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Souza PAF, Kroptavich CR, Zhou S, Kahan TF. Oxidant concentrations and photochemistry in a vehicle cabin. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2024. [PMID: 39058373 DOI: 10.1039/d4em00319e] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 07/28/2024]
Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) in vehicles can be important to people's health, especially for those whose occupations require them to spend extensive time in vehicles. To date, research on vehicle IAQ has primarily focused on direct emissions as opposed to chemistry happening in vehicle cabins. In this work, we conducted time-resolved measurements of the oxidants and oxidant precursors ozone (O3), nitric oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), and nitrous acid (HONO) inside the cabin of a 2012 Toyota Rav4 under varying ventilation conditions (i.e., car off, car on with passive ventilation, car on with mechanical ventilation via the recirculating fan, and car on with mechanical ventilation via the direct fan). Ozone levels inside the vehicle were significantly lower than outdoors under most conditions, and were approximately half the outdoor levels when the direct fan was in operation. Nitric oxide and NO2 concentrations were very low both inside the vehicle and outdoors. Nitrous acid levels in the vehicle were lower than reported values in other indoor environments, though much higher than expected outdoor levels. We also investigated the potential for photochemical production of radicals in the vehicle. Time- and wavelength-resolved solar irradiance spectra were collected, and steady state hydroxyl radical (OH) and nitrate radical (NO3) concentrations were calculated. Steady state OH concentrations were predicted to be similar to those in air masses in residences illuminated by sunlight, suggesting the importance of HONO photolysis in vehicles. Conversely, nitrate radicals (NO3) were not considered significant indoor oxidants in our study due to rapid titration by NO. Overall, our findings emphasize the importance of both air exchange and photochemistry in shaping the composition of air inside vehicles.
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Affiliation(s)
- Pedro A F Souza
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
| | | | - Shan Zhou
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Rice University, Houston, TX, USA
| | - Tara F Kahan
- Department of Chemistry, University of Saskatchewan, Saskatoon, SK, Canada.
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY, USA
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Takaguchi K, Nakaoka H, Tsumura K, Eguchi A, Shimatani K, Nakayama Y, Matsushita T, Ishizaka T, Kawashima A, Mori C, Suzuki N. The association between clustering based on composition of volatile organic compound in indoor air and building-related symptoms. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 917:170197. [PMID: 38253092 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.170197] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/20/2023] [Revised: 12/26/2023] [Accepted: 01/14/2024] [Indexed: 01/24/2024]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) have been suspected to cause building-related symptoms (BRSs). Although some studies investigated the association between BRSs and VOCs in indoor air, those results were inconsistent. This study investigated the contamination status of VOCs in the indoor air of 154 houses in Japan. Additionally, these samples were grouped by hierarchical clustering analysis based on the VOC composition, and the relationship between a VOC cluster and the BRSs was investigated. The median concentration of the sum of VOCs (ΣVOCs) was 140 μg m-3 (range: 18-3500 μg m-3). The levels of acetaldehyde in four samples and p-dichlorobenzene in one sample exceeded the guideline value. As a result of the hierarchical clustering analysis, the samples in this study were divided into six characteristic clusters based on the VOC composition. The ΣVOCs in cluster 1 were significantly lower than those in other clusters. In cluster 2, acyclic and aromatic hydrocarbons were dominant. Cluster 3 had a relatively high proportion of limonene. In cluster 4, the concentrations and composition ratios of α-pinene were higher than those of other clusters. In cluster 5, p-dichlorobenzene accounted for 42 %-72 % of the total VOCs. Cluster 6 had a relatively high proportion of decamethyl cyclopentasiloxane. This clustering likely depended on the construction of houses and lifestyles. As a result of logistic regression analysis, cluster 5 was associated with the cough symptoms of the BRSs. The results of the present study suggest that investigating the association between VOCs and BRSs is necessary to consider not only total concentrations such as TVOC and ΣVOCs but also VOC composition.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kohki Takaguchi
- Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan.
| | - Hiroko Nakaoka
- Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Kayo Tsumura
- Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Akifumi Eguchi
- Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Keiichi Shimatani
- Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Yoshitake Nakayama
- Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Takafumi Matsushita
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7, Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan
| | - Takahiro Ishizaka
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7, Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan
| | - Ayato Kawashima
- Graduate School of Agriculture, Ehime University, 3-5-7, Tarumi, Matsuyama, Ehime 790-8566, Japan
| | - Chisato Mori
- Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan; Department of Bioenvironmental Medicine, Graduate School of Medicine, Chiba University, 1-8-1 Inohana, Chuo-ku, Chiba 260-0856, Japan
| | - Norimichi Suzuki
- Center for Preventive Medical Sciences, Chiba University, 1-33, Yayoi-cho, Inage-ku, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
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Su S, Li S, Ding Y, Mao P, Chong D. Health damage assessment of commuters and staff in the metro system based on field monitoring-A case study of Nanjing. Front Public Health 2024; 11:1305829. [PMID: 38274545 PMCID: PMC10808693 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1305829] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/02/2023] [Accepted: 12/27/2023] [Indexed: 01/27/2024] Open
Abstract
Introduction The metro has emerged as a major mode of transportation. A significant number of commuters and staff in the metro system are exposed to air pollutants because of its shielded environment, and substantial health damage requires quantitative assessment. Previous studies have focused on comparing the health impacts among different transportation modes, overlooking the specific population characteristics and pollutant distribution in metro systems. Methods To make improvements, this study implements field monitoring of the metro's air environment utilizing specialized instruments and develops a health damage assessment model. The model quantifies health damage of two main groups (commuters and staff) in metro systems at three different areas (station halls, platforms, and metro cabins) due to particulate matter 10 and benzene series pollution. Conclusion A case study of Nanjing Metro Line 3 was conducted to demonstrate the applicability of the model. Health damage at different metro stations was analyzed, and the health damage of commuters and staff was assessed and compared. This study contributes to enhancing research on health damage in the metro systems by providing a reference for mitigation measures and guiding health subsidy policies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shu Su
- Department of Construction and Real Estate, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Shuhao Li
- Department of Construction and Real Estate, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yujie Ding
- Department of Construction and Real Estate, School of Civil Engineering, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Peng Mao
- Department of Engineering Management, School of Civil Engineering, Nanjing Forestry University, Nanjing, China
| | - Dan Chong
- Department of Management Science and Engineering, School of Management, Shanghai University, Shanghai, China
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Uchiyama S, Noguchi M, Hishiki M, Shimizu M, Kunugita N, Isobe T, Nakayama SF. Long-term monitoring of indoor, outdoor, and personal exposure to gaseous chemical compounds. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 906:167830. [PMID: 37838061 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2023.167830] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/10/2023] [Revised: 10/11/2023] [Accepted: 10/12/2023] [Indexed: 10/16/2023]
Abstract
Seasonal variations of chemical compounds in indoor air and outdoor air and personal exposure to these chemicals were continuously monitored for 6 years using four types of passive sampling devices: PSD-BPE/DNPH packed with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine and trans-1,2-bis(2-pyridyl)ethylene coated silica for ozone and carbonyls; PSD-VOC packed with Carboxen 572 or Active Carbon Beads particles for volatile organic compounds; PSD-TEA packed with triethanolamine impregnated silica for acid gases; and PSD-TEA packed with phosphoric acid impregnated silica for basic gases. Many chemical compounds except for nitrogen dioxide, formic acid, and benzene showed seasonal variations with high concentrations in summer and low concentrations in winter. In particular, formaldehyde, nonanal, 2-ethyl-1-hexanol, 2,2,4-trimethyl-1,3-pentanediol monoisobutyrate, and ammonia concentrations showed remarkable seasonal variation. For example, the concentration of formaldehyde in February and August was 5.9 and 40 μg/m3, respectively, a difference of about 7 times. Although there were large differences in the concentrations in each house, the fluctuation pattern was almost the same every year in each house. By contrast, nitrogen dioxide, formic acid, and benzene concentrations were low in summer and high in winter. These compounds were generated by kerosine and gas stoves in winter. Long-term continuous monitoring revealed that annual mean concentrations could be estimated using data from February and August. Personal exposure concentrations could be classified into four patterns: chemicals affected by the indoor environment such as formaldehyde, chemicals affected by the outdoor environment such as ozone, chemicals affected by the occupational environment such as hexane, and background level chemicals such as benzene (without kerosine and gas stoves). Indoor and outdoor measurements are means to investigate the "health" of each environment. Personal exposure measurement using PSD-samplers is suitable for assessing the health risk of chemical compounds to humans.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shigehisa Uchiyama
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6, Minami, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0197, Japan.
| | - Mayumi Noguchi
- Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoicho, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Mayu Hishiki
- Department of Pharmaceutical and Environmental Science, Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Public Health, Hyakunincho, 3-24-1, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo 169-0073, Japan
| | - Moka Shimizu
- Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, 1-33 Yayoicho, Inage-ku, Chiba-shi, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Naoki Kunugita
- School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, 1-1, Iseigaoka, Yahatanishi-ku, Kitakyushu-shi, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Program Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Program Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan
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Richtwerte für Methansäure, Ethansäure und Propansäure in der Innenraumluft. Bundesgesundheitsblatt Gesundheitsforschung Gesundheitsschutz 2023; 66:460-475. [PMID: 36995394 DOI: 10.1007/s00103-023-03672-w] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 04/01/2023]
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Umishio W, Ikaga T, Kario K, Fujino Y, Suzuki M, Ando S, Hoshi T, Yoshimura T, Yoshino H, Murakami S. Role of housing in blood pressure control: a review of evidence from the Smart Wellness Housing survey in Japan. Hypertens Res 2023; 46:9-18. [PMID: 36224288 PMCID: PMC9747607 DOI: 10.1038/s41440-022-01060-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2022] [Accepted: 09/22/2022] [Indexed: 02/03/2023]
Abstract
Current countermeasures for preventing hypertension emphasize only improvements to lifestyle. Recently, improving life environment has attracted attention, in parallel with publication of the WHO Housing and health guidelines. We quantitatively evaluated the relationship between housing thermal environment and blood pressure (BP) in a real-world setting. We conducted a nationwide, prospective intervention study-the Smart Wellness Housing survey-in Japan, as a non-randomized controlled trial. The intervention was the retrofitting of thermal insulation in houses. Participant recruitment was done by construction companies in all 47 prefectures of Japan. Measurements of home BP and indoor temperature at 1.0 m above the floor in the living room, changing room, and bedroom were taken for 2 weeks before and after the intervention each winter (November-March) of FY 2014-2019. As of July 2022, over 2500 households and 5000 participants were registered in the database. We found that (1) about 90% of Japanese lived in cold homes (minimum indoor temperature <18 °C), (2) indoor temperature was non-linearly associated with home BP, (3) morning systolic BP (SBP) was more sensitive than evening SBP to changes in indoor temperature, (4) SBP was influenced by indoor temperature change particularly in older participants and women, (5) unstable indoor temperature was associated with large BP variability, and (6) insulation retrofitting intervention significantly reduced home BP, especially in hypertensive patients. We proposed that the BP reduction effect of the life-environment is comparable to that achievable by lifestyle.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Umishio
- Department of Architecture and Building Engineering, School of Environment and Society, Tokyo Institute of Technology, Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, Japan.
- Department of System Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan.
| | - Toshiharu Ikaga
- Department of System Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Kanagawa, Japan
| | - Kazuomi Kario
- Department of Cardiology, Jichi Medical University School of Medicine, Shimotsuke, Tochigi, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Fujino
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Masaru Suzuki
- Department of Emergency Medicine, Ichikawa General Hospital, Tokyo Dental College, Ichikawa, Chiba, Japan
| | - Shintaro Ando
- Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, The University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
| | - Tanji Hoshi
- Tokyo Metropolitan University, Hachioji, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Takesumi Yoshimura
- University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka, Japan
| | | | - Shuzo Murakami
- Institute for Built Environment and Carbon Neutral for SDGs, Hirakawacho, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, Japan
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7
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Sakamoto H, Uchiyama S, Sato A, Isobe T, Kunugita N, Ogura H, Nakayama SF. Health Risk Assessment Based on Exposure to Chemicals in Air. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:15813. [PMID: 36497886 PMCID: PMC9735953 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192315813] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/14/2022] [Revised: 11/19/2022] [Accepted: 11/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Few studies have investigated personal exposure concentrations of not only some volatile organic compounds but also more types of chemicals including acidic gases and acrolein. We measured the personal exposure concentrations of 35 chemicals including these chemicals in indoor and outdoor air in Chiba-shi, Japan, for 7 days in summer and winter to assess the associated health risks in 22 people. The personal exposure concentrations of nitrogen dioxide were higher in winter than in summer, and those of formaldehyde, p-dichlorobenzene, and tetradecane were higher in summer than in winter. The personal exposure concentrations were mostly equal to or lower than the concentrations in indoor air, contrary to the results of a lot of previous studies. The high-risk chemicals based on personal exposure concentrations were identified as acrolein (max. 0.43 μg/m3), benzene (max. 3.1 μg/m3), and hexane (max. 220 μg/m3) in summer, and acrolein (max. 0.31 μg/m3), nitrogen dioxide (max. 320 μg/m3), benzene (max. 5.2 μg/m3), formic acid (max. 70 μg/m3), and hexane (max. 290 μg/m3) in winter. In addition, we estimated personal exposure concentrations according to the time spent at home and the chemical concentrations in indoor and outdoor air. We found that the estimated concentrations of some participants largely differed from the measured ones indicating that it is difficult to estimate personal exposure concentrations based on only these data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironari Sakamoto
- Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Shigehisa Uchiyama
- Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Ayana Sato
- Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
| | - Naoki Kunugita
- School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan
| | - Hironao Ogura
- Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
| | - Shoji F. Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba 305-8506, Japan
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Obata T, Deguchi S, Yoshitomi J, Inaba K, Urashima Y, Kobori T, Hosomi K, Nagai N, Nakada Y. Effect of storage temperature on the dispersibility of commercially available 0.1% fluorometholone ophthalmic suspension. PLoS One 2022; 17:e0277311. [PMID: 36327301 PMCID: PMC9632795 DOI: 10.1371/journal.pone.0277311] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/08/2022] [Accepted: 10/18/2022] [Indexed: 11/06/2022] Open
Abstract
In this study, we focused on the storage conditions and investigated the effects of low-temperature storage (10°C) on the dispersibility of active components in three formulations of fluorometholone (FLU) suspension eye-drops (one original drug and two generic drugs, P1-P3). For all three eye-drop products, before shaking by hand, white sediment anticipated to be the principal active component was seen at the vial base. In the ordinary-temperature storage group, the FLU contents per drop after shaking by hand were 0.076% in P1, 0.023% in P2, and 0.100% in P3, and the content in P2 was significantly lower than that in P1 and P3. In contrast, almost no dispersion was observed in the low-temperature group. The results after sufficient shaking of these samples with a vortex, in contrast, were such that the FLU contents per drop were 0.063% in P1, 0.086% in P2, and 0.088% in P3; the content in P1 was significantly lower than that in P2 and P3, and there was no difference between P2 and P3. Moreover, we evaluated the dispersibility according to the evaluation “Vs / (ρg − ρf) g.” In both the low- and ordinary-temperature storage groups, the value of Vs / (ρg − ρf) g, proportional to the terminal velocity, decreased in the following order: P3 > P1 ≫ P2, and each value in the ordinary-temperature was higher than that in low temperature. The zeta potential decreased in the following order: P2 > P3 ≫ P1. In conclusion, when FLU suspension eye drops are stored at low temperatures until use, such as in a refrigerator, ordinary shaking does not help achieve dispersion to the specified concentration, and even with vigorous shaking with some formulations, the specified concentration cannot be achieved.
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Affiliation(s)
- Tokio Obata
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University, Tondabayashi, Osaka, Japan
| | - Saori Deguchi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Jyoji Yoshitomi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kazunori Inaba
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yoko Urashima
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University, Tondabayashi, Osaka, Japan
| | - Takuro Kobori
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University, Tondabayashi, Osaka, Japan
| | - Kouichi Hosomi
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Noriaki Nagai
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Kindai University, Higashi-Osaka, Osaka, Japan
| | - Yuichiro Nakada
- Faculty of Pharmacy, Osaka Ohtani University, Tondabayashi, Osaka, Japan
- * E-mail:
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Wang X, Han X, Fan L, Li L, Wang C, Gong S, Qi J, Ge T, Liu H, Li X, Cao Y, Liu M, Wang Q, Su L, Yao X, Wang X. The relationship of residential formaldehyde pollution in 11 Chinese cities to schoolchildren pneumonia prevalence in actual living condition. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 214:114162. [PMID: 36027964 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.114162] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/24/2022] [Revised: 08/14/2022] [Accepted: 08/18/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Residential formaldehyde pollution is one of the leading residential harmful pollutants with a large production and consumption globally and remains much uncertainty in Chinese families with huge health burden for children worldwide. A multi-center observation study from 11 cities was conducted to investigate residential formaldehyde pollution levels measured by phenol reagent spectrophotometry. Data on household characteristics and schoolchildren's health were collected by questionnaire. The median concentration of residential formaldehyde was 0.025 (0.002-0.281) mg/m3 among 11 cities with the total exceeding standard rate of 7.40% according to the reference value of 0.10 mg/m3 (1-h average). Residential formaldehyde pollution in warm season, bedrooms and northern cities was more serious than that in cold season, living rooms and southern cities, respectively. The potential influencing factors of residential formaldehyde included household characteristics (distance from a traffic road, building history, residence duration, window glass layers, decoration and furniture) and use of air conditioner. The positive regulation effect of temperature on residential formaldehyde was explored with the approximately turning-point temperature of 28.9 °C for peak concentration. Long-term exposure to residential formaldehyde of low concentrations (0.010-0.090 mg/m3) would increase the prevalence of childhood pneumonia and a more stringent criteria value for residential formaldehyde should be discussed cautiously.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinqi Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Xu Han
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Lin Fan
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Li Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Chong Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Shuhan Gong
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Jing Qi
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Tanxi Ge
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Hang Liu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Xu Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Yun Cao
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Mengmeng Liu
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Qin Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Liqin Su
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Xiaoyuan Yao
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
| | - Xianliang Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, #7 Panjiayuan Nanli Road, Chaoyang District, Beijing, 100021, PR China.
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10
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Exposure to Aerosols Emitted from Common Heating Combustion Sources Indoors—The Jordanian Case as an Example for Eastern Mediterranean Conditions. ATMOSPHERE 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos13060870] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2023]
Abstract
In Jordan, ~61% of total residential energy consumption is consumed by heating spaces using portable kerosene (K) and liquified petroleum gas (LPG) heaters. Here, we evaluated the indoor air quality (IAQ) versus the use of K and LPG heaters inside a test room reflecting the typical conditions of Jordanian dwellings during the winter season. The experimental setup included particle size distribution (diameter 0.01–25 µm) measurements, and we utilized a simple sectional indoor aerosol model (SIAM) to estimate the emission rate and lifetime of the combustion products in the test room. The particle number (PN) concentration during the LPG operation was 6 × 104–5.9 × 105 cm−3, depending on the setting at minimum, medium, or maximum. The K heater operation increased with the PN concentrations to a range of 4 × 105–8 × 105 cm−3. On average, the particle losses were 0.7–1.6 h−1 for micron particles (1–10 µm) and 0.8–0.9 h−1 for ultrafine particles (<0.1 µm). The emission rate from the LPG heater was 1.2 × 1010–2.8 × 1010 particles/s (6.6 × 106–8.0 × 106 particles/J), and that for the K heater was about 4.4 × 1010 particles/s (1.9 × 107 particles/J). The results call for the immediate need to apply interventions to improve the IAQ by turning to cleaner heating processes indoors.
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11
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Güneş G, Yalçin N, Çolaklar H. Investigation of indoor air quality in university libraries in terms of gaseous and particulate pollutants in Bartin, Turkey. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2022; 194:200. [PMID: 35182210 PMCID: PMC8857401 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-022-09818-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/23/2021] [Accepted: 01/22/2022] [Indexed: 06/14/2023]
Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) was investigated in two libraries of Bartin University. Particle matter, TVOC, and CH2O were measured simultaneously in different rooms of the libraries. Measurements were made by PCE-RCM 11 measuring device. They were conducted monthly between September 2019 and October 2020 for 2 weeks for each library. TVOC mean concentration was higher than the limit value reported by Seifert et al. (1999). PM2.5 and PM10 concentrations were higher in winter unlike TVOC and CH2O concentrations. The indoor seconder blowing dust was detected to be the most important source of particulate matter in the indoor environment. On the other hand, it was thought that the pollutants in the gas phase were affected by indoor and outdoor air temperature, indoor/outdoor air exchange rate, and indoor/outdoor pollutant sources. The parameters changed during the day and in different rooms of the libraries. Pollutants did not pose any hazard on human health, since the calculated HQ and HI ≤ 1 for both exposure groups. The indoor air of the libraries was detected to be slightly polluted and bad according to the IAQI and IEI, respectively. On the other hand, the indoor air quality of the libraries was good in terms of all parameters according to the IAQC.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gülten Güneş
- Environmental Engineering Department, Bartin University, Bartin, Turkey.
| | - Nesibe Yalçin
- Computer Engineering Department, Bartın University, Bartın, Turkey
| | - Huriye Çolaklar
- Information and Document Management Department, Bartin University, Bartin, Turkey
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12
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Yin Y, He J, Zhao L, Pei J, Yang X, Sun Y, Cui X, Lin CH, Wei D, Chen Q. Identification of key volatile organic compounds in aircraft cabins and associated inhalation health risks. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2022; 158:106999. [PMID: 34991259 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2021.106999] [Citation(s) in RCA: 14] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/06/2021] [Revised: 11/18/2021] [Accepted: 11/22/2021] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
The identification of key VOCs during flights is important in creating a satisfactory aircraft cabin environment. Two VOC databases for the building indoor environment (from 251 occupied residences) and the aircraft cabin environment (from 56 commercial flights) were compared, to determine the common compounds (detection rate (DR) > 70%) in the two environments and the characteristic VOCs (only those with high DR during flights) in aircraft cabins. Possible VOC emission sources in flights were also discussed. As TVOC is usually viewed as a general indicator of air quality, the prediction of TVOC concentration was carried out using BP neural network algorithm, and the average error between the predicted and measured values was 55.35 μg/m3 (R2 = 0.80). Meanwhile, the VOCs' inhalation cancer/non-cancer risks to crew members and passengers were calculated on the basis of detection rates, exposure concentrations, and health risk assessments. Six compounds (i.e., formaldehyde, benzene, tetrachloroethylene, trichloromethane, 1,2-dichloroethane, and naphthalene) were proposed as the key VOCs in the existing aircraft cabin environment, presenting a risk to crew members that is higher than the US EPA proposed acceptable level (evaluated mean value > 1E-06). The estimated lifetime excess cancer/non-cancer risks for passengers were all below the assessment criteria. Based on a summary of various VOC limits in five built environments, hierarchical design of VOC concentration limits is recommended for the aircraft environment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yihui Yin
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Junzhou He
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Lei Zhao
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Jingjing Pei
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China.
| | - Xudong Yang
- Department of Building Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing 100084, China
| | - Yuexia Sun
- Tianjin Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin 300072, China
| | - Xikang Cui
- COMAC Beijing Aircraft Technology Research Institute, Beijing 102211, China
| | - Chao-Hsin Lin
- Environmental Control Systems, Boeing Commercial Airplanes, Everett, WA 98203, USA
| | - Daniel Wei
- Boeing Research & Technology - China, Beijing 100027, China
| | - Qingyan Chen
- School of Mechanical Engineering, Purdue University, West Lafayette, IN, USA
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13
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Nazaroff WW, Weschler CJ. Indoor ozone: Concentrations and influencing factors. INDOOR AIR 2022; 32:e12942. [PMID: 34609012 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 42] [Impact Index Per Article: 21.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/05/2021] [Revised: 09/21/2021] [Accepted: 09/24/2021] [Indexed: 05/03/2023]
Abstract
Because people spend most of their time indoors, much of their exposure to ozone occurs in buildings, which are partially protective against outdoor ozone. Measurements in approximately 2000 indoor environments (residences, schools, and offices) show a central tendency for average indoor ozone concentration of 4-6 ppb and an indoor to outdoor concentration ratio of about 25%. Considerable variability in this ratio exists among buildings, as influenced by seven building-associated factors: ozone removal in mechanical ventilation systems, ozone penetration through the building envelope, air-change rates, ozone loss rate on fixed indoor surfaces, ozone loss rate on human occupants, ozone loss by homogeneous reaction with nitrogen oxides, and ozone loss by reaction with gas-phase organics. Among these, the most important are air-change rates, ozone loss rate on fixed indoor surfaces, and, in densely occupied spaces, ozone loss rate on human occupants. Although most indoor ozone originates outdoors and enters with ventilation air, indoor emission sources can materially increase indoor ozone concentrations. Mitigation technologies to reduce indoor ozone concentrations are available or are being investigated. The most mature of these technologies, activated carbon filtration of mechanical ventilation supply air, shows a high modeled health-benefit to cost ratio when applied in densely occupied spaces.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W Nazaroff
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Charles J Weschler
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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14
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Tabatabaei Z, Baghapour MA, Hoseini M, Fararouei M, Abbasi F, Baghapour M. Assessing BTEX concentrations emitted by hookah smoke in indoor air of residential buildings: health risk assessment for children. JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH SCIENCE & ENGINEERING 2021; 19:1653-1665. [PMID: 34900296 PMCID: PMC8617227 DOI: 10.1007/s40201-021-00721-x] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/19/2021] [Accepted: 08/07/2021] [Indexed: 05/24/2023]
Abstract
Hookah smoke is one of the major indoor sources of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), including Benzene, Toluene, Ethylbenzene, and Xylenes (BTEX). The present study aimed to investigate potential exposure to BTEX compounds among primary school children whose parents smoked hookah at home. BTEX concentrations in indoor air were measured in 60 residential buildings of Khesht, southwestern Iran (case = 30 and control = 30). Target compounds were sampled by charcoal tubes, and the samples were then analyzed by GC-FID. Monte Carlo simulation was used to assess the carcinogenic and non-carcinogenic risks of BTX exposure for the children aged 7-13 years. The concentrations of benzene (7.19 ± 3.09 vs. 0.82 ± 0.5 μg/m3), toluene (1.62 ± 0.69 vs. 0.3 ± 0.22 μg/m3), and xylenes (2.9 ± 1.66 vs. 0.31 ± 0.22 μg/m3) were considerably higher in the indoor air of the case houses compared with the control houses (p < 0.05). The Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) of benzene for non-smoking and smoking houses were estimated 1.8 × 10-6 and 15 × 10-6, respectively, exceeding the recommendations of the World Health Organization (WHO) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) (1 × 10-6). Moreover, Hazard Quotients (HQs) of all BTX compounds were < 1. The indoor benzene concentration was significantly influenced by the floor at which families lived and type of the kitchen. In order to prevent children's exposure to BTX emitted by hookah, banning indoor smoking is the only way to eliminate these compounds in the indoor air.
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Affiliation(s)
- Zeynab Tabatabaei
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Ali Baghapour
- Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Hoseini
- Research Center for Health Sciences, Institute of Health, Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Mohammad Fararouei
- Department of Epidemiology, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Fariba Abbasi
- Department of Environmental Health, School of Health, Shiraz University of Medical Sciences, Shiraz, Iran
| | - Melika Baghapour
- Department of Biology, Faculty of Science, York University, Toronto, Canada
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15
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Sakamoto H, Uchiyama S, Isobe T, Kunugita N, Ogura H, Nakayama SF. Spatial Variations of Indoor Air Chemicals in an Apartment Unit and Personal Exposure of Residents. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph182111511. [PMID: 34770026 PMCID: PMC8583336 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph182111511] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/04/2021] [Revised: 10/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/31/2021] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Indoor air quality (IAQ) can greatly affect health in people spending much time indoors. However, the influence of IAQ on personal exposure to chemical compounds in Japan remains poorly investigated. Hence, this study aimed to clarify this influence thoroughly within one apartment. We surveyed the concentrations of 61 chemical compounds in the air in nine different spaces within an apartment unit, as well as the personal exposure of two residents in Japan. Using three kinds of diffusive samplers, this study was conducted continuously for 7 days in summer and winter. Health risks were evaluated by calculating the margin of exposure (MOE) using the measured concentrations. Some chemical concentrations showed large spatial variations and the personal exposure concentrations of these compounds also differed among residents. According to the calculated MOE, the chemicals with the highest health risk were acrolein, p-dichlorobenzene, and acetaldehyde in summer and acrolein, nitrogen dioxide, formic acid, p-dichlorobenzene, and benzene in winter. The IAQ of the house could be divided in two, and the IAQ in the space where residents spent much time (i.e., bedroom) highly affected each of the residents' exposure. Investigating chemical concentrations in multiple spaces (including bedroom and living room) is necessary to understand the effect of IAQ on personal exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hironari Sakamoto
- Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan; (H.S.); (H.O.)
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan; (T.I.); (S.F.N.)
| | - Shigehisa Uchiyama
- Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan; (H.S.); (H.O.)
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +81-43-290-3466
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan; (T.I.); (S.F.N.)
| | - Naoki Kunugita
- School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan;
| | - Hironao Ogura
- Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan; (H.S.); (H.O.)
| | - Shoji F. Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan; (T.I.); (S.F.N.)
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16
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Non-thermal plasma by positive corona glow discharge using nano-structured Cu/CuO coated electrodes for benzene removal from air flow; removal enhancement and energy efficiency improvement. Sep Purif Technol 2021. [DOI: 10.1016/j.seppur.2021.119156] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
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17
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Masih A, Dviwedi S, Lal JK. Source characterization and health risks of BTEX in indoor/outdoor air during winters at a terai precinct of North India. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2021; 43:2985-3003. [PMID: 33483909 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-021-00822-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/29/2020] [Accepted: 01/07/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BTEX are the consistently found air contaminants in indoor and outdoor environments. In order to investigate the exposure levels of BTEX, the indoor and outdoor air was analyzed during winter season at homes located at four selected sites of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, India, which comprised residential, roadside, industrial and agricultural areas. BTEX were sampled with a low-flow pump (SKC model 220). Samples were extracted with CS2 and the aromatic fraction was subjected to GC-FID. Mean indoor concentration of BTEX was highest at the agricultural (70.9 µg m-3) followed by industrial (30.0 µg m-3), roadside (17.5 µg m-3) and residential site (11.8 µg m-3). At outdoor locations, the mean BTEX levels were highest at the roadside (22.0 µg m-3) followed by industrial (18.7 µg m-3), agricultural (11.0 µg m-3) and residential site (9.1 µg m-3). The I/O ratios were greater than 1 at all the sites except roadside site, where I/O ratios for toluene, ethylbenzene and xylene were less than unity. Poor correlation between indoor and outdoor levels at each site further indicated the dominance of indoor sources. Factor analysis followed by one-way analysis of variance depicts that the presence of BTEX compounds at all the sites indicate a mixture of vehicular and combustion activities. For benzene, the ILTCR values exceeded the safe levels, whereas ethylbenzene was nearby to the recommended level 1 × 10-6. The HQ values were above unity for agricultural (indoors) and industrial (outdoors) as an exception to all the other sites which indicted the value below unity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Amit Masih
- Environmental Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, St. Andrew's College, Gorakhpur, India.
| | - Samriddhi Dviwedi
- Environmental Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, St. Andrew's College, Gorakhpur, India
| | - J K Lal
- Environmental Research Lab, Department of Chemistry, St. Andrew's College, Gorakhpur, India
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18
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Nishihama Y, Jung CR, Nakayama SF, Tamura K, Isobe T, Michikawa T, Iwai-Shimada M, Kobayashi Y, Sekiyama M, Taniguchi Y, Yamazaki S. Indoor air quality of 5,000 households and its determinants. Part A: Particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10-2.5) concentrations in the Japan Environment and Children's Study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 198:111196. [PMID: 33939980 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111196] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 04/07/2021] [Accepted: 04/14/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
Exposure to particulate matter (PM) is one of the important risk factors for morbidity and mortality. Although PM concentrations have been assessed using air quality monitoring stations or modelling, few studies have measured indoor PM in large-scale birth cohorts. The Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) measured indoor and outdoor air quality in approximately 5000 households when the participating children were aged 1.5 and 3 years. PM was collected using portable pumps for 7 days (total of 24 h), inside and outside each home. Prediction models for indoor PM concentrations were built using data collected at age 1.5 years and post-validated against data collected at age 3 years. Median indoor/outdoor PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 concentrations at age 1.5 years [3 years] were 12.9/12.7 [12.5/11.3] μg/m3 and 5.0/6.3 [5.1/6.1] μg/m3, respectively. Random forest regression analysis found that the major predictors of indoor PM2.5 were indoor PM10-2.5, outdoor PM2.5, indoor smoking, observable smoke and indoor/outdoor temperature. Indoor PM2.5, outdoor PM10-2.5, indoor humidity and opening room windows were important predictors of indoor PM10-2.5 concentrations. Indoor benzene, acetaldehyde, ozone and nitrogen dioxide concentrations were also found to predict indoor PM2.5 and PM10-2.5 concentrations, possibly due to the formation of secondary organic aerosols. These findings demonstrate the importance of reducing outdoor PM concentrations, avoiding indoor smoking, using air cleaner in applicable and diminishing sources of VOCs that could form secondary organic aerosols, and the resulting models can be used to predict indoor PM concentrations for the rest of the JECS cohort.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yukiko Nishihama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Chau-Ren Jung
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan.
| | - Kenji Tamura
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takehiro Michikawa
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miyuki Iwai-Shimada
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yayoi Kobayashi
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Makiko Sekiyama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yu Taniguchi
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shin Yamazaki
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
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19
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Chimed-Ochir O, Ikaga T, Ando S, Ishimaru T, Kubo T, Murakami S, Fujino Y. Effect of housing condition on quality of life. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:1029-1037. [PMID: 33739475 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12819] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/23/2020] [Revised: 03/01/2021] [Accepted: 03/03/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
This study examined the housing effect on quality of life among Japanese people. In the current cross-sectional study, we analyzed the 1-year of data (November 2015-March 2016) with 2533 participants. We used the Short Form-8 questionnaire, an 8-item instrument that measures general aspects of health-related QOL. Comprehensive Assessment System for Built Environment Efficiency housing checklist which was developed by Ministry of Land, Infrastructure, Transport and Tourism was used to assess the housing aspects. This checklist has six health elements including thermal comfort, acoustic environment, lighting environment, hygiene, safety, and security for 8 distinctive rooms/places of home. Multilevel analysis was done to identify the relationship between the perceived level of housing problem and PCS and MCS by clustering by sex. Compared to those who always felt unsafe at home due to interior design problem, participants who never felt unsafe showed an average of 10.51 (95% CI = 7.69-13.34, p < 0.0001) and 5.78 (95% CI = 2.90-8.65, p < 0.0001) higher physical and mental component score (better quality of life), respectively. Those who never had thermal, acoustic, lighting, hygiene, and security problems of housing also exhibited significantly better quality of life compared to participants who felt these problems.
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Affiliation(s)
- Odgerel Chimed-Ochir
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Toshiharu Ikaga
- Department of System Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University, Yokohama, Japan
| | - Shintaro Ando
- Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental Engineering, University of Kitakyushu, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Tomohiro Ishimaru
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
| | - Tatsuhiko Kubo
- Department of Public Health and Health Policy, Hiroshima University, Hiroshima, Japan
| | - Shuzo Murakami
- Institute for Building Environment and Energy Conservation, Chiyoda-ku, Japan
| | - Yoshihisa Fujino
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Japan, Kitakyushu, Japan
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20
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Jung CR, Nishihama Y, Nakayama SF, Tamura K, Isobe T, Michikawa T, Iwai-Shimada M, Kobayashi Y, Sekiyama M, Taniguchi Y, Yamazaki S. Indoor air quality of 5,000 households and its determinants. Part B: Volatile organic compounds and inorganic gaseous pollutants in the Japan Environment and Children's study. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 197:111135. [PMID: 33839115 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2021.111135] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/07/2020] [Revised: 03/08/2021] [Accepted: 04/03/2021] [Indexed: 05/23/2023]
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are major indoor air pollutants. Quantification of indoor concentrations of VOCs and identification of factors associated with these concentrations can help manage indoor air quality. This study measured the concentrations of VOCs and inorganic gaseous pollutants in around 5000 households in Japan and utilised a random forest model to estimate these concentrations and identify important determinants. The homes of 5017 randomly selected participants in the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS) were visited twice, when the children were aged 1.5 and 3 years. Twelve VOCs and inorganic gaseous pollutants were measured during 7 days by passive samplers. Various factors in these households, including household appliances, building characteristics, cooking styles, use of consumer products, renovation, pets, personal behaviours and ventilation were recorded. A random forest model with recursive feature elimination was utilised to identify factors predictive of VOCs and inorganic gaseous pollutants. Toluene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were the dominant indoor VOCs. The 95th percentiles of indoor p-dichlorobenzene concentrations at 1.5 and 3 years were 67 μg/m3 and 71 μg/m3, respectively. Random forest models with coefficients of determination ranging from 0.34 to 0.76 outperformed the traditional linear regression models. Factors associated with indoor VOC and inorganic gaseous pollutant concentrations included their outdoor concentrations, indoor and outdoor temperature and relative humidity, month of the year, hours windows were open, kerosene heater use and times of operation and building age. The results provided basic descriptions of indoor VOCs and inorganic gaseous pollutants in Japan and identified several determinants of these concentrations. These determinants should be considered to maintain indoor air quality. These results can be used in epidemiological assessments of the effects of VOCs and inorganic gaseous pollutants on health in children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chau-Ren Jung
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan; Department of Public Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Yukiko Nishihama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shoji F Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Kenji Tamura
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Takehiro Michikawa
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan; Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, Toho University, Tokyo, Japan
| | - Miyuki Iwai-Shimada
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yayoi Kobayashi
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Makiko Sekiyama
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Yu Taniguchi
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan
| | - Shin Yamazaki
- Japan Environment and Children's Study Programme Office, Health and Environmental Risk Division, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Tsukuba, Japan.
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21
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Volatile Organic Compounds in Underground Shopping Districts in Korea. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2021; 18:ijerph18115508. [PMID: 34063851 PMCID: PMC8196595 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18115508] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/16/2021] [Revised: 05/19/2021] [Accepted: 05/19/2021] [Indexed: 12/03/2022]
Abstract
Underground shopping districts (USDs) are susceptible to severe indoor air pollution, which can adversely impact human health. We measured 24 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in 13 USDs throughout South Korea from July to October 2017, and the human risk of inhaling hazardous substances was evaluated. The sum of the concentrations of the 24 VOCs was much higher inside the USDs than in the open air. Based on factor analysis, six indoor air pollution sources were identified. Despite the expectation of a partial outdoor effect, the impacts of the indoor emissions were significant, resulting in an indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio of 5.9 and indicating elevated indoor air pollution. However, the effects of indoor emissions decreased, and the contributions of the pollution sources reduced when the USD entrances were open and the stores were closed. Although benzene, formaldehyde, and acetaldehyde exhibited lower concentrations compared to previous studies, they still posed health risks in both indoor and outdoor settings. Particularly, while the indoor excess cancer risk (ECR) of formaldehyde was ~10 times higher than its outdoor ECR, benzene had a low I/O ratio (1.1) and a similar ECR value. Therefore, indoor VOC concentrations could be reduced by managing inputs of open air into USDs.
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22
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Riederer AM, Krenz JE, Tchong-French MI, Torres E, Perez A, Younglove LR, Jansen KL, Hardie DC, Farquhar SA, Sampson PD, Karr CJ. Effectiveness of portable HEPA air cleaners on reducing indoor PM 2.5 and NH 3 in an agricultural cohort of children with asthma: A randomized intervention trial. INDOOR AIR 2021; 31:454-466. [PMID: 32996146 PMCID: PMC8641645 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12753] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/27/2020] [Revised: 08/06/2020] [Accepted: 09/09/2020] [Indexed: 05/20/2023]
Abstract
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 HEPA cleaners (child's sleeping area, main living area). Fourteen-day integrated samples of PM2.5 and NH3 were measured at baseline and one-year follow-up. We fit ANCOVA models to compare follow-up concentrations in HEPA vs control homes, adjusting for baseline concentrations. Seventy-one households (36 HEPA, 35 control) completed the study. Most were single-family homes, with electric heat and stove, A/C, dogs/cats, and mean (SD) 5.3 (1.8) occupants. In the sleeping area, baseline geometric mean (GSD) PM2.5 was 10.7 (2.3) μg/m3 (HEPA) vs 11.2 (1.9) μg/m3 (control); in the living area, it was 12.5 (2.3) μg/m3 (HEPA) vs 13.6 (1.9) μg/m3 (control). Baseline sleeping area NH3 was 62.4 (1.6) μg/m3 (HEPA) vs 65.2 (1.8) μg/m3 (control). At follow-up, HEPA families had 60% (95% CI, 41%-72%; p < .0001) and 42% (19%-58%; p = .002) lower sleeping and living area PM2.5 , respectively, consistent with prior studies. NH3 reductions were not observed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Anne M. Riederer
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Jennifer E. Krenz
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Maria I. Tchong-French
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Elizabeth Torres
- Northwest Communities Education Center, Radio KDNA, Granger, WA, USA
| | - Adriana Perez
- Yakima Valley Farm Workers Clinic, Toppenish, WA, USA
| | - Lisa R. Younglove
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Karen L. Jansen
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - David C. Hardie
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Stephanie A. Farquhar
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Paul D. Sampson
- Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
| | - Catherine J. Karr
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, USA
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Stanišić S, Perišić M, Jovanović G, Milićević T, Romanić SH, Jovanović A, Šoštarić A, Udovičić V, Stojić A. The PM 2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon behavior in indoor and outdoor environments, part I: Emission sources. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2021; 193:110520. [PMID: 33259787 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.110520] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/12/2020] [Revised: 11/17/2020] [Accepted: 11/20/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The previous research, aimed at exploring the relationships between the indoor and outdoor air quality, has evidenced that outdoor PM2.5-bound polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) levels exhibit significant daily and seasonal variations which does not necessary corresponds with PAH indoor dynamics. For the purpose of this study, a three-month measurement campaign was performed simultaneously at indoor and outdoor sampling sites of a university building in an urban area of Belgrade (Serbia), during which the concentrations of O3, CO, SO2, NOx, radon, PM2.5 and particle constituents including trace metals (As, Cd, Cr, Mn, Ni and Pb), ions (Cl-, Na+, Mg2+, Ca2+, K+, NO3-, SO42- and NH4+) and 16 US EPA priority PAHs were determined. Additionally, the analysis included 31 meteorological parameters, out of which 24 were obtained from Global Data Assimilation System (GDAS1) database. The Unmix and PAH diagnostic ratios analysis resolved the source profiles for both indoor and outdoor environment, which are comparable in terms of their apportionments and pollutant shares, although it should be emphasized that ratio-implied solutions should be taken with caution since these values do not reflect emission sources only. The highest contributions to air quality were attributed to sources identified as coal combustion and related pyrogenic processes. Noticeable correlations were observed between 5- and 6-ring high molecular weight PAHs, but, except for CO, no significant linear dependencies with other investigated variables were identified. The PAH level predictions in the indoor and outdoor environment was performed by using machine learning XGBoost method.
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Affiliation(s)
- Svetlana Stanišić
- Singidunum University, 32 Danijelova Street, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia.
| | - Mirjana Perišić
- Singidunum University, 32 Danijelova Street, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia; Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 118 Pregrevica Street, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Gordana Jovanović
- Singidunum University, 32 Danijelova Street, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia; Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 118 Pregrevica Street, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Tijana Milićević
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 118 Pregrevica Street, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Snježana Herceg Romanić
- Institute for Medical Research and Occupational Health, 2 Ksaverska Cesta Street, PO Box 291, 10001, Zagreb, Croatia.
| | - Aleksandar Jovanović
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 118 Pregrevica Street, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Andrej Šoštarić
- Institute of Public Health Belgrade, 54 Despota Stefana Street, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Vladimir Udovičić
- Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 118 Pregrevica Street, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
| | - Andreja Stojić
- Singidunum University, 32 Danijelova Street, Belgrade, 11000, Serbia; Institute of Physics Belgrade, National Institute of the Republic of Serbia, University of Belgrade, 118 Pregrevica Street, 11000, Belgrade, Serbia.
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Abstract
This review aimed to provide an overview of the characterisation of indoor air quality (IAQ) during the sleeping period, based only on real life conditions’ studies where, at least, one air pollutant was considered. Despite the consensual complexity of indoor air, when focusing on sleeping environments, the available scientific literature is still scarce and falls to provide a multipollutants’ characterisation of the air breathed during sleep. This review, following PRISMA’s approach, identified a total of 22 studies that provided insights of how IAQ is during the sleeping period in real life conditions. Most of studies focused on carbon dioxide (77%), followed by particles (PM2.5, PM10 and ultrafines) and only 18% of the studies focused on pollutants such as carbon monoxide, volatile organic compounds and formaldehyde. Despite the high heterogeneity between studies (regarding the geographical area, type of surrounding environments, season of the year, type of dwelling, bedrooms’ ventilation, number of occupants), several air pollutants showed exceedances of the limit values established by guidelines or legislation, indicating that an effort should be made in order to minimise human exposure to air pollutants. For instance, when considering the air quality guideline of World Health Organisation of 10 µg·m−3 for PM2.5, 86% of studies that focused this pollutant registered levels above this threshold. Considering that people spend one third of their day sleeping, exposure during this period may have a significant impact on the daily integrated human exposure, due to the higher amount of exposure time, even if this environment is characterised by lower pollutants’ levels. Improving the current knowledge of air pollutants levels during sleep in different settings, as well as in different countries, will allow to improve the accuracy of exposure assessments and will also allow to understand their main drivers and how to tackle them.
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25
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Assessment of Indoor Benzene and Its Alkyl Derivatives Concentrations in Offices Belonging to University of Technology (Poland). ATMOSPHERE 2020. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12010051] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
Indoor air contamination in office rooms is regarded as one of the most important issues in the protection of workers’ health, because contaminants, even those occurring at low concentrations, can cause health problems for the office staff in view of the long exposure time. This paper presents the results of measurements of benzene and its alkyl derivatives (toluene, ethylbenzene, xylenes, styrene, and 1,3,5-trimethylbenzene)—known indicators of human exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the air in newly renovated offices at University of Technology (Upper Silesia, Poland). Monthly samples of indoor and outdoor air were collected during the years 2018–2019 by passive methods and analyzed by thermal desorption-gas chromatography with flame ionization detector (TD-GC/FID). In the first month of measurements average concentrations of the sum of five VOCs under consideration was 127.7 µg/m3, then in subsequent months between 15.1 µg/m3 to 87.3 µg/m3. The average concentration of carcinogenic benzene was below 1.5 μg/m3. Toluene had the highest concentration among studied VOCs, accounting for as high as 60% and 84% of the total indoor and outdoor VOCs, respectively. High indoor-to-outdoor (I/O) ratios for ethylbenzene (7.1), m,p-xylene (9.8), and styrene (12.5) indicate the dominant role of indoor sources.
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26
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Indoor Exposure to Selected Air Pollutants in the Home Environment: A Systematic Review. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17238972. [PMID: 33276576 PMCID: PMC7729884 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17238972] [Citation(s) in RCA: 122] [Impact Index Per Article: 30.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/22/2020] [Revised: 11/22/2020] [Accepted: 11/27/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
(1) Background: There is increasing awareness that the quality of the indoor environment affects our health and well-being. Indoor air quality (IAQ) in particular has an impact on multiple health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular illness, allergic symptoms, cancers, and premature mortality. (2) Methods: We carried out a global systematic literature review on indoor exposure to selected air pollutants associated with adverse health effects, and related household characteristics, seasonal influences and occupancy patterns. We screened records from six bibliographic databases: ABI/INFORM, Environment Abstracts, Pollution Abstracts, PubMed, ProQuest Biological and Health Professional, and Scopus. (3) Results: Information on indoor exposure levels and determinants, emission sources, and associated health effects was extracted from 141 studies from 29 countries. The most-studied pollutants were particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10); nitrogen dioxide (NO2); volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene, toluene, xylenes and formaldehyde; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including naphthalene. Identified indoor PM2.5 sources include smoking, cooking, heating, use of incense, candles, and insecticides, while cleaning, housework, presence of pets and movement of people were the main sources of coarse particles. Outdoor air is a major PM2.5 source in rooms with natural ventilation in roadside households. Major sources of NO2 indoors are unvented gas heaters and cookers. Predictors of indoor NO2 are ventilation, season, and outdoor NO2 levels. VOCs are emitted from a wide range of indoor and outdoor sources, including smoking, solvent use, renovations, and household products. Formaldehyde levels are higher in newer houses and in the presence of new furniture, while PAH levels are higher in smoking households. High indoor particulate matter, NO2 and VOC levels were typically associated with respiratory symptoms, particularly asthma symptoms in children. (4) Conclusions: Household characteristics and occupant activities play a large role in indoor exposure, particularly cigarette smoking for PM2.5, gas appliances for NO2, and household products for VOCs and PAHs. Home location near high-traffic-density roads, redecoration, and small house size contribute to high indoor air pollution. In most studies, air exchange rates are negatively associated with indoor air pollution. These findings can inform interventions aiming to improve IAQ in residential properties in a variety of settings.
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Umishio W, Ikaga T, Fujino Y, Ando S, Kubo T, Nakajima Y, Hoshi T, Suzuki M, Kario K, Yoshimura T, Yoshino H, Murakami S. Disparities of indoor temperature in winter: A cross-sectional analysis of the Nationwide Smart Wellness Housing Survey in Japan. INDOOR AIR 2020; 30:1317-1328. [PMID: 32573794 PMCID: PMC7689703 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12708] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/23/2020] [Revised: 05/15/2020] [Accepted: 06/14/2020] [Indexed: 06/11/2023]
Abstract
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 cold homes. We conducted a nationwide real-world survey on indoor temperature for 2 weeks in winter. Cross-sectional analyses involving 2190 houses showed that average living room, changing room, and bedroom temperatures were 16.8°C, 13.0°C, and 12.8°C, respectively. Comparison of average living room temperature between prefectures revealed a maximum difference of 6.7°C (Hokkaido: 19.8°C, Kagawa: 13.1°C). Compared to the high-income group, the odds ratio for living room temperature falling below 18°C was 1.38 (95% CI: 1.04-1.84) and 2.07 (95% CI: 1.28-3.33) for the middle- and low-income groups. The odds ratio was 1.96 (95% CI: 1.19-3.22) for single-person households, compared to households living with housemates. Furthermore, lower room temperature was correlated with local heating device use and a larger amount of clothes. These results will be useful in the development of prevention strategies for residents who live in cold homes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Wataru Umishio
- Department of Architecture and Building Engineering, School of Environment and SocietyTokyo Institute of TechnologyMeguro‐kuTokyoJapan
- Department of System Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and TechnologyKeio UniversityYokohamaKanagawaJapan
| | - Toshiharu Ikaga
- Department of System Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and TechnologyKeio UniversityYokohamaKanagawaJapan
| | - Yoshihisa Fujino
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological SciencesUniversity of Occupational and Environmental HealthKitakyushuFukuokaJapan
| | - Shintaro Ando
- Department of Architecture, Faculty of Environmental EngineeringUniversity of KitakyushuKitakyushuFukuokaJapan
| | - Tatsuhiko Kubo
- Department of Public Health and Health Policy, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health SciencesHiroshima UniversityHiroshimaHiroshimaJapan
| | - Yukie Nakajima
- School of Science for Open and Environmental Systems, Graduate School of Science and TechnologyKeio UniversityYokohamaKanagawaJapan
- Japan Society for the Promotion of ScienceChiyoda‐kuTokyoJapan
| | - Tanji Hoshi
- Tokyo Metropolitan UniversityHachiojiTokyoJapan
| | - Masaru Suzuki
- Department of Emergency MedicineTokyo Dental College Ichikawa General HospitalIchikawaChibaJapan
| | - Kazuomi Kario
- Division of Cardiovascular Medicine, Department of MedicineJichi Medical University School of MedicineShimotsukeTochigiJapan
| | - Takesumi Yoshimura
- University of Occupational and Environmental HealthKitakyushuFukuokaJapan
| | | | - Shuzo Murakami
- Institute for Building Environment and Energy ConservationChiyoda‐kuTokyoJapan
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28
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Masterson EE, Younglove LB, Perez A, Torres E, Krenz JE, Tchong French MI, Riederer AM, Sampson PD, Metwali N, Min E, Jansen KL, Aisenberg G, Babadi RS, Farquhar SA, Thorne PS, Karr CJ. The home air in agriculture pediatric intervention (HAPI) trial: Rationale and methods. Contemp Clin Trials 2020; 96:106085. [PMID: 32721578 PMCID: PMC7494646 DOI: 10.1016/j.cct.2020.106085] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/27/2020] [Revised: 07/10/2020] [Accepted: 07/13/2020] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Data addressing air quality effects on children with asthma in rural U.S. communities are rare. Our community engaged research partnership previously demonstrated associations between neighborhood NH3 and ambient PM2.5 and asthma in the agricultural lower Yakima Valley of Washington. As a next step, the partnership desired an intervention approach to address concerns about pediatric asthma in this largely Latino immigrant, farm worker community. OBJECTIVE The Home Air in Agriculture Pediatric Intervention (HAPI) sought to examine the effectiveness of enrichment of an existing asthma education program with portable high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) cleaners designed to reduce PM2.5 and NH3. We investigated the effect of this enriched approach on these exposures and asthma health measures. DESIGN We randomized children with poorly controlled asthma to a control arm (current asthma education program) or an intervention arm (current asthma education program + placement of two indoor air cleaners in the family's home). Outcomes included (1) 14-day integrated samples of indoor air contaminants (PM2.5 and NH3) at baseline and one-year follow-up and (2) child asthma health metrics at baseline, midpoint (4-6 months) and one-year follow-up. These included the Asthma Control Test, symptoms days, clinical utilization, oral corticosteroid use, pulmonary function, fractional exhaled nitric oxide, and urinary leukotriene E4 concentration. DISCUSSION To our knowledge, this is the first randomized HEPA cleaner intervention designed to assess NH3 as well as PM2.5 and to evaluate health outcomes of children with asthma in an agricultural region.
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Affiliation(s)
- Erin E Masterson
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America.
| | - Lisa B Younglove
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Adriana Perez
- Yakima Valley Farm Worker's Clinic, Toppenish, WA, United States of America
| | - Elizabeth Torres
- Northwest Communities Education Center, Radio KDNA, Granger, WA, United States of America
| | - Jennifer E Krenz
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Maria I Tchong French
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Anne M Riederer
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Paul D Sampson
- Department of Statistics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Nervana Metwali
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Esther Min
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Karen L Jansen
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Gino Aisenberg
- School of Social Work, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Ryan S Babadi
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Stephanie A Farquhar
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America; Department of Health Services, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
| | - Peter S Thorne
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, University of Iowa, Iowa City, IA, United States of America
| | - Catherine J Karr
- Department of Environmental & Occupational Health Sciences, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America; Department of Pediatrics, University of Washington, Seattle, WA, United States of America
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29
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Nazaroff WW, Weschler CJ. Indoor acids and bases. INDOOR AIR 2020; 30:559-644. [PMID: 32233033 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12670] [Citation(s) in RCA: 43] [Impact Index Per Article: 10.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/07/2019] [Revised: 03/18/2020] [Accepted: 03/19/2020] [Indexed: 05/15/2023]
Abstract
Numerous acids and bases influence indoor air quality. The most abundant of these species are CO2 (acidic) and NH3 (basic), both emitted by building occupants. Other prominent inorganic acids are HNO3 , HONO, SO2 , H2 SO4 , HCl, and HOCl. Prominent organic acids include formic, acetic, and lactic; nicotine is a noteworthy organic base. Sources of N-, S-, and Cl-containing acids can include ventilation from outdoors, indoor combustion, consumer product use, and chemical reactions. Organic acids are commonly more abundant indoors than outdoors, with indoor sources including occupants, wood, and cooking. Beyond NH3 and nicotine, other noteworthy bases include inorganic and organic amines. Acids and bases partition indoors among the gas-phase, airborne particles, bulk water, and surfaces; relevant thermodynamic parameters governing the partitioning are the acid-dissociation constant (Ka ), Henry's law constant (KH ), and the octanol-air partition coefficient (Koa ). Condensed-phase water strongly influences the fate of indoor acids and bases and is also a medium for chemical interactions. Indoor surfaces can be large reservoirs of acids and bases. This extensive review of the state of knowledge establishes a foundation for future inquiry to better understand how acids and bases influence the suitability of indoor environments for occupants, cultural artifacts, and sensitive equipment.
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Affiliation(s)
- William W Nazaroff
- Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, University of California, Berkeley, CA, USA
| | - Charles J Weschler
- Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences Institute, Rutgers University, Piscataway, NJ, USA
- International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Technical University of Denmark, Lyngby, Denmark
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30
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Liu C, Huang X, Li J. Outdoor benzene highly impacts indoor concentrations globally. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2020; 720:137640. [PMID: 32146409 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.137640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2019] [Revised: 02/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/28/2020] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Benzene is a carcinogen. Exposure to benzene severely threatens people's health. While its indoor sources such as paint and solvent have been tightly regulated as a result of its inclusion into indoor air standards globally, its outdoor emission from traffic and industry is less addressed. Since human's exposure to benzene mainly occurs indoors, how outdoor benzene affects indoor concentrations is a critical issue, but not well discussed yet. This study summarized 118 pairs of outdoor-indoor measurement of benzene concentrations mainly published in the past five years. We found that the outdoor benzene concentrations measured in developing countries exceed 5 μg/m3, an annual concentration limit recommended by Europe Union, more often than developed ones. It implies a worse benzene pollution situation in the developing places, probably due to strong emission from traffic and industry. The outdoor/indoor concentration ratio is 0.69 and 0.84 for the developing and developed places, respectively. It indicates a significant, if not dominant, role of outdoor benzene in formulating indoor concentrations over indoor sources. Controlling outdoor benzene emission is therefore highlighted. Actions should be taken to regulate benzene emission sources such as traffic and industry. This is particularly urgent to protect occupants in buildings close to roads and factories.
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Affiliation(s)
- Cong Liu
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China.
| | - Xinjie Huang
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, Jiangsu 210096, China
| | - Jingguang Li
- Shanghai Research Institute of Building Sciences (Group) Co., Ltd, Shanghai 201108, China
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31
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Hwang SH, Park WM. Indoor air concentrations of carbon dioxide (CO 2), nitrogen dioxide (NO 2), and ozone (O 3) in multiple healthcare facilities. ENVIRONMENTAL GEOCHEMISTRY AND HEALTH 2020; 42:1487-1496. [PMID: 31643010 DOI: 10.1007/s10653-019-00441-0] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/12/2018] [Accepted: 10/09/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluates indoor air concentrations of CO2, NO2, and O3 and their relationship to other indoor environmental factors in facilities with occupants susceptible to air contaminants, such as hospitals, senior specialized hospitals, elderly care facilities, and postnatal care centers. Indoor air samples were collected from 82 indoor facilities in South Korea and organized by region. Spearman's correlation and Kruskal-Wallis analyses were employed to examine the relationship among and differences between contaminants in the indoor facilities and indoor/outdoor differences of NO2 and O3 concentrations. Significant correlations were found between CO2 and NO2 concentrations (r2 = 0.176, p < 0.01), as well as NO2 and O3 concentrations (r2 = - 0.289, p < 0.0001). The indoor/outdoor concentration ratios in the indoor facilities were 0.73 for NO2 and 0.25 for O3. CO2 and NO2 displayed the highest mean concentrations during spring, while O3 displayed the highest and lowest mean concentrations during fall and summer, respectively. The calculated hazard quotient (HQ) for NO2 was higher than the acceptable level of 1 in postnatal care centers, thus posing a health risk for children. Study results indicate that efficient ventilation is required to reduce indoor contaminants in multiple healthcare facilities. This study provides a novel approach toward health risk assessment for indoor facilities with susceptible occupants on a large geographical scale.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sung Ho Hwang
- National Cancer Control Institute, National Cancer Center, 323 Ilsan-ro, Ilsandong-gu, Goyang-si, Gyeonggi-do, South Korea
| | - Wha Me Park
- The Institute for Occupational Health, Yonsei University College of Medicine, 50-1 Yonsei-ro, Seodaemun-gu, Seoul, 03722, South Korea.
- Graduate School of Public Health, Yonsei University, Seoul, South Korea.
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32
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Abstract
People spend most of their time in various indoor spaces and their health is exposed to different kinds of air pollutants. Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) belong to a group of chemical substances polluting the indoor environment. They come into the interior of buildings mainly from internal sources in the form of building materials, flooring, composite wood products, adhesives and other consumer products. Their presence in indoor air is monitored, due to their carcinogenic and mutagenic effects on human health. Many studies of indoor environment contaminated by VOC have been published during the last years. The present study provides general overview of the occurrence and emission sources of VOCs in the indoor environment of different types of buildings. The most frequently monitored indoor organic pollutants in terms of their occurrence and health risk are BTEX (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene and xylenes), terpenes (α-pinene and d-limonene) and aldehydes (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde and benzaldehyde). Their concentrations in different indoor environments are variable and depend on factors such as emission characteristics of sources, microclimatic and ventilation conditions. Formaldehyde and toluene levels increased significantly with increasing room temperature. Benzene enters the indoor environment of buildings from external sources, especially from traffic or industrial areas. Formaldehyde, α-pinene and d-limonene originate from indoor sources as a part of building materials, furniture and household products.
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Concentrations of Formic Acid, Acetic Acid, and Ammonia in Newly Constructed Houses. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2020; 17:ijerph17061940. [PMID: 32188069 PMCID: PMC7143630 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph17061940] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2020] [Revised: 03/12/2020] [Accepted: 03/13/2020] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Herein, the concentrations of formic acid, acetic acid, and ammonia in samples of indoor air for 47 new houses were measured two weeks after completion. The houses were fabricated with light-gauge steel structures. The measurements were performed in living rooms and bedrooms without furniture and outdoors. Air samples were analyzed using ion chromatography. The mean values were 28 (living room), 30 (bedroom), and 20 μg m−3 (outdoor air) for formic acid; 166 (living room), 151 (bedroom), and 51 μg m−3 (outdoor air) for acetic acid; and 73 (living room), 76 (bedroom), and 21 μg m−3 (outdoor air) for ammonia. The total values of the three substances accounted for 39.4–40.7% of the sum of chemical compound values. The analyzed compounds were indicated by two principal components (PC), PC1 (30.1%) and PC2 (9%), with 39.1% total variance. Formic acid, acetic acid, and ammonia were positively aligned with PC1 and negatively aligned with PC2. Factors such as room temperature, aldehydes, and phthalates were positively aligned with PC1 and negatively aligned with PC2. Furthermore, concentrations of formic acid, acetic acid, and ammonia were significantly and positively correlated with room temperature (p < 0.05).
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Miyake F, Odgerel CO, Mine Y, Kubo T, Ikaga T, Fujino Y. A Prospective Cohort Study of Bedroom Warming With a Heating System and Its Association With Common Infectious Diseases in Children During Winter in Japan. J Epidemiol 2020; 31:165-171. [PMID: 32147645 PMCID: PMC7878713 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20190312] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/30/2022] Open
Abstract
Background Customarily, bedrooms in Japan are left unheated. Although several studies have reported that the use of a heating system has positive outcomes on respiratory infection and asthma, the preventive effect of heating systems against infectious diseases in children is not well known. Methods We conducted a cohort study using two questionnaire surveys, one before the winter season in November, 2018 and the second after winter in March, 2019. Participants were 155 children who did not use a heating system in the bedroom and 156 children who did. Results Having a heated bedroom with a heating system was associated with decreased odds for the frequency of cold (≥3 times) (adjust odds ratio [AOR] 0.35; 95% confidence interval [CI], 0.19–0.65), duration of fever (≥3 days) (AOR 0.38; 95% CI, 0.22–0.66), duration of medicine for a cold (≥3 days) (AOR 0.91; 95% CI, 0.87–0.95), hospital visit due to cold (≥3 days) (AOR 0.54; 95% CI, 0.31–0.94), absence from school or nursery (≥3 days) (AOR 0.43; 95% CI, 0.27–0.70), influenza infection (AOR 0.43; 95% CI, 0.26–0.71), and gastroenteritis (AOR 0.39; 95% CI, 0.21–0.72). Influenza vaccination reduced the odds of influenza infection (AOR 0.36; 95% CI, 0.22–0.59) and absence from school or nursery (≥3 days) (AOR 0.62; 95% CI, 0.39–0.99). Conclusion This study implies that the heating of bedrooms may have a preventive effect against infections among children. Broader dissemination of this knowledge in Japan will require cultural change through public health awareness.
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Affiliation(s)
- Fuyu Miyake
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Chimed-Ochir Odgerel
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Yuko Mine
- Department of Preventive Medicine and Community Health, School of Medicine, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Tatsuhiko Kubo
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health.,Department of Public Health and Health Policy, Graduate School of Biomedical and Health Sciences, Hiroshima University
| | - Toshiharu Ikaga
- Department of System Design Engineering, Faculty of Science and Technology, Keio University
| | - Yoshihisa Fujino
- Department of Environmental Epidemiology, Institute of Industrial Ecological Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
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Sekiyama M, Yamazaki S, Michikawa T, Nakayama SF, Nitta H, Taniguchi Y, Suda E, Isobe T, Kobayashi Y, Iwai-Shimada M, Ono M, Tamura K, Yonemoto J, Kawamoto T, Kamijima M. Study Design and Participants’ Profile in the Sub-Cohort Study in the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS). J Epidemiol 2020; 32:228-236. [PMID: 33390465 PMCID: PMC8979916 DOI: 10.2188/jea.je20200448] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 6.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/18/2022] Open
Abstract
Background The Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS) is a nationwide birth cohort study investigating environmental effects on children’s health and development. A Sub-Cohort Study has begun, conducting extended exposure and outcome measurements by targeting a subgroup randomly selected from the JECS Main Study. We report the Sub-Cohort Study methodology and participants’ baseline profiles. Methods Of 100,148 children in the JECS Main Study, children born after April 1, 2013 who met eligibility criteria ([1] all questionnaire and medical record data from children and their mothers collected from the first trimester to 6 months of age, [2] biospecimens [except umbilical cord blood] from children and their mothers collected at first to second/third trimester and delivery) were randomly selected for each Regional Centre at regular intervals. Face-to-face assessment of neuropsychiatric development, body measurement, paediatrician’s examination, blood/urine collection for clinical testing and chemical analysis, and home visits (ambient and indoor air measurement and dust collection) are conducted. Participants are followed up at 1.5 and 3 years old for home visits, and 2, 4, 6, and 8 years old for developmental/medical examination. The details of protocols after age 10 are under discussion. Results Of 10,302 selected children, 5,017 participated. The profiles of the participating mothers, fathers and children did not substantially differ between the Main Study and Sub-Cohort Study. Conclusion The JECS Sub-Cohort Study offers a platform for investigating associations between environmental exposure and outcomes.
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Affiliation(s)
- Makiko Sekiyama
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Shin Yamazaki
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Takehiro Michikawa
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, School of Medicine, Toho University
| | - Shoji F. Nakayama
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Hiroshi Nitta
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Yu Taniguchi
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Eiko Suda
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Tomohiko Isobe
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Yayoi Kobayashi
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Miyuki Iwai-Shimada
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Masaji Ono
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Kenji Tamura
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Junzo Yonemoto
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
| | - Toshihiro Kawamoto
- Department of Environmental Health, University of Occupational and Environmental Health
| | - Michihiro Kamijima
- Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies
- Department of Occupational and Environmental Health, Nagoya City University Graduate School of Medical Sciences
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Carslaw N, Shaw D. Secondary product creation potential (SPCP): a metric for assessing the potential impact of indoor air pollution on human health. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2019; 21:1313-1322. [PMID: 31140998 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00140a] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Indoor air is subject to emissions of chemicals from numerous sources. Many of these emissions contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which react to form a wide range of secondary products, some with adverse health effects. However, at present we lack a robust, standardised approach to rank the potential for different VOCs to cause harm, which prevents effective action to improve indoor air quality and reduce impacts on human health. This paper uses a detailed chemical model to quantify the impact of 63 VOCs on indoor air quality. We define a novel method for ranking the VOCs in terms of potentially harmful product formation through a new metric, the Secondary Product Creation Potential (SPCP). We established SPCPs for a range of ventilation rates, different proportions of transmitted outdoor light, as well as for varying outdoor concentrations of ozone and nitrogen oxides. The species having the largest SPCPs are the alkenes, terpenes and aromatic VOCs. trans-2-Butene has the largest individual SPCP owing to the ratio of its rate coefficient for reaction with the hydroxy radical relative to ozone. Increasing the proportion of outdoor transmitted light increased most SPCPs markedly. This is because oxidant levels increased under these conditions and promoted more chemical processing, suggesting that there may be more harmful products closer to a window than further from the attenuated outdoor light. The SPCP is the first metric for assessing the impact of different VOCs on human health and will be an essential tool for guiding the composition of products commonly used indoors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Nicola Carslaw
- Department of Environment and Geography, University of York, York, UK.
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Zhou S, Young CJ, VandenBoer TC, Kahan TF. Role of location, season, occupant activity, and chemistry in indoor ozone and nitrogen oxide mixing ratios. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2019; 21:1374-1383. [PMID: 31225544 DOI: 10.1039/c9em00129h] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
Understanding the oxidizing environment indoors is important for predicting indoor air quality and its impact on human health. We made continuous time-resolved measurements (30 s) of several oxidants and oxidant precursors (collectively referred to as oxidant*): ozone (O3), nitric oxide (NO), and NO2* - the sum of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and nitrous acid (HONO). These species were measured in three indoor environments - an occupied residence, a chemistry laboratory, and an academic office - in Syracuse, New York, during two seasons in 2017 and 2018. Oxidant* levels differed greatly between the residence, the lab and the office. Indoor-to-outdoor ratios (I/O) of O3 were 0.03 and 0.67 in the residence and office; I/ONO (I/ONO2*) were 11.70 (1.26) in the residence and 0.13 (1.70) in the office. Little seasonal variability was observed in the lab and office, but O3 and NO2* levels in the residence were greater in spring than in winter, while NO levels were lower. Human activities such as cooking and opening patio doors resulted in large changes in oxidant* mixing ratios in the residence. In situ chamber experiments demonstrated that the increase in O3 and NO2* levels during door-open periods was due to a combination of physical mixing between indoor and outdoor air, gas-phase production of NO2 from O3-NO chemistry, and heterogeneous formation of HONO on indoor surfaces. Our results also highlight the importance of chemistry (with NO, alkenes, and surfaces) in O3 mixing ratios in the residence, especially during door-open periods.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shan Zhou
- Department of Chemistry, Syracuse University, Syracuse, New York 13244, USA
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Nishikawa S, Matsui Y, Matsushita T, Shirasaki N. Assessment of indirect inhalation exposure to formaldehyde evaporated from water. Regul Toxicol Pharmacol 2019; 106:43-49. [PMID: 31026539 DOI: 10.1016/j.yrtph.2019.04.019] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/17/2018] [Revised: 04/20/2019] [Accepted: 04/22/2019] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
Volatilization volumes and health risks associated with indirect inhalation exposure to formaldehyde evaporated from water have not been investigated quantitatively. We experimentally investigated formaldehyde volatility, compared with chloroform volatility, predicted formaldehyde inhalation exposure concentrations in Japanese bathrooms, and then re-evaluated drinking water quality standards. Although the Henry's law constant of formaldehyde is 1/104 that of chloroform, with a 30-min exposure period, the formaldehyde non-equilibrium partition coefficient (K'd) was 1/500th the chloroform value because of formaldehyde's faster volatilization rate. We used this ratio to estimate the cumulative probability distribution of formaldehyde concentrations in bathroom air. For a formaldehyde concentration in water of ≤2.6 mg/L-water (WHO tolerable concentration), the probability that the incremental formaldehyde concentration due to volatilization would exceed 100 μg/m3-air (WHO indoor air quality guideline) was low. However, major sources of formaldehyde in indoor air are building materials and furniture. We therefore calculated the allowable concentration in water by allocating a small percentage of the indoor air guideline value to indirect inhalation exposure via volatilization from tap water. With an allocation factor of 20% (10%), the allowable concentration was 0.52 (0.26) mg/L-water. These concentrations are similar to the Health Canada guideline concentration but they are 3-6 times the Japanese water quality standard.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shunto Nishikawa
- Graduate School of Engineering, Hokkaido University, N13W8, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Yoshihiko Matsui
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, N13W8, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Taku Matsushita
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, N13W8, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan.
| | - Nobutaka Shirasaki
- Faculty of Engineering, Hokkaido University, N13W8, Sapporo, 060-8628, Japan.
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39
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Kaunelienė V, Meišutovič-Akhtarieva M, Martuzevičius D. A review of the impacts of tobacco heating system on indoor air quality versus conventional pollution sources. CHEMOSPHERE 2018; 206:568-578. [PMID: 29778082 DOI: 10.1016/j.chemosphere.2018.05.039] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/30/2018] [Revised: 05/04/2018] [Accepted: 05/06/2018] [Indexed: 06/08/2023]
Abstract
With the introduction of novel and potentially less polluting nicotine containing products to the market, the impacts of their usage to indoor air quality as opposed to conventional pollution sources must be reviewed and considered. This review study aimed to comparatively analyse changes in indoor air quality as the consequence of tobacco heating system (THS) generated pollution against general indoor air quality in various micro-environments, especially with combustion-based pollution sources present. Indoor concentrations of formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, benzene, toluene, nicotine and PM2.5 were reviewed and compared; concentrations of other harmful and potentially harmful substances (HPHCs) were discussed. Generally, the usage of THS has been associated with lower or comparable indoor air pollutant concentrations compared against other conventional indoor sources or environments, in most cases distinguishable above background, thus potentially being associated with health effects at prolonged exposures as any other artificial air pollution source. In the controlled environment the use of THS (as well as an electronic cigarette) resulted in the lowest concentrations of formaldehyde, benzene, toluene, PM2.5, among majority researched pollution sources (conventional cigarettes, waterpipe, incense, mosquito coils). The exposure to significantly higher pollution levels of benzene, toluene, and formaldehyde occurred in public environments, especially transport micro-environments. Such low levels of conventionally-assessed indoor pollutants resulting from the use of new nicotine containing products raise challenges for epidemiological studies of second-hand exposure to THS aerosol in real-life environments.
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Affiliation(s)
- Violeta Kaunelienė
- Department of Environmental Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilenu pl. 19, Kaunas, LT50254, Lithuania.
| | - Marija Meišutovič-Akhtarieva
- Department of Environmental Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilenu pl. 19, Kaunas, LT50254, Lithuania
| | - Dainius Martuzevičius
- Department of Environmental Technology, Kaunas University of Technology, Radvilenu pl. 19, Kaunas, LT50254, Lithuania
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He Y, Zhang X, Ren M, Bao J, Huang C, Hajat S, Barnett AG. Assessing Effect Modification of Excess Winter Death by Causes of Death and Individual Characteristics in Zhejiang Province, China: A Multi-Community Case-Only Analysis. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2018; 15:E1663. [PMID: 30082621 PMCID: PMC6121352 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph15081663] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/02/2018] [Revised: 08/01/2018] [Accepted: 08/03/2018] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Abstract
Mortality in many parts of the world has a seasonal pattern, with a marked excess of deaths during winter. To date, however, there is very little published evidence on the nature of this wintertime excess in low- and middle-income countries. In this study, we aimed to quantify the extent of the death peak in winter and to assess effect modification on excess winter death (EWD) by individual characteristics and cause of deaths in China. We used a Cosinor model to examine seasonal patterns for specific causes of deaths and a case-only analysis of deaths in winter compared with other seasons to assess effect modification by individual characteristics. A total of 398,529 deaths were investigated between January 2010 and December 2013 in Zhejiang Province, China. Deaths peaked in winter, and overall mortality was around 30% higher in winter than in summer. Although diseases of the respiratory and circulatory systems were highly seasonal, surprisingly we observed that deaths from mental and behavioral disorders exhibited greater fluctuation. Males, the elderly and illiterate individuals suffered high EWD. EWDs were also particularly common in emergency rooms, at home, on the way to hospitals, and in nursing homes/family wards. This study highlighted the high EWD in some previously unreported groups, indicating new information to facilitate the targeting of necessary preventive measures to those at greatest risk in order to mitigate wintertime death burdens.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yiling He
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Xuehai Zhang
- Zhejiang Provincial Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Hangzhou 31004, China.
| | - Meng Ren
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Junzhe Bao
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Cunrui Huang
- School of Public Health, Sun Yat-sen University, Guangzhou 510080, China.
| | - Shakoor Hajat
- Department of Social & Environmental Health Research, London School of Hygiene & Tropical Medicine, London, UK.
| | - Adrian G Barnett
- School of Public Health and Institute of Health and Biomedical Innovation, Queensland University of Technology, Queensland 4059, Australia.
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Inaba Y, Uchiyama S, Kunugita N. Spectrophotometric determination of ammonia levels in tobacco fillers of and sidestream smoke from different cigarette brands in Japan. Environ Health Prev Med 2018; 23:15. [PMID: 29703135 PMCID: PMC5923008 DOI: 10.1186/s12199-018-0704-5] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.8] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/12/2017] [Accepted: 04/10/2018] [Indexed: 12/03/2022] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND The ammonia contained in tobacco fillers and mainstream and sidestream cigarette smoke accelerates nicotine dependence in cigarette smokers. Ammonia has been included in the non-exhaustive priority list of 39 tobacco components and emissions of cigarette published by the World Health Organization (WHO) Study Group on Tobacco Product Regulation. The development of a simple ammonia detection method will contribute to the establishment of tobacco product regulation under tobacco control policies and allow surveys to be conducted, even by laboratories with small research budgets. METHODS We developed a simple colorimetric method based on the salicylate-chlorine reaction and absorption spectrometry with two reagents (sodium nitroprusside and sodium dichloroisocyanurate). To compare this method to conventional ion chromatography, we analyzed the ammonia levels in tobacco fillers extracted from 35 Japanese commercially marketed cigarette brands manufactured by four tobacco companies (Japan Tobacco (JT) Inc., British American Tobacco (BAT), Philip Morris Japan, and Natural American Spirit). We also analyzed the ammonia levels in the sidestream smoke from cigarettes of the brands that were found to contain high or low tobacco filler ammonia levels. RESULTS The ammonia levels in the reference cigarette (3R4F) measured by our method and ion chromatography were similar and comparable to previously reported levels. The ammonia levels in tobacco fillers extracted from 35 cigarette brands ranged from 0.25 to 1.58 mg/g. The mean ammonia level of JT cigarette brands was significantly higher (0.83 ± 0.28 mg/g) than that of Natural American Spirit cigarette brands (0.30 ± 0.08 mg/g) and lower than those in the other two cigarette brands (1.11 ± 0.19 mg/g for BAT and 1.24 ± 0.15 mg/g for Philip Morris) (p < 0.001 by Bonferroni test). The ammonia levels in the sidestream smoke of CABIN, Marlboro Black Menthol, American Spirit Light, and Seven Stars were 5.89 ± 0.28, 5.23 ± 0.12, 6.92 ± 0.56, and 4.14 ± 0.19 mg/cigarette, respectively. The ammonia levels were higher in sidestream smoke than in tobacco filler. CONCLUSIONS Our simple colorimetric could be used to analyze ammonia in tobacco fillers and sidestream smoke. There were significant differences between the ammonia levels of the 35 commercially marketed cigarette brands in Japan manufactured by four tobacco manufacturers. Over 90% of the ammonia in sidestream smoke was in gaseous phase.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yohei Inaba
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako, Saitama, 351-0197, Japan.
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Saucedo-Lucero JO, Revah S. Monitoring key organic indoor pollutants and their elimination in a biotrickling biofilter. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2018; 25:9806-9816. [PMID: 29372522 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-018-1274-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/06/2017] [Accepted: 01/11/2018] [Indexed: 06/07/2023]
Abstract
A biotrickling filter was evaluated to treat the air of the interior of a bioprocess research laboratory. Initially, various solid-phase microextraction (SPME) fibers were used to identify and quantify the volatile organic pollutants and hexane, methyl isobutyl ketone, benzene, toluene, and xylene were further selected as indicators due to their prevalence and relative abundance. The system treated organic loading rates between 0.16 mgcarbon m-3 h-1 and close to 30 mgcarbon m-3 h-1 achieving removal efficiencies (RE) over 85% during 136 operational days. Respirometry experiments demonstrated that moderate acidification (below 5.0), due to microbial activity, adversely affected biofilter performance and consequently pH control was necessary to maintain performance.
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Affiliation(s)
- José Octavio Saucedo-Lucero
- Departamento de Procesos y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana- Cuajimalpa, Av. Vasco de Quiroga 4871, 05348, Mexico City, Mexico
- Departamento de Investigación Posgrado y Capacitación, CIATEC, Centro de Innovación Aplicada en Tecnologías Competitivas, Omega 201, 37545, Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico
| | - Sergio Revah
- Departamento de Procesos y Tecnología, Universidad Autónoma Metropolitana- Cuajimalpa, Av. Vasco de Quiroga 4871, 05348, Mexico City, Mexico.
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Factors Effecting the Total Volatile Organic Compound (TVOC) Concentrations in Slovak Households. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14121443. [PMID: 29168779 PMCID: PMC5750862 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14121443] [Citation(s) in RCA: 22] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/17/2017] [Revised: 11/16/2017] [Accepted: 11/20/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Thirty five Slovak households were selected for an investigation of indoor environmental quality. Measuring of indoor air physical and chemical factors and a questionnaire survey was performed during May 2017. The range of permissible operative temperature was not met in 11% of objects. Relative humidity met the legislative requirements in all monitored homes. Concentrations of total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) were significantly higher in the apartments than in the family houses. The average TVOC levels in the apartments and family houses were 519.7 µg/m3 and 330.2 µg/m3, respectively. Statistical analysis confirmed the effect of indoor air temperature, relative humidity and particulate matter (PM0.5 and PM1) on the levels of TVOCs. Higher TVOC levels were observed also in homes where it is not a common practice to open windows during cleaning activities. Other factors that had a statistically significant effect on concentrations of volatile organic compounds were heating type, attached garage, location of the apartment within residential building (the floor), as well as number of occupants. Higher TVOC concentrations were observed in indoor than outdoor environment, while further analysis showed the significant impact of indoor emission sources on the level of these compounds in buildings. The questionnaire study showed a discrepancy between objective measurement and subjective assessment in the household environment, and pointed to insufficient public awareness about volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
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Azuma K, Ikeda K, Kagi N, Yanagi U, Osawa H. Evaluating prevalence and risk factors of building-related symptoms among office workers: Seasonal characteristics of symptoms and psychosocial and physical environmental factors. Environ Health Prev Med 2017; 22:38. [PMID: 29165170 PMCID: PMC5664800 DOI: 10.1186/s12199-017-0645-4] [Citation(s) in RCA: 33] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2017] [Accepted: 02/01/2017] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Background Psychosocial and environmental factors at the workplace play a significant role in building-related symptoms (BRSs). Environmental factors change during summer cooling and winter heating using air-conditioning systems. Thus, significant risk factors in each season need to be clarified. Methods A nationwide cross-sectional study was conducted during summer in Japan and seasonal differences between summer and winter were evaluated. Self-administered questionnaires were distributed to 489 offices. Possible risk factors for BRSs associated with the work environment, indoor air quality, and job stressors were examined by multiple regression analyses. Results Among people having at least one BRS, the prevalence of BRSs in summer (27.8%) was slightly higher than that in winter (24.9%). High prevalence was observed for eye and nasal symptoms related to dryness and general symptoms related to psychological distress in both seasons. Analyses revealed that dryness of air was an important and significant risk factor associated with BRSs, and job stressors were significantly associated with general symptoms in both seasons. Conversely, humidity was a significant risk factor of general symptoms in summer (odds ratio, 1.20; 95% confidence interval, 1.02–1.43). Carpeting, recently painted walls, and unpleasant chemical odors in summer and noise, dust and dirt, and unpleasant odors such as body or food odors in both seasons were significant risk factors for BRSs. Conclusions Improvements in the physical environmental qualities in an office throughout the year are important along with the reduction in psychological distress related to work. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12199-017-0645-4) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Azuma
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Behavioral Science, Kindai University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osakasayama, Osaka, 589-8511, Japan.
| | - Koichi Ikeda
- Department of Architecture, College of Science and Technology, Nihon University, 8-14 Kanda-Surugadai 1-chome, Chiyoda-ku, Tokyo, 101-8308, Japan
| | - Naoki Kagi
- Department of Mechanical and Environmental Informatics, Graduate School of Information Science and Engineering, Tokyo Institute of Technology, 2-12-1 Ookayama, Meguro-ku, Tokyo, 152-8550, Japan
| | - U Yanagi
- Department of Architecture, School of Architecture, Kogakuin University, 1-24-2 Nishi-Shinjuku, Shinjuku-ku, Tokyo, 163-8677, Japan
| | - Haruki Osawa
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako, Saitama, 351-0197, Japan
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Nielsen GD, Larsen ST, Wolkoff P. Re-evaluation of the WHO (2010) formaldehyde indoor air quality guideline for cancer risk assessment. Arch Toxicol 2017; 91:35-61. [PMID: 27209488 PMCID: PMC5225186 DOI: 10.1007/s00204-016-1733-8] [Citation(s) in RCA: 112] [Impact Index Per Article: 16.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/05/2016] [Accepted: 04/27/2016] [Indexed: 11/11/2022]
Abstract
In 2010, the World Health Organization (WHO) established an indoor air quality guideline for short- and long-term exposures to formaldehyde (FA) of 0.1 mg/m3 (0.08 ppm) for all 30-min periods at lifelong exposure. This guideline was supported by studies from 2010 to 2013. Since 2013, new key studies have been published and key cancer cohorts have been updated, which we have evaluated and compared with the WHO guideline. FA is genotoxic, causing DNA adduct formation, and has a clastogenic effect; exposure-response relationships were nonlinear. Relevant genetic polymorphisms were not identified. Normal indoor air FA concentrations do not pass beyond the respiratory epithelium, and therefore FA's direct effects are limited to portal-of-entry effects. However, systemic effects have been observed in rats and mice, which may be due to secondary effects as airway inflammation and (sensory) irritation of eyes and the upper airways, which inter alia decreases respiratory ventilation. Both secondary effects are prevented at the guideline level. Nasopharyngeal cancer and leukaemia were observed inconsistently among studies; new updates of the US National Cancer Institute (NCI) cohort confirmed that the relative risk was not increased with mean FA exposures below 1 ppm and peak exposures below 4 ppm. Hodgkin's lymphoma, not observed in the other studies reviewed and not considered FA dependent, was increased in the NCI cohort at a mean concentration ≥0.6 mg/m3 and at peak exposures ≥2.5 mg/m3; both levels are above the WHO guideline. Overall, the credibility of the WHO guideline has not been challenged by new studies.
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Affiliation(s)
- Gunnar Damgård Nielsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark.
| | - Søren Thor Larsen
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
| | - Peder Wolkoff
- National Research Centre for the Working Environment, Lersø Parkallé 105, 2100, Copenhagen, Denmark
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Gallego E, Roca FJ, Perales JF, Guardino X, Gadea E, Garrote P. Impact of formaldehyde and VOCs from waste treatment plants upon the ambient air nearby an urban area (Spain). THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2016; 568:369-380. [PMID: 27300568 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2016.06.007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/16/2016] [Revised: 06/01/2016] [Accepted: 06/02/2016] [Indexed: 05/06/2023]
Affiliation(s)
- Eva Gallego
- Laboratori del Centre de Medi Ambient. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (LCMA-UPC). Avda. Diagonal, 647. E, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Francisco Javier Roca
- Laboratori del Centre de Medi Ambient. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (LCMA-UPC). Avda. Diagonal, 647. E, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - José Francisco Perales
- Laboratori del Centre de Medi Ambient. Universitat Politècnica de Catalunya (LCMA-UPC). Avda. Diagonal, 647. E, 08028 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Xavier Guardino
- Centro Nacional de Condiciones de Trabajo. CNCT-INSHT. Dulcet 2-10. E, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Enrique Gadea
- Centro Nacional de Condiciones de Trabajo. CNCT-INSHT. Dulcet 2-10. E, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
| | - Pedro Garrote
- Centro Nacional de Condiciones de Trabajo. CNCT-INSHT. Dulcet 2-10. E, 08034 Barcelona, Spain.
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Ochs SDM, Furtado LDA, Cerqueira WV, Pereira Netto AD. Characterization of the variation of carbonyl compounds concentrations before, during, and after the renovation of an apartment at Niterói, Brazil. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2016; 23:15605-15615. [PMID: 27130339 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-016-6657-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.1] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/23/2015] [Accepted: 04/06/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
The present work reports the variation of 31 carbonyl compounds (CC) in an apartment located at Niterói City, Rio de Janeiro State, Brazil. Eight sampling campaigns were conducted through a 1-year period, and three areas (living room, kitchen, and bedroom) were evaluated before, during, and after the renovation activities and reoccupation of the apartment. Samples were collected using SEP-PAK cartridges impregnated with 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine, and the hydrazones were analyzed using rapid resolution liquid chromatography with UV detection. The lowest total concentration of CC (19.0 ± 1.5 μg m(-3)) was found before the renovation when the apartment was empty, but door varnishing resulted in highest contamination of the apartment (1386 ± 384 μg m(-3)); however, an important dispersion of CC was observed in the subsequent sampling (148 ± 1.8 μg m(-3)). After apartment reoccupation, the indoor contamination seemed to depend on the routine activities taken there, such as household product use and cooking activities, but apparently, local temperature increase favored the vaporization of the volatile CC from the building materials in the apartment. As far as we are concerned, this is the first study comparing the concentrations of 31 CC in residential areas before, during, and after renovation activities taken in Brazil.
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Affiliation(s)
- Soraya de Mendonça Ochs
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química-Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, 24020-141, Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
- Laboratório de Química Analítica Fundamental e Aplicada-Departamento de Química Analítica, Instituto de Química-Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, 24020-141, Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Leonardo de Almeida Furtado
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química-Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, 24020-141, Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Wildson Vieira Cerqueira
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química-Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, 24020-141, Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
- Laboratório de Química Analítica Fundamental e Aplicada-Departamento de Química Analítica, Instituto de Química-Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, 24020-141, Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói, RJ, Brazil
| | - Annibal Duarte Pereira Netto
- Programa de Pós-Graduação em Química-Instituto de Química, Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, 24020-141, Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
- Laboratório de Química Analítica Fundamental e Aplicada-Departamento de Química Analítica, Instituto de Química-Universidade Federal Fluminense, Outeiro de São João Batista, s/n, 24020-141, Valonguinho, Centro, Niterói, RJ, Brazil.
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Oliveira M, Slezakova K, Delerue-Matos C, Pereira MC, Morais S. Assessment of air quality in preschool environments (3-5 years old children) with emphasis on elemental composition of PM10 and PM2.5. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2016; 214:430-439. [PMID: 27112725 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2016.04.046] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/01/2015] [Revised: 04/12/2016] [Accepted: 04/14/2016] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
This study evaluated concentrations of main air pollutants in a Portuguese preschool (indoors/outdoors) environment, with emphasis on elemental characterization of different PM fractions, and estimated risks for the pupils (aged 3-5 years). With exception to total volatile organic compounds, levels of PM10, PM2.5, CO, CO2, and formaldehyde were below legislative guidelines. Calcium, sodium, aluminium, and potassium were the most abundant elements in indoor PM (82-84% of the analysed content) resulting mainly from crustal sources. Carcinogenic elements (1-2% of the indoor analysed content) were mostly PM2.5-bound (83-91%). Indoor-to-outdoor ratios of individual elements indicated contributions of indoor origin and from penetration of outdoor emissions indoors; trace metals were associated with ambient anthropogenic emissions (namely traffic). Non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks from overall preschool exposure were acceptable for children; for adults carcinogenic risks exceeded (4-11 times) the USEPA recommend value of 10(-6), being 8-40 times higher than for children.
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Affiliation(s)
- Marta Oliveira
- REQUIMTE-LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Klara Slezakova
- REQUIMTE-LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal; LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal
| | - Cristina Delerue-Matos
- REQUIMTE-LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal
| | - Maria Carmo Pereira
- LEPABE, Departamento de Engenharia Química, Faculdade de Engenharia, Universidade do Porto, R. Dr. Roberto Frias, 4200-465 Porto, Portugal.
| | - Simone Morais
- REQUIMTE-LAQV, Instituto Superior de Engenharia do Porto, Instituto Politécnico do Porto, R. Dr. António Bernardino de Almeida 431, 4200-072 Porto, Portugal.
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49
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Azuma K, Uchiyama I, Uchiyama S, Kunugita N. Assessment of inhalation exposure to indoor air pollutants: Screening for health risks of multiple pollutants in Japanese dwellings. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2016; 145:39-49. [PMID: 26618504 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2015.11.015] [Citation(s) in RCA: 24] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/22/2015] [Revised: 11/11/2015] [Accepted: 11/12/2015] [Indexed: 06/05/2023]
Abstract
Over the past few decades, multiple low level indoor pollutants have been found in domestic dwellings. The types and concentrations of these indoor pollutants have not been consistent over time and have changed with alterations in lifestyle, the development of novel products used in housing, and the development of new measurement technologies. To clarify the highest risk pollutants for which health risks should be reduced, we conducted a health risk assessment of 49 indoor air pollutants measured in 602 houses during winter and summer from 2012 to 2014. Inhalation reference concentrations were determined, and the margins of exposure were estimated for each indoor pollutant from measured indoor air concentrations. Health risks due to ammonia and acidic gases, including formic acid, acetic acid, and hydrogen chloride, were also assessed. Overall, during both winter and summer, the highest risk pollutants were acrolein, nitrogen dioxide, benzene, formic acid, and hydrogen chloride. The health risks of propanal, acetaldehyde, and 1,4-dichlorobenzene were also high. Principal component analysis (PCA) suggested an independent principal component for 1,4-dichlorobenzene. The primary source of exposure to 1,4-dichlorobenzene in Japan is an indoor household insect repellent. The improvement of individual lifestyle and housing may be appropriate targets for reducing the risk associated with this compound. The provision of further information on the risk to consumers and promotion of changes in consumer consciousness are needed. PCA suggested that the health risks of indoor air pollutants are amalgamated into similar chemical families, such as aldehydes, aliphatic hydrocarbons, aromatic hydrocarbons, or acetic esters. Our results suggest that health-based guidelines or source control measures, based on these chemical families and similar health endpoints, are appropriate for reducing total health risk due to multiple low level indoor pollutants.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenichi Azuma
- Department of Environmental Medicine and Behavioral Science, Kinki University Faculty of Medicine, 377-2 Ohnohigashi, Osakasayama, Osaka 589-8511, Japan; Sick-house Medical Science Laboratory, Division of Basic Research, Louis Pasteur Center for Medical Research, 103-5, Tanakamonzen-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8225, Japan.
| | - Iwao Uchiyama
- Sick-house Medical Science Laboratory, Division of Basic Research, Louis Pasteur Center for Medical Research, 103-5, Tanakamonzen-cho, Sakyo-ku, Kyoto 606-8225, Japan.
| | - Shigehisa Uchiyama
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0197, Japan.
| | - Naoki Kunugita
- Department of Environmental Health, National Institute of Public Health, 2-3-6 Minami, Wako-shi, Saitama 351-0197, Japan.
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Paciência I, Madureira J, Rufo J, Moreira A, Fernandes EDO. A systematic review of evidence and implications of spatial and seasonal variations of volatile organic compounds (VOC) in indoor human environments. JOURNAL OF TOXICOLOGY AND ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH. PART B, CRITICAL REVIEWS 2016; 19:47-64. [PMID: 27163962 DOI: 10.1080/10937404.2015.1134371] [Citation(s) in RCA: 66] [Impact Index Per Article: 8.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/21/2023]
Abstract
Many volatile organic compounds (VOC) are classified as known or possible human carcinogens, irritants, and toxicants, and VOC exposure has been associated with asthma and other respiratory symptoms/diseases. This review summarizes recent quantitative data regarding VOC in four categories of indoor environments (schools, housing, offices, and other indoor) and compares the types and concentration levels of individual VOC that were detected, measured, and reported according to season (cold and warm). The influence of outdoor air on concentrations of indoor VOC was also assessed as ratios of indoor versus outdoor. Papers published from 2000 onward were reviewed and 1383 potentially relevant studies were identified. From these, 177 were removed after duplication, 1176 were excluded for not meeting the review criteria, and 40 were included in this review. On average, higher mean concentrations of indoor VOC were found in housing environments, in offices, and in the cold season. Volatile organic compounds are commonly present in indoor air and specific compounds, and their concentrations vary among indoor environments and seasons, indicating corresponding differences in sources (indoors and outdoors). Actions and policies to reduce VOC exposures, such as improved product labeling and consumer education, are recommended.
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Affiliation(s)
- Inês Paciência
- a Institute of Science and Innovation on Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management , Porto , Portugal
- b Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
- c Portugal & Centro Hospitalar São João , Porto , Portugal
| | - Joana Madureira
- a Institute of Science and Innovation on Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management , Porto , Portugal
| | - João Rufo
- a Institute of Science and Innovation on Mechanical Engineering and Industrial Management , Porto , Portugal
- b Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
- c Portugal & Centro Hospitalar São João , Porto , Portugal
| | - André Moreira
- b Faculty of Medicine, University of Porto , Porto , Portugal
- c Portugal & Centro Hospitalar São João , Porto , Portugal
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