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Indoor Air (indoor + air)
Terms modified by Indoor Air Selected AbstractsGuest editorial: CFD In Indoor AirINDOOR AIR, Issue 1 2003Dan Nørtoft Sørensen No abstract is available for this article. [source] The Right to Healthy Indoor AirINDOOR AIR, Issue 4 2000LARS MØLHAVE [source] Vapor Intrusion in Homes over Gasoline-Contaminated Ground Water in Stafford, New JerseyGROUND WATER MONITORING & REMEDIATION, Issue 1 2006Paul F. Sanders The potential for chemical vapor intrusion from contaminated ground water to the interior of homes was investigated at a site with a leaking underground gasoline storage tank in Stafford Township, New Jersey. This location exhibited conditions favorable to vapor intrusion, with sand soil and a water table depth of 3.3 m. Concentrations of volatile organic chemicals in the ground water were as high as 82 mg/L for total benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, and xylene (BTEX) and up to 590 mg/L for methyl- t -butyl ether (MTBE). Soil vapor samples at multiple depths were taken adjacent to several homes. Inside the homes, air samples were taken on the main floor, in the basement, and under the foundation slab. Despite high ground water concentrations, only one home had measurable impacts to indoor air quality attributable to some of the ground water contaminants. In this house, the BTEX chemicals were not detected in the basement, indicating a lack of indoor air impacts from the ground water for these chemicals. Oxygen measurements suggested that degradation attenuated these chemicals as they diffused through the vadose zone. However, MTBE, 2,2,4-trimethylpentane (isooctane), and cyclohexane were found in the indoor air. The first two of these chemicals served as gasoline-specific tracers and indicated that vapor intrusion was occurring. Attenuation factors (the ratio of the indoor air concentration to a source soil vapor concentration) for the BTEX chemicals between the ground water and the indoor air were <1 × 10,5, and for MTBE was 1.2 × 10,5. Attenuation factors between the deep-soil vapor and the basement air were as follows: BTEX compounds, <1 × 10,5; MTBE, 2.2 × 10,5; 2,2,4-trimethylpentane, 3.6 × 10,4; and cyclohexane, 1.2 × 10,4. Attenuation factors between the subslab vapor and the basement air were 7 to 8 × 10,3. [source] Indoor/outdoor concentrations and elemental composition of PM10/PM2.5 in urban/industrial areas of Kocaeli City, TurkeyINDOOR AIR, Issue 2 2010B. Pekey Abstract, This study presents indoor/outdoor PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations measured during winter and summer in 15 homes in Kocaeli, which is one of the most industrialized areas in Turkey. Indoor and outdoor PM2.5 and PM10 mass concentrations and elemental composition were determined using an X-ray fluorescence spectrometer. Quantitative information was obtained on mass concentrations and other characteristics such as seasonal variation, indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio, PM2.5/PM10 ratio, correlations and sources. Average indoor and outdoor PM2.5 concentrations were 29.8 and 23.5 ,g/m3 for the summer period, and 24.4 and 21.8 ,g/m3 for the winter period, respectively. Average indoor and outdoor PM10 concentrations were 45.5 and 59.9 ,g/m3 for the summer period, and 56.9 and 102.3 ,g/m3 for the winter period, respectively. A varimax rotated factor analysis (FA) was performed separately on indoor and outdoor datasets in an effort to identify possible heavy metal sources of PM2.5 and PM10 particle fractions. FA of outdoor data produced source categories comprising polluted soil, industry, motor vehicles, and fossil fuel combustion for both PM fractions, while source categories determined for indoor data for both PM2.5 and PM10 comprised industry, polluted soil, motor vehicles, and smoking, with an additional source category of cooking activities detected for the PM2.5 fraction. Practical Implications In buildings close to industrial areas or traffic arteries, outdoor sources may have an important effect on indoor air pollution. Therefore, indoor and outdoor investigations should be conducted simultaneously to assess the relationship between indoor and outdoor pollution. This study presents the simultaneous measurement of PM fractions (PM2.5 and PM10) and their elemental compositions to determine the sources of respirable PM and the heavy metals bound to these particles in indoor air. Factor analysis of indoor data indicated that the contribution of outdoor pollutant sources to indoor pollution was about 70%, making these sources the most significant for indoor heavy metal pollution, wheras other sources of indoor pollution included smoking and cooking activities. [source] An Outbreak of Respiratory Diseases among Workers at a Water-Damaged Building , A Case ReportINDOOR AIR, Issue 3 2000MARKKU SEURI Abstract We describe a military hospital building with severe, repeated and enduring water and mold damage, and the symptoms and diseases found among 14 persons who were employed at the building. The exposure of the employees was evaluated by measuring the serum immunoglobulin G (IgG)-antibodies against eight spieces of mold and yeast common in Finnish water and mold damaged buildings and by sampling airborne viable microbes within the hospital. The most abundant spieces was Sporobolomyces salmonicolor. All but one of the employees reported some building-related symptoms, the most common being a cough which was reported by nine subjects. Four new cases of asthma, confirmed by S. salmonicolor inhalation provocation tests, one of whom was also found to have alveolitis, were found among the hospital personnel. In addition, seven other workers with newly diagnosed rhinitis reacted positively in nasal S. salmonicolor provocation tests. Skin prick tests by Sporobolomyces were negative among all 14 workers. Exposure of the workers to mold and yeast in the indoor air caused an outbreak of occupational diseases, including asthma, rhinitis and alveolitis. The diseases were not immunoglobulin E (IgE)-mediated but might have been borne by some other, as yet unexplained, mechanism. [source] Antibiotic resistance genes in multidrug-resistant Enterococcus spp. and Streptococcus spp. recovered from the indoor air of a large-scale swine-feeding operationLETTERS IN APPLIED MICROBIOLOGY, Issue 5 2006A.R. Sapkota Abstract Aims:, In this study, multidrug-resistant bacteria previously recovered from the indoor air of a large-scale swine-feeding operation were tested for the presence of five macrolide, lincosamide and streptogramin (MLS) resistance genes and five tetracycline (tet) resistance genes. Methods and Results:,Enterococcus spp. (n = 16) and Streptococcus spp. (n =16) were analysed using DNA,DNA hybridization, polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and oligoprobing of PCR products. All isolates carried multiple MLS resistance genes, while 50% of the Enterococcus spp. and 44% of the Streptococcus spp. also carried multiple tet resistance genes. All Enterococcus spp. carried erm(A) and erm(B), 69% carried erm(F), 44% carried mef(A), 75% carried tet(M), 69% carried tet(L) and 19% carried tet(K). All Streptococcus spp. carried erm(B), 94% carried erm(F), 75% carried erm(A), 38% carried mef(A), 50% carried tet(M), 81% carried tet(L) and 13% carried tet(K). Conclusions:, Multidrug resistance among airborne bacteria recovered from a swine operation is encoded by multiple MLS and tet resistance genes. These are the first data regarding resistance gene carriage among airborne bacteria from swine-feeding operations. Significance and Impact of the Study:, The high prevalence of multiple resistance genes reported here suggests that airborne Gram-positive bacteria from swine operations may be important contributors to environmental reservoirs of resistance genes. [source] Renovation of a "sick building": The challenge of attaining the confidence of occupantsAMERICAN JOURNAL OF INDUSTRIAL MEDICINE, Issue 5 2009Marjaana Lahtinen PhD (Psychology) Abstract Background This case study focused on the renovation of a building with severe mold and HVAC problems. The users did not trust the success of the planned remedies, and the situation became conflict-prone. The aims of the study were to improve communication and cooperation between experts participating in the renovation process and the future users of the building and monitor the success of the remedies. Methods An intervention was implemented with the aim of making the renovation easily understood by the future users of the building and preventing the escalation of unnecessary concern among them. The follow-up methods comprised a questionnaire study, technical inspections, quality measurements of the indoor air, structural follow-up measurements, and interviews of key persons. Results The renovation itself seems to have been successful, and the model to improve communication and cooperation appears to be a promising one. The confidence of the future users was attained, and the relocation took place as planned. Conclusions In order to succeed in the renovation of a "sick building," both technical expertise and investment in information and communication are needed. Am. J. Ind. Med. 52:438,445, 2009. © 2009 Wiley-Liss, Inc. [source] Residential vapor-intrusion evaluation: Long-duration passive sampling vs. short-duration active samplingREMEDIATION, Issue 4 2008Joseph E. Odencrantz Sampling indoor air for potential vapor-intrusion impacts using current standard 24-hour sample collection methods may not adequately account for temporal variability and detect contamination best represented by long-term sampling periods. Henry Schuver of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Office of Solid Waste stated at the September 2007 Air & Waste Management Association vapor-intrusion conference that the US EPA may consider recommending longer-term vapor sampling to achieve more accurate time-weighted-average detections. In November 2007, indoor air at four residences was sampled to measure trichloroethene (TCE) concentrations over short- and long-duration intervals. A carefully designed investigation was conducted consisting of triplicate samplers for three different investigatory methods: dedicated 6-liter Summa canisters (US EPA Method TO-15), pump/sorbent tubes (US EPA Method TO-17), and passive diffusion samplers (MDHS 80). The first two methods collected samples simultaneously for a 24-hour period, and the third method collected samples for two weeks. Data collected using Methods TO-15 (canisters) and TO-17 (tubes) provided reliable short-duration TCE concentrations that agree with prior 24-hour sampling events in each of the residences; however, the passive diffusion samplers may provide a more representative time-weighted measurement. The ratio of measured TCE concentrations between the canisters and tubes are consistent with previous results and as much as 28.0 ,g/m3 were measured. A comparison of the sampling procedures, and findings of the three methods used in this study will be presented. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. [source] Effects of indoor air purification by an air cleaning system (Koala technology) on semen parameters in male factor infertility: results of a pilot studyANDROLOGIA, Issue 3 2009R. Paradisi Summary A number of studies indicated a clear decline in semen quality in the past 30,50 years and there is accumulating evidence that this decline might result from exposure to high levels of air pollution. To examine the impact of environment on male reproductive ability, we undertook for the first time a pilot study on semen quality of infertile men exposed to purification of indoor air. Ten subjects with a history of unexplained male infertility and poor semen quality were exposed for at least 1 year to a cleaning indoor air system (Koala technology). The key feature of this air purifier is the unique innovative multiple filtering system. The treatment of total purification of indoor air showed neither improvements in semen parameters nor variation in reproductive hormones (P = N.S.), but induced an evident increase (P < 0.03 and more) in seminal leucocytic concentrations. Within the limits due to the small sample of subjects recruited, the sole purification of indoor air does not seem enough to improve semen quality, although the increase in leucocytic concentrations could indicate an activation of the role of immunosurveillance in a purified indoor air environment. [source] Untersuchungen zum Raumklima und zur Fensterlüftung in SchulenBAUPHYSIK, Issue 2 2009Gruppenleiterin Raumklimaqualität Bauphysik Allgemein; Energieeinsparung Abstract Es gibt mehr als 40.000 Schulgebäude in Deutschland, von denen die meisten noch auf eine Sanierung warten. Sanierungen sollen nicht nur dazu dienen, den energetischen Standard der Gebäude zu verbessern, sondern sollten in erster Linie dazu genutzt werden, die raumklimatischen Bedingungen in den Klassenräumen für Schüler und Lehrer zu verbessern. Da die meisten deutschen Schulgebäude nicht mit Raumlufttechnischen Anlagen ausgestattet sind, werden die Räume durch freie Fensterlüftung, betätigt durch die Lehrer und Schüler, belüftet. Daher ist das Fensteröffnungsverhalten der Nutzer von Interesse. Der Einfluss des Fensteröffnungsverhaltens der Nutzer auf die raumklimatischen Bedingungen in den Klassenräumen wurde in zwei Schulen untersucht. Innentemperatur, Kohlendioxidkonzentration sowie die außenklimatischen Bedingungen wurden gemessen. In einer Schule wurde die Fensteröffnungszeit erfasst. Neben hohen Kohlendioxidkonzentrationen besonders während der Heizperiode, sind einige Klassenräume im Winter zu kalt und zu warm im Sommer. Einige Klassenräume haben keinen Sonnenschutz, oder der Sonnenschutz ist unzureichend oder er behindert die Belüftung des dahinterliegenden Raumes. Die Fenster werden zu einem gewissen Grad während des Unterrichts und in den Pausen genutzt. Jedoch werden die Fenster nach dem Unterricht geschlossen und bleiben geschlossen bis zum nächsten Morgen. Es wird keine Nachtlüftung oder Lüftung in den frühen Morgenstunden praktiziert. Signifikante schwache bis moderate Korrelationen zwischen der Fensteröffnungszeit und der Innentemperatur wurden gefunden. Die Korrelation zwischen der Fensteröffnungszeit und der Außentemperatur ist in den meisten Fällen nicht signifikant oder ist nur schwach ausgeprägt. Investigations on indoor environmental conditions and natural ventilation in school buildings. There are more than 40,000 school buildings in Germany. Most of them are awaiting retrofitting. Retrofitting is not only intended to improve the energetic standards, but first of all to improve indoor environmental conditions for pupils and teachers. As most of German schools are not equipped with mechanical ventilation systems, natural ventilation controlled by the occupants opening the windows is the main way to maintain healthy and comfortable conditions in the classrooms. For that purpose the influence of window opening behaviour of the occupants on the indoor environment was measured in two German schools. Temperature and carbon dioxide concentration of the indoor air as well as the outdoor climate conditions were measured. In one school the frequency of window opening was recorded. Besides high CO2 -concentrations especially during winter, some of the investigated classrooms are additionally to cold in winter or to hot in summer. Some classrooms do not have a shading device or the shading device is insufficient or it constricts the ventilation of the room. Windows are used as controls in some degree during lessons and during the breaks. But windows get closed after lessons and stay closed until next morning. There is no night or early morning ventilation in summer. A significant weak to moderate positive correlation between total open window ratio and indoor temperature has been found. Correlation between total open window ratio and outdoor temperature is not significant in most cases or show a weak correlation coefficient. [source] Rechnerische Bewertung von Trocknungsverfahren für hochwassergeschädigtes MauerwerkBAUPHYSIK, Issue 2 2006Research Associated Professor John Grunewald Dr.