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Basic routes of transmission of respiratory pathogens—A new proposal for transmission categorization based on respiratory spray, inhalation, and touch Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2021-01-21 Yuguo Li
A primary challenge in combatting the ongoing coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic is to clarify the definitions and roles of airborne transmission, contact transmission, and droplet transmission of the causative agent, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2).1 Confusion about these key aspects exists among both the general population, who are interested in evaluating their
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A review on the applied techniques of exhaled airflow and droplets characterization Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-11-18 Khansa Mahjoub Mohammed Merghani; Benoit Sagot; Evelyne Gehin; Guillaume Da; Charles Motzkus
In the last two decades, multidisciplinary research teams worked on developing a comprehensive understanding of the transmission mechanisms of airborne diseases. This article reviews the experimental studies on the characterization of the exhaled airflow and the droplets, comparing the measured parameters, the advantages, and the limitations of each technique. To characterize the airflow field, the
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Extended predicted mean vote of thermal adaptations reinforced around thermal neutrality Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2021-01-19 Sheng Zhang; Zhang Lin
Predicted mean vote (PMV) is a prevailing thermal comfort model adopted by thermal comfort standards. To extend its ability in explaining thermal adaptations, the PMV is multiplied by an extension factor. However, the original extended PMV (ePMV) cannot account for thermal adaptations around thermal neutrality, resulting in deviation around thermal neutrality, therefore, is unable to predict thermal
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Polychlorinated biphenyls in indoor dust from urban dwellings of Lahore, Pakistan: Congener profile, toxicity equivalency, and human health implications Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2021-01-18 Iqra Aslam; Mujtaba Baqar; Abdul Qadir; Mehvish Mumtaz; Jun Li; Gan Zhang
This study is the pioneer assessment of the PCBs in indoor dust particles (from air conditioners) of an urbanized megacity from South Asian. The ∑35 PCB concentration ranged from 0.27 to 152.9 ng/g (mean: 24.84 ± 22.10 ng/g). The tri‐ and tetra‐PCBs were dominant homologues, contributing 57.36% of the total PCB concentrations. The mean levels of Σ8‐dioxin‐like (DL), Σ6‐indicator PCBs and WHO2005‐TEQ
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A recurrent neural network using historical data to predict time series indoor PM2.5 concentrations for residential buildings Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2021-01-15 Xilei Dai; Junjie Liu; Yongle Li
Due to the severe outdoor PM2.5 pollution in China, many people have installed air‐cleaning systems in homes. To make the systems run automatically and intelligently, we developed a recurrent neural network (RNN) that uses historical data to predict the future indoor PM2.5 concentration. The RNN architecture includes an autoencoder and a recurrent part. We used data measured in an apartment over the
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Environmental perceptions, mental performance, and physiological responses of people with respiratory allergies exposed to reduced Indoor Air Quality Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2021-01-12 Xiaojing Zhang; Dandan Li; Jingchao Xie; Jiaping Liu
To investigate the need of allergic population for indoor environment quality, exposure effects of poor air quality on subjects with respiratory allergies were compared with those on healthy people, including perceptual responses, health symptoms, mental performance, and physiological responses. The experimental intervention was with and without ventilation at thermally neutral rooms, creating two
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Residential air‐change rates: A critical review Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2021-01-05 William W Nazaroff
Air‐change rate is an important parameter influencing residential air quality. This article critically assesses the state of knowledge regarding residential air‐change rates, emphasizing periods of normal occupancy. Cumulatively, about 40 prior studies have measured air‐change rates in approximately 10,000 homes using tracer gases, including metabolic CO2. The central tendency of the air‐change rates
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Particle number emission rates of aerosol sources in 40 German households and their contributions to ultrafine and fine particle exposure Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-11-28 Jiangyue Zhao; Wolfram Birmili; Tareq Hussein; Birgit Wehner; Alfred Wiedensohler
More representative data on source‐specific particle number emission rates and associated exposure in European households are needed. In this study, indoor and outdoor particle number size distributions (10–800 nm) were measured in 40 German households under real‐use conditions in over 500 days. Particle number emission rates were derived for around 800 reported indoor source events. The highest emission
