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Determining ventilation strategies to relieve health symptoms among school occupants. FACILITIES 2023. [DOI: 10.1108/f-10-2021-0101] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/09/2023]
Abstract
Purpose
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) contributing to occupants’ health symptoms is a universal, typically ventilation-related, problem in schools. In cold climates, low-cost strategies to improve IAQ in a naturally ventilated school are rare since conventional methods, such as window opening, are often inappropriate. This paper aims to present an investigation of strategies to relieve health symptoms among school occupants in naturally ventilated school in Finland.
Design/methodology/approach
A case study approach is adopted to thoroughly investigate the process of generating the alternatives of ventilation redesign in a naturally ventilated school where there have been complaints of health symptoms. First, the potential sources of the occupants’ symptoms are identified. Then, the strategies aiming to reduce the symptoms are compared and evaluated.
Findings
In a naturally ventilated school, health symptoms that are significantly caused by insufficient ventilation can be potentially reduced by implementing a supply and exhaust ventilation system. Alternatively, it is possible to retain the natural ventilation with reduced number of occupants. The selected strategy would depend considerably on the desired number of users, the budget and the possibilities to combine the redesign of ventilation with other refurbishment actions. Furthermore, the risk of poorer indoor air caused by the refurbishment actions must also be addressed and considered.
Practical implications
This study may assist municipal authorities and school directors in decisions concerning improvement of classroom IAQ and elimination of building-related symptoms. This research provides economic aspects of alternative strategies and points out the risks related to major refurbishment actions.
Originality/value
Since this study presents a set of features related to indoor air that contribute to occupants’ health as well as matters to be considered when aiming to decrease occupants’ symptoms, it may be of assistance to municipal authorities and practitioners in providing a healthier indoor environment for pupils and teachers.
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Weng J, Zhang Y, Chen Z, Ying X, Zhu W, Sun Y. Field Measurements and Analysis of Indoor Environment, Occupant Satisfaction, and Sick Building Syndrome in University Buildings in Hot Summer and Cold Winter Regions in China. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 20:554. [PMID: 36612874 PMCID: PMC9819874 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph20010554] [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: 12/12/2022] [Accepted: 12/20/2022] [Indexed: 06/17/2023]
Abstract
Teachers and students work and study in classrooms for long durations. The indoor environment directly affects the health and satisfaction of teachers and students. To explore the performance differences between green buildings, conventional buildings, and retrofitted buildings in terms of their indoor environment, occupant satisfaction, and sick building syndrome (SBS), as well as the correlation between these different aspects, three university teaching buildings were selected in hot summer and cold winter regions in China. These included a green building (GB), a retrofitted building (RB), and a conventional building (CB). Long-term indoor environment monitoring and point-to-point measurements were conducted during the transition season and winter and the indoor environment, satisfaction, and SBS in the three buildings were compared. A sample of 399 point-to-point questionnaires was collected. A subjective-objective indoor environmental quality (IEQ) evaluation model for schools in China was established, covering satisfaction and the indoor environment. The results showed that the compliance rate of the indoor environment in the GB and RB was generally superior to that of the CB. The overall satisfaction was the highest for the GB, followed by the CB, and then the RB. The GB had the highest overall indoor environment quality score, followed by the RB and then the CB. The occurrence of SBS was lowest in the CB, followed by the GB, and then the RB. It was determined that the design of natural ventilation should be improved and that building users should be given the right to autonomous window control and temperature control. To reduce the occurrence of SBS symptoms, attention should be paid to the control of temperature and CO2 concentration. To improve learning efficiency, it suggests reducing indoor CO2 concentrations and improving desktop illuminance. This study provides a reference for improving the indoor environment and health performance of existing university teaching buildings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiantao Weng