-Ing. Überschwemmungen sind ein globales Phänomen, was durch die jüngsten Ereignisse in Zentral- und Nordeuropa wieder bestätigt wurde. Die Fluten hinterlassen beträchtliche Schäden an Gebäuden und beeinträchtigen das menschliche Zusammenleben. Sind Schäden an Einrichtungen zu verzeichnen, stehen staatliche Institutionen, Versicherungsunternehmen und Reparaturdienstleister in der Verantwortung, die Eigentümer bei der Instandsetzung zu unterstützen. Eine Voraussetzung zur Kostenminimierung ist dabei eine auf die lokalen Gegebenheiten zugeschnittene Trocknungsstrategie, die sowohl die örtlichen klimatischen Bedingungen als auch die verwendeten Baumaterialien einbezieht. Der Beitrag stellt eine Methode zur Bewertung von Trocknungsmaßnahmen hochwassergeschädigter Gebäude aus Ziegelmauerwerk vor. Die Verwendung von Simulationsrechnungen zur Vorhersage des Erfolges verschiedener Trocknungsverfahren wird anhand von unterschiedlichen historischen Mauerwerksarten gezeigt. Es lassen sich Aussagen über die Feuchteabgabe nach innen, über Anzahl und Dauer des Einsatzes von Luftentfeuchtungsgeräten, über den Verlauf der Trocknung, Gesamtdauer und Kosten der Maßnahmen treffen. (© 2006 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim) Optimal drying of of flooded masonry structures. Flooding is a global phenomenon as recently highlighted by the major catastrophic events in Central and Northern Europe. When flooding occurs in an area populated by humans, it can cause substantial damage to property and threaten human life. When properties are damaged by flooding, governmental institutions, insurers and repairers are called upon to provide services to homeowners in order to return the dwellings back to a habitable state. As one prerequisite to minimize costs for rehabilitation, such services should comprise drying measures tailored to local particularities as climatic conditions and building material properties. The paper introduces a new methodology to schedule drying measures and to evaluate their success for brick masonry buildings. The capabilities of computer simulation to predict the costs of alternative drying strategies are demonstrated by means of flooded masonry for different types of brickwork frequently used in historical buildings. The numerical simulation of moisture transport in flooded brickwork masonry allows statements about the moisture release to the indoor air, the recommended duration of usage and number of air dehumidifiers, the current drying state, the total time to return the brickwork back to a dry state and the drying costs as function of time. [source] Policy interpretation network on children's health and environmentACTA PAEDIATRICA, Issue 2006PETER VAN DEN HAZEL Abstract Aim: The main objective of PINCHE is to provide policy recommendations aiming at protecting children's health and environment based on completed scientific research. The project focused on four themes: indoor and outdoor air pollutants, carcinogens, neurotoxicants, and noise. The data were evaluated in workpackages on exposure assessment, epidemiology, toxicology, and risk and health impact assessment. The data were analysed according to a framework of questions. The workpackage on socioeconomic factors studied the influence of socioeconomic status on exposures and on health effects. In the workpackage on science-policy interface, recommendations on how to improve children's environmental health were formulated. Results: The policy recommendations resulting from the analysis were grouped according to relevant policy levels: European Commission or the European Parliament, member states and other stakeholders at regional or local level. These recommendations are general guidelines for taking action. Regional differences and variation must be reflected when policy is actually implemented. In addition, recommendations related to education and personal behaviour are presented in the reports. Conclusions: The policy recommendations are important input for policy advisers, policy makers and public health authorities at all policy levels. The recommendations are also of direct relevance to interest groups, such as environmental NGOs including child health and advocacy groups. The policy recommendations for each policy level were prioritized. High priorities were given to reduce exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, transport related air pollution, indoor air and mercury. [source] | |||||||||||||