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Factors affecting wavelength‐resolved ultraviolet irradiance indoors and their impacts on indoor photochemistry Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-29 Shan Zhou; Shawn F. Kowal; Alyssa R. Cregan; Tara F. Kahan
We measured wavelength‐resolved ultraviolet (UV) irradiance in multiple indoor environments and quantified the effects of variables such as light source, solar angles, cloud cover, window type, and electric light color temperature on indoor photon fluxes. The majority of the 77 windows and window samples investigated completely attenuated sunlight at wavelengths shorter than 320 nm; despite variations
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Automating the interpretation of PM2.5 time‐resolved measurements using a data‐driven approach Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-28 Hao Tang; Wanyu Rengie Chan; Michael D. Sohn
The rapid development of automated measurement equipment enables researchers to collect greater quantities of time‐resolved data from indoor and outdoor environments. While significant, the interpretation of the resulting data can be a time‐consuming effort. This paper introduces an automated process of interpreting PM2.5 time‐resolved data and differentiating PM2.5 emissions resulting from indoor
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Quantitative filter forensics: Size distribution and particulate matter concentrations in residential buildings Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-24 Alireza Mahdavi; Jeffrey A. Siegel
We applied filter forensics, the analysis of dust from the heating, ventilation, and air‐conditioning (HVAC) filters, to measure particle size distribution in 21 residences in Toronto, Canada over a year. Four filters with different nominal efficiencies (Minimum Efficiency Reporting Value (MERV) 8–14 from ASHRAE Standard 52.2) were deployed in each residence each for three months, while the effective
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Indoor air quality in shopping and storage areas Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-24 Laurence Robert; Romain Guichard; Jennifer Klingler; Valérie Cochet; Corinne Mandin
In retail stores, workers are constantly exposed to new manufactured goods. The issue of the exposure of retail workers to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) should clearly be considered. Therefore, this study provides data regarding VOC concentrations in ten French retail stores. The stores were chosen to represent various products: sports goods, shoes and leather, furniture, car equipment, bazaars
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Determinants of ultrafine particles, black carbon, nitrogen dioxide, and carbon monoxide concentrations inside vehicles in the Paris area: PUF‐TAXI study Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-22 Melissa Hachem; Nadine Saleh; Lynda Bensefa‐Colas; Isabelle Momas
This study presents real‐time concentrations of traffic‐related air pollutants during 499 trips conducted by 50 Parisian taxi drivers from PUF‐TAXI project. Ultrafine particles (UFPs), black carbon (BC), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2)/carbon monoxide (CO) were measured inside vehicles by Diffusion Size Classifier Miniature®, microAeth®, and Gas‐Pro®, respectively, for nine hours. Vehicle/trip data characteristics
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Indoor air pollutant health prioritization in office buildings Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-21 Guillaume Sérafin; Patrice Blondeau; Corinne Mandin
This work presents an original method to identify priority indoor air pollutants in office buildings. It uses both a chronic risk assessment approach by calculating a hazard quotient, and a hazard classification method based on carcinogenic, mutagenic, reprotoxic, and endocrine disruptive effects. A graphical representation of the results provides a comprehensive and concise visualization of all of
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Quantification and source characterization of volatile organic compounds from exercising and application of chlorine‐based cleaning products in a university athletic center Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-18 Zachary Finewax; Demetrios Pagonis; Megan S. Claflin; Anne V. Handschy; Wyatt L. Brown; Olivia Jenks; Benjamin A. Nault; Douglas A. Day; Brian M. Lerner; Jose L. Jimenez; Paul J. Ziemann; Joost A. de Gouw
Humans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, impacting their own air quality through occupancy and activities. Human VOC emissions indoors from exercise are still relatively uncertain, and questions remain about emissions from chlorine‐based cleaners. To investigate these and other issues, the ATHLETic center study of Indoor Chemistry (ATHLETIC) campaign was conducted in the weight room of
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Study of thermal comfort in the residents of different climatic regions of India—Effect of the COVID‐19 lockdown Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-17 Samar Thapa; Ramkishore Singh; Mahesh Bundele; Sheetal Thapa; George Thadathil; Yogesh Kr. Jakhar
Thermal comfort standards are essential to ensure comfortable and enjoyable indoor conditions, and they also help in optimizing energy use. Thermal comfort studies, either climate chamber‐based or field investigation, are conducted across the globe in order to ascertain the comfort limits as per the climatic and other adaptive features. However, very few studies are conducted when the occupants are
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House characteristics and condition as determinants of visible mold and musty odor: Results from three New Zealand House Condition Surveys in 2005, 2010, and 2015 Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-17 Phoebe Taptiklis; Robyn Phipps; Mark Jones; Jeroen Douwes
This study assessed associations between house characteristics and mold and musty odor, using data from three consecutive (2005, 2010, and 2015) New Zealand House Condition Surveys, involving a total of 1616 timber‐framed houses. Mold, musty odor, and house characteristics were assessed by independent building inspectors. We used multivariate logistic regression analyses mutually adjusted for other
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A field investigation of the thermal environment and adaptive thermal behavior in bedrooms in different climate regions in China Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-17 Jinyu Liu; Junjie Liu; Dayi Lai; Jingjing Pei; Shen Wei
Sleep thermal environments substantially impact sleep quality. To study the sleep thermal environment and thermal comfort in China, this study carried out on‐site monitoring of thermal environmental parameters in peoples’ homes, including 166 households in five climate zones, for one year. A questionnaire survey on sleep thermal comfort and adaptive behavior was also conducted. The results showed that
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Long‐term performance analysis of chemical filters in clean rooms based on a prediction model Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-11-11 Yuan Zhi; Junjie Liu; Kaiyuan Liu
Chemical filters are the most important devices for removing gas‐phase pollutants in clean rooms. However, the testing concentration of chemical filters is too high for reflecting their performance in a real clean room environment. This study tested the adsorption performance of chemical filters in the two most commonly used shapes at different concentrations. Then, the Langmuir equation and Wheeler‐Jonas
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Fungi and their secondary metabolites in water‐damaged indoors after a major flood event in eastern Croatia Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-12-12 Daniela Jakšić; Miranda Sertić; Domagoj Kifer; Sandor Kocsubè; Ana Mornar Turk; Biljana Nigović; Bojan Šarkanj; Rudolf Krska; Michael Sulyok; Maja Šegvić Klarić
In winter and summer of 2016 and 2017, airborne fungi and house dust were collected in indoors of the village Gunja, which had been flooded, and the control village Gornji Stupnik (Croatia) in order to explore variations of fungal indoor levels, particularly Aspergilli section Nidulantes series Versicolores, as well as fungal metabolites in dust. Levels of airborne Aspergilli (Versicolores) were three
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Organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in air‐conditioner filter dust of indoor urban setting: Implication for health risk in a developing country Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-11-28 Iqra Aslam; Mehvish Mumtaz; Abdul Qadir; Nadia Jamil; Mujtaba Baqar; Adeel Mahmood; Sajid Rashid Ahmad; Gan Zhang
This preliminary investigation highlights the occurrence of organochlorine pesticides (OCPs) in the indoor environment of a megacity, Lahore, Pakistan using the dust ensnared by air‐conditioner filters. The Σ16OCPs concentration ranged from 7.53 to 1272.87 ng/g with the highest percent contribution by ΣDDT (dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethane; 87.21%) and aldrin (6.58%). The spatial variation of OCPs profile
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Human responses to high levels of carbon dioxide and air temperature Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-11-18 Zhijun Tu; Yong Li; Shibin Geng; Kun Zhou; Ruihai Wang; Xian Dong
In this study, 30 subjects were exposed to different combinations of air temperature (Ta: 24, 27, and 30°C) and CO2 level (8000, 10 000, and 12 000 ppm) in a high‐humidity (RH: 85%) underground climate chamber. Subjective assessments, physiological responses, and cognitive performance were investigated. The results showed that as compared with exposure to Ta = 24°C, exposure to 30°C at all CO2 levels
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Performance characteristics of a fan filter unit (FFU) in mitigating particulate matter levels in a naturally ventilated classroom during haze conditions Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-11-20 Kwok Wai Tham; Ganesh Kashinath Parshetti; Prashant Anand; David Kok Wai Cheong; Chandra Sekhar
The performance of a low‐cost fan filter unit (FFU) in mitigating hazardous particulate matter (PM) levels in a naturally ventilated school classroom is presented. The FFU can be considered as a simplified mechanical ventilation and air‐conditioning system without heating and cooling functions. The FFU improves indoor air quality through introduction of cleaned outdoor air to flush out internally generated
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Particulate matter emitted from ultrasonic humidifiers—Chemical composition and implication to indoor air Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-27 Chester J. Lau; Max Loebel Roson; Keifer M. Klimchuk; Tania Gautam; Boyang Zhao; Ran Zhao
Household humidification is widely practiced to combat dry indoor air. While the benefits of household humidification are widely perceived, its implications to the indoor air have not been critically appraised. In particular, ultrasonic humidifiers are known to generate fine particulate matter (PM). In this study, we first conducted laboratory experiments to investigate the size, quantity, and chemical
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Indoor transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-31 Hua Qian; Te Miao; Li Liu; Xiaohong Zheng; Danting Luo; Yuguo Li
It is essential to understand where and how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS‐CoV‐2) is transmitted. Case reports were extracted from the local Municipal Health Commissions of 320 prefectural municipalities in China (not including Hubei Province). We identified all outbreaks involving three or more cases and reviewed the major characteristics of the enclosed spaces in which the
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Indoor air quality in new and renovated low‐income apartments with mechanical ventilation and natural gas cooking in California Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-18 Haoran Zhao; Wanyu R. Chan; Sebastian Cohn; William W. Delp; Iain S. Walker; Brett C. Singer
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
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A new UVC‐LED system for disinfection of pathogens generated by toilet flushing Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-29 Alvin C. K. Lai; Sunday S. Nunayon
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, 5‐LEDs (two variants), and 8‐LEDs. To determine the arrangement designs of LEDs with the optimum efficacy, two variants of 5‐LEDs configurations were additionally considered—uniform and concentrated
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Indoor heterogeneous photochemistry of furfural drives emissions of nitrous acid Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-06 Antoine Depoorter; Carmen Kalalian; Corinne Emmelin; Chantal Lorentz; Christian George
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
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Reducing aerosol transmission of SARS-CoV-2 in hospital elevators. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-23 Cees van Rijn,G Aernout Somsen,Leonard Hofstra,Ghassan Dahhan,Reinout A Bem,Stefan Kooij,Daniel Bonn
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
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Indoor exposure levels of bacteria and fungi in residences, schools, and offices in China: a systematic review. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-08-26 Kangqi Guo,Hua Qian,Dongliang Zhao,Jin Ye,Yinping Zhang,Haidong Kan,Zhuohui Zhao,Furong Deng,Chen Huang,Bin Zhao,Xiangang Zeng,Yuexia Sun,Wei Liu,Jinhan Mo,Chanjuan Sun,Jianguo Guo,Xiaohong Zheng
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
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Long‐term exposure to indoor air pollution and risk of tuberculosis Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-05 Vidhiben Patel; Andrew Foster; Alison Salem; Amit Kumar; Vineet Kumar; Biplab Biswas; Mehdi Mirsaeidi; Naresh Kumar
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
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Deposition of E‐cigarette aerosol in human airways through passive vaping Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-05 Wei‐Chung Su; Su‐Wei Wong; Anne Buu
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
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Effect of filter collection efficiency on the clean air delivery rate in an air cleaner Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-06 Jin Sik Kim; Myong‐Hwa Lee
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
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Decreased humidity improves cognitive performance at extreme high indoor temperature Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-04 Xiaoyu Tian; Zhaosong Fang; Weiwei Liu
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
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Temporal variability of indoor dust concentrations of semivolatile organic compounds Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-06 Kyunghoon Kim; Hyeong‐Moo Shin; Luann Wong; Thomas M. Young; Deborah H. Bennett
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
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Associations between household incense burning and delayed motor development among preterm infants modified by gestational age and maternal educational status Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-08 Chih‐Fu Wei; Ching‐Chun Lin; Meng‐Shan Tsai; Yueliang L. Guo; Shio‐Jean Lin; Hua‐Fang Liao; Wu‐Shiun Hsieh; Mei‐Huei Chen; Pau‐Chung Chen
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.
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Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke during pregnancy and infancy increased the risk of upper respiratory tract infections in infants: A birth cohort study in Wuhan, China Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-08 Xi Chen; Li Huang; Qian Li; Meng Wu; Lixia Lin; Miao Hong; Huanzhuo Wang; Xuefeng Yang; Liping Hao; Nianhong Yang
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
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Classrooms' indoor environmental conditions affecting the academic achievement of students and teachers in higher education: a systematic literature review. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-24 H W Brink,M G L C Loomans,M P Mobach,H S M Kort
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
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Transmission of SARS‐CoV‐2 by inhalation of respiratory aerosol in the Skagit Valley Chorale superspreading event Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-26 Shelly L. Miller; William W Nazaroff; Jose L. Jimenez; Atze Boerstra; Giorgio Buonanno; Stephanie J. Dancer; Jarek Kurnitski; Linsey C. Marr; Lidia Morawska; Catherine Noakes
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
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Experimental study on sleep quality affected by carbon dioxide concentration Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-26 Xinbo Xu; Zhiwei Lian; Jingyun Shen; Ting Cao; Jingwen Zhu; Xiaorui Lin; Ke Qing; Weizhen Zhang; Tao Zhang
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
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Concurrent assessment of personal, indoor, and outdoor PM2.5 and PM1 levels and source contributions using novel low‐cost sensing devices Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-12 Shih‐Chun Candice Lung; Ming‐Chien Mark Tsou; Shu‐Chuan Hu; Yu‐Hui Hsieh; Wen‐Cheng Vincent Wang; Chen‐Kai Shui; Chee‐Hong Tan
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
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Toward setting public health guidelines for chemicals in indoor settled dust? Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-11 Philippe Glorennec; Derek G. Shendell; Pat E. Rasmussen; Roger Waeber; Peter Egeghy; Kenichi Azuma; Aurélie Pelfrêne; Barbara Le Bot; Williams Esteve; Guillaume Perouel; Valérie Pernelet Joly; Yves Noack; Matthieu Delannoy; Marion Keirsbulck; Corinne Mandin
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
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Modeling residential indoor concentrations of PM2.5, NO2, NOx, and secondhand smoke in the Subpopulations and Intermediate Outcome Measures in COPD (SPIROMICS) Air study Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-10-09 Marina Zusman; Amanda J. Gassett; Kipruto Kirwa; R. Graham Barr; Christopher B. Cooper; MeiLan K. Han; Richard E. Kanner; Kirsten Koehler; Victor E. Ortega; Robert Paine 3rd; Laura Paulin; Cheryl Pirozzi; Ana Rule; Nadia N. Hansel; Joel D. Kaufman
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
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Association of subjective health symptoms with Indoor Air Quality in European office buildings: The OFFICAIR project. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-23 Ioannis Sakellaris,Dikaia Saraga,Corinne Mandin,Yvonne de Kluizenaar,Serena Fossati,Andrea Spinazzè,Andrea Cattaneo,Victor Mihucz,Tamás Szigeti,Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes,Krystallia Kalimeri,Rosanna Mabilia,Paolo Carrer,John Bartzis
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
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The effects of carbon dioxide exposure concentrations on human vigilance and sentiment in an enclosed workplace environment. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-23 Liping Pang,Jie Zhang,Xiaodong Cao,Xin Wang,Jin Liang,Liang Zhang,Liang Guo
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
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Development of a personal passive air sampler for estimating exposure to effective chlorine while using chlorine‐based disinfectants Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-26 Yeonjeong Ha; Yoonsub Kim; Eugene Song; Hyun Jung Yoo; Jung‐Hwan Kwon
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
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The Mycobiomes and Bacteriomes of Sputum, Saliva, and Home Dust. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-24 Christine Niemeier-Walsh,Patrick H Ryan,Jarek Meller,Nicholas J Ollberding,Atin Adhikari,Reshmi Indugula,Tiina Reponen
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
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Presence and variability of culturable bioaerosols in three multi-family apartment buildings with different ventilation systems in the Northeastern US. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-15 Nirmala T Myers,Leonardo Calderón,Brian Pavilonis,Zuocheng Wang,Youyou Xiong,MaryAnn Sorensen-Allacci,Deborah Plotnik,Jennifer Senick,Jie Gong,Uta Krogmann,Clinton J Andrews,Gediminas Mainelis
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
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Effectiveness of portable HEPA air cleaners on reducing indoor PM2.5 and NH3 in an agricultural cohort of children with asthma: A randomized intervention trial Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-29 Anne M. Riederer; Jennifer E. Krenz; Maria I. Tchong‐French; Elizabeth Torres; Adriana Perez; Lisa R. Younglove; Karen L. Jansen; David C. Hardie; Stephanie A. Farquhar; Paul D. Sampson; Catherine J. Karr
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
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Associations between Ventilation and Children's Asthma and Allergy in Naturally Ventilated Chinese Homes. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-16 Jing Hou,Yuexia Sun,Pan Wang,Qingnan Zhang,Xiangrui Kong,Jan Sundell
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
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Loss of NO(g) to painted surfaces and its re-emission with indoor illumination. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-13 Stephanie H Jones,Florian P R Hosse,Xiaoying Yang,D James Donaldson
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
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Perceived indoor air quality in naturally ventilated primary schools in the UK: Impact of environmental variables and thermal sensation. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-07 Sepideh Sadat Korsavi,Azadeh Montazami,Dejan Mumovic
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
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Estimates of particulate matter inhalation doses during three-dimensional printing: How many particles can penetrate into our body? Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-02 Jihoon Park,Oh-Hun Kwon,Chungsik Yoon,Mijin Park
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
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Effects of increased humidity on physiological responses, thermal comfort, perceived air quality, and Sick Building Syndrome symptoms at elevated indoor temperatures for subjects in a hot-humid climate. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-04 Chunying Zuo,Lin Luo,Weiwei Liu
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%
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Three-dimensional analysis of the effect of human movement on indoor airflow patterns. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-01 Arup Bhattacharya,Jovan Pantelic,Ali Ghahramani,Ehsan S Mousavi
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
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Distances of transmission risk of COVID-19 inside dwellings and evaluation of the effectiveness of reciprocal proximity warning sounds. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-08-31 David Marín-García,Juan J Moyano-Campos,J David Bienvenido-Huertas
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
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The impact of indoor thermal stratification on the dispersion of human speech droplets. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-09-01 Fan Liu,Hua Qian,Zhiwen Luo,Xiaohong Zheng
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
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Does vaping affect indoor air quality? Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-08-26 Hugo Destaillats,Brett Singer,Tunga Salthammer
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
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Cover Image Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-08-26 Sarah R. Haines, Jeffrey A. Siegel, Karen C. Dannemiller
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Speech is special: The stress effects of speech, noise, and silence during tasks requiring concentration. Indoor Air (IF 4.739) Pub Date : 2020-08-17 Jenni Radun,Henna Maula,Ville Rajala,Mika Scheinin,Valtteri Hongisto
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
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