) composed of a redox dye, o‐dianisidine, in a polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) sheet. o‐Dianisidine readily reacts with gaseous oxidants generated by bleach

Respiratory microbiome is an understudied area of research compared to other microbiomes of the human body. The respiratory tract is exposed to an array of environmental pollutants, including microbes. Yet, we know very little about the relationship between environmental and respiratory microbiome. The primary aim of our study was to compare the mycobiomes and bacteriomes between three sample types

People spend approximately 80% of their time indoor, making the understanding of the indoor chemistry an important task for safety. The high surface‐area‐to‐volume ratio characteristic of indoor environments leads the semi‐volatile organic compounds (sVOCs) to deposit on the surfaces. Using a long path absorption photometer (LOPAP), this work investigates the formation of nitrous acid (HONO) through

Bioaerosol concentrations in residential buildings located in the Northeastern US have not been widely studied. Here, in 2011‐2015, we studied the presence and seasonal variability of culturable fungi and bacteria in three multi‐family apartment buildings and correlated the bioaerosol concentrations with building ventilation system types and environmental parameters. A total of 409 indoor and 86 outdoor

We conducted a randomized trial of portable HEPA air cleaners with pre‐filters designed to also reduce NH3 in non‐smoking homes of children age 6‐12 with asthma in Yakima Valley (Washington, USA). Participants were recruited through the Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic asthma education program. All participants received education on home triggers while intervention families additionally received two

A new disinfection system utilizing UVC‐LED irradiation was developed. The system was affixed to the toilet seat and it was challenged by three bacteria strains. Different configurations were tested: 3‐LEDs, two 5‐LEDs, and 8‐LEDs. To determine the arrangement designs of LEDs with the optimum efficacy, two 5‐LEDs configurations were additionally considered – uniform and concentrated (2‐sided) distributions

Building ventilation is important for occupants’ health. There are few studies of associations between home ventilation and occupant's health in China. During 2013‐2016, we measured ventilation in 399 homes in Tianjin and Cangzhou, China, and surveyed the health history of children. Ventilation rates were measured using mass balance of occupant generated CO2. The associations of home ventilation with

Heterogeneous surface reactions play a key role in the chemistry of the indoor environment because of the large indoor surface‐to‐volume ratio. The presence of photocatalytic material in indoor paints may allow photochemical reactions to occur at wavelengths of light that are present indoors. One such potential reaction is the heterogeneous photooxidation of NO to HONO. NO(g) is commonly found indoors

Microbes in buildings have attracted extensive attention from both the research community and the general public due to their close relationship with human health. However, there still lacks comprehensive information on the indoor exposure level of microbes in China. This study systematically reviews exposure levels, the community structures, and the impact factors of airborne bacteria and fungi in

There is a worldwide discussion on the role of aerosols in the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2. The WHO has recently highlighted1 the possible role of aerosols in the transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2. Aerosols containing small respirable particles are increasingly recognized as a potentially important mode of transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2.2-5 We investigate aerosol droplet persistence inside the confined space of

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in classrooms has a significant impact on children's academic performance, health, and well‐being; therefore, understanding children's perception of IAQ is vital. This study investigates how children's perception of IAQ is affected by environmental variables and thermal sensation. In total, 29 naturally ventilated classrooms in eight UK primary schools were selected and 805

Harmful emissions including particulates, volatile organic compounds, and aldehydes are generated during three‐dimensional (3D) printing. Ultrafine particles are particularly important due to their ability to penetrate deep into the lung. We modeled inhalation exposure by particle size during 3D printing. A total of six thermoplastic filaments were used for printing under manufacturer's recommended

Recently, studies suggest that the average indoor temperature is typically >30°C and that the maximum temperature can reach 37.5°C in hot‐humid areas. However, the effects caused by increasing the humidity at high indoor temperatures are not clear. In this study, twelve female and twelve male subjects were exposed to different operative temperature (26.6, 30.6, and 37.4°C) and relative humidity (50%

Human activity is known to leave significant effects on indoor airflow patterns. These patterns are carefully designed for many facilities such as cleanrooms, pharmaceutical settings, and healthcare environments, where human‐induced wakes contribute to the transport of contaminants. Therefore, the knowledge about these wakes as it relates to indoor air quality is critical. As a result, a series of

Effects of noise on people depend on sound level but also on other sound properties. A systematic comparison of the stress effects of speech and noise with the same frequency content is missing. This study compared stress reactions under sound conditions speech (sound level 65 dB LAeq), noise (65 dB), and silence (35 dB), all having similar relative frequency contents. Fifty‐nine participants were

One of the main modes of transmission and propagation of COVID‐19 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is the direct contact with respiratory droplets transmitted among individuals at a certain distance. There are indoor spaces, such as dwellings, in which the transmission risk is high. This research aims to record and analyze risk close contacts in this scope, experimentally assessing the effectiveness of using electronic

This paper investigates the effects of household air pollution (HAP) on child stunting in India using a sample of 206, 898 under‐five children from the latest National Family Health Survey (2015‐16). Descriptive statistics and multivariate analysis were used to understand the association of stunting by type of cooking fuel, separate kitchen, and indoor smoking in the household. Using clean cooking

School‐age children are particularly susceptible to exposure to air pollutants. To quantify factors affecting children's exposure at school, indoor and outdoor microenvironmental air pollutant concentrations were measured at 32 selected primary and secondary schools in Hong Kong. Real‐time PM10, PM2.5, NO2, and O3 concentrations were measured in 76 classrooms and 23 non‐classrooms. Potential explanatory

Exhaled jets from an infected person are found to be locked at a certain height when thermal stratification exists in rooms, causing a potential high risk of disease transmission. This work is focused on the theoretical analysis of the dynamic characteristics of human speech droplets and the residual droplet nuclei in both thermally‐uniform and stratified environments. Results show that most droplets

Irrelevant background speech causes dissatisfaction and impairs cognitive performance in open‐plan offices. The model of Hongisto (2005, Indoor Air, 15, 458‐468) predicts the relation between cognitive performance and the intelligibility of speech described with an objectively measured quantity, the Speech Transmission Index (STI). The model has impacted research in psychology and room acoustics as

Negative ion air purifiers (NIAPs), as a less costly alternative to the HEPA filtration, have been increasingly deployed in China and potentially elsewhere. While reducing indoor concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), NIAPs generate massive amounts of negative ions that may be of health concern. We performed week‐long interventions with NIAPs in the dormitories of 56 healthy college students

Indoor microbial communities vary in composition and diversity depending on material type, moisture levels, and occupancy. In this study, we integrated bacterial cell counting, fungal biomass estimation, and fluorescence‐assisted cell sorting (FACS) with amplicon sequencing of bacterial (16S rRNA) and fungal (ITS) communities to investigate the influence of wetting on medium density fiberboard (MDF)

The use of electronic cigarettes (e‐cigarettes), electronic shishas (e‐shishas), and new “smokeless” tobacco products as substitutes for the traditional tobacco cigarette, and as a lifestyle product, has increased significantly in recent years. Several studies showed that the consumption of e‐cigarettes causes the release of undesired substances, which might affect indoor air quality. Therefore, the

Hotel housekeepers represent a large, low‐income, predominantly minority, and high‐risk workforce. Little is known about their exposure to chemicals, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This study evaluates VOC exposures of housekeepers, sources and factors affecting VOC levels, and provides preliminary estimates of VOC‐related health risks. We utilized indoor and personal sampling at two

The aim of this review was to investigate human exposure to relevant indoor air contaminants, predictors affecting the levels, and the means to reduce the harmful exposure in indoor sports facilities. Our study revealed that the contaminants of primary concern are the following: particulate matter in indoor climbing, golf, and horse riding facilities; carbon dioxide and particulate matter in fitness

Moisture damage can influence the subjective assessment of indoor air quality (subjective IAQ) in various ways. We studied whether the frequency of symptoms reported across students at school level mediates the relationship between observed mold and dampness in a school building and students’ subjective IAQ. To answer this research question, we tested a multilevel path model. The analyzed data were

The indoor environmental quality in classrooms can largely affect children's daily exposure to indoor chemicals in schools. To date, there has not been a comprehensive study of the concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) in French schools. Therefore, the French Observatory for Indoor Air Quality (OQAI) performed a field study of SVOCs in 308 nurseries and elementary schools between

Understanding the sources and composition of organic aerosol (OA) in indoor environments requires rapid measurements, since many emissions and processes have short timescales. However, real‐time molecular‐level OA measurements have not been reported indoors. Here, we present quantitative measurements, at a time resolution of five seconds, of molecular ions corresponding to diverse aerosol‐phase species

Particulate matter (PM, specially PM2.5 with diameter 2.5 microns) has been regarded as the major air pollutant. Negative air ions (NAIs) could electrically charge PM and remove it much more efficiently. In this study, a bio‐generator of NAIs has been developed, which helps plants to generate NAIs at around 100 × 106 ions/cm3 under pulsed electrical field (PEF) treatment. By using the bio‐generator

As a basis for determining the lower limit of acceptable humidity in an indoor environment, experiments were conducted for 25 subjects to assess the maximum expected sensations of dryness, discomfort based on humidity, and intolerance based on humidity, under conditions of 26°C and 10% RH. As results, distinct negative evaluations (dry, uncomfortable, or intolerable) were not obtained as the majority

This study investigates the performance of two systems: personalized ventilation (PV) and ductless personalized ventilation (DPV). Even though the literature indicates a compelling performance of PV, it is not often used in practice due to its impracticality. Therefore, the present study assesses the possibility of replacing the inflexible PV with DPV in office rooms equipped with displacement ventilation

Unlike general ventilation, personalized ventilation can improve thermal comfort and conserve energy based on individual differences. It can also provide every individual the ability to control fresh air exposure and ensure good indoor air quality. However, determining how to improve air supply efficiency while avoiding a draft sensation is still a difficult question. This paper introduces a body movement‐based

In the present study, emission indices for NO, NO2, HONO, HCHO, CO, particle mass, and particle numbers including particle size distributions for three different offering candles were determined. The candles investigated showed similar emission characteristics with emission indices (g/kg) in good agreement with former candle emission studies. An average HONO/NOx emission ratio of 6.6 ± 1.1% was obtained

Despite concerns about building dampness and children’ health, few studies have examined the effects of building energy efficiency standards. This study explored the connections between self‐reported household dampness and children’ adverse health outcomes across buildings corresponding to construction periods (pre‐2001, 2001‐2010, post‐2010). Significant differences of dampness related indicators

Exposure to high concentrations of particulate matter (PM) is associated with a number of adverse health effects. However, it is unclear which aspects of PM are most hazardous, and a better understanding of particle sizes and personal exposure is needed. We characterized particle size distribution (PSD) from biomass‐related pollution and assessed total and regional lung‐deposited doses using multiple‐path

Associations between cleaning chemical exposures and asthma have previously been identified in professional cleaners and healthcare workers. Domestic workers, including housecleaners and caregivers, may receive similar exposures but in residential environments with lower ventilation rates. Study objectives were to compare exposures to occupational exposure limits (OELs), to determine relative contributions

Portable air cleaners are increasingly used in polluted areas in an attempt to reduce human exposure; however, there has been limited work characterizing their effectiveness at reducing exposure. With this in mind, we recruited forty‐three children with asthma from suburban Shanghai and deployed air cleaners (with HEPA and activated carbon filters) in their bedrooms. During both 2‐week filtration and

Inter‐zonal airflows within multi‐unit residential buildings (MURBs) have profound impacts on an array of building performance metrics, including energy, indoor air quality (IAQ), fire and acoustical separations, and distribution of ventilation air. Although there are wide‐ranging implications, most building codes/standards have yet to incorporate airtightness requirements for interior partitions in

The new particle formation due to the use of cleaning products containing volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in indoor environments is well documented in the scientific literature. Indeed, the physical‐chemical process occurring in particle nucleation due to VOC‐ozone reactions was deepened as well as the effect of the main influencing parameters (ie, temperature, ozone). Nonetheless, proper quantification

Microbial exposure is related to the health of passengers on commercial aircraft, but no studies characterized the microbial composition at the species level and identified their ecological determinants. We collected vacuum dust from floor and seat surfaces in flight decks and cabins of 18 aircraft, and amplification‐free shotgun metagenomics was conducted to characterize the microbial composition

Indoor surfaces may be adsorptive sinks with the potential to change Indoor Air Quality. To estimate this effect, the sorption parameters of formaldehyde and toluene were assessed on five floorings by an experimental method using solid‐phase microextraction in an airtight emission cell. Adsorption rate constants ranged from 0.003 to 0.075 m·h−1, desorption rate constants from 0.019 to 0.51 h−1, and

The WHO Housing and health guidelines recommend a minimum indoor temperature of 18°C to prevent cold‐related diseases. In Japan, indoor temperatures appear lower than in Euro‐American countries because of low insulation standards and use of partial intermittent heating. This study investigated the actual status of indoor temperatures in Japan and the common characteristics of residents who live in