- School of Spatial Planning and Design, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Building’s Digital Carbon Neutral Technology, Hangzhou 310015, China
- School of Economics and Management, China University of Mining and Technology, Xuzhou 221116, China
- Huahui Engineering Design Group Co., Ltd, Shaoxing 312000, China
| | - Yuhan Zhang
- School of Spatial Planning and Design, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Building’s Digital Carbon Neutral Technology, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Zefeng Chen
- School of Spatial Planning and Design, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Building’s Digital Carbon Neutral Technology, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Xiaoyu Ying
- School of Spatial Planning and Design, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Building’s Digital Carbon Neutral Technology, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Wei Zhu
- School of Spatial Planning and Design, Zhejiang University City College, Hangzhou 310015, China
- Zhejiang Engineering Research Center of Building’s Digital Carbon Neutral Technology, Hangzhou 310015, China
| | - Yukai Sun
- Hangzhou Integrative Medicine Hospital, Hangzhou 310064, China
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Saharudin S, Hasanuddin H, Hafid F. Physical Home Sanitation as a Risk Factor for Acute Respiratory Infection in Children under 5 at Labuan Regency, Central Sulawesi. Open Access Maced J Med Sci 2022. [DOI: 10.3889/oamjms.2022.9272] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022] Open
Abstract
Objective: The purpose of this study was to determine the risk of physical home sanitation against acute respiratory infections in children under five in Labuan Regency, Central Sulawesi.
Method: This study was done in Labuan District, Donggala Regency, from July 31 to October 28, 2021, as an observational study with a Case Control Study technique. All children under the age of five who have ARI in the Labuan Health Center Work Area, Labuan District, Donggala Regency, are included in the study. The research was approved by the Makassar Ministry of Health Poltekkes Ethics Committee Number 1068/KEPK-PTKMKS/IX/2020 on the basis of its ethical feasibility.
Results: The physical sanitation condition of the house that does not meet the requirements for dust content is 52.9%. Home ventilation 58.6%. The lighting conditions are 47.1% and the humidity of the house is 35.7%. Bivariate analysis showed that there was a relationship between dust levels and the incidence of ARI (p=0.000), ventilation conditions with the incidence of ARI (p=0.000), lighting with the incidence of ARI (p=0.001) and humidity with the incidence of ARI (p=0.005) in children. in Labuan District, Donggala Regency. The incidence of ARI is more common in children aged 0-2 years, and the incidence of ARI has no difference between male and female sexes. Multivariate analysis showed that dust content (p=0.000 CI95% OR=9.56) and ventilation (p=0.001 CI95% OR=6.08) were the main variables that caused ARI in children in Labuan District, Donggala Regency.
Conclusion: The main variables causing ARI in children in Labuan District, Donggala Regency are dust content (OR = 9.56) and ventilation (OR = 6.08)
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Lin Z, Lin S, Neamtiu IA, Ye B, Csobod E, Fazakas E, Gurzau E. Predicting environmental risk factors in relation to health outcomes among school children from Romania using random forest model - An analysis of data from the SINPHONIE project. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 784:147145. [PMID: 33901961 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2021.147145] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/19/2021] [Revised: 03/30/2021] [Accepted: 04/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Few studies have simultaneously assessed the health impact of school and home environmental factors on children, since handling multiple highly correlated environmental variables is challenging. In this study, we examined indoor home and school environments in relation to health outcomes using machine learning methods and logistic regression. METHODS We used the data collected by the SINPHONIE (Schools Indoor Pollution and Health: Observatory Network in Europe) project in Romania, a multicenter European research study that collected comprehensive information on school and home environments, health symptoms in children, smoking, and school policies. The health outcomes were categorized as: any health symptoms, asthma, allergy and flu-like symptoms. Both logistic regression and random forest (RF) methods were used to predict the four categories of health outcomes, and the methods prediction performance was compared. RESULTS The RF method we employed for analysis showed that common risk factors for the investigated categories of health outcomes, included: environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), dampness in the indoor school environment, male gender, air freshener use, residence located in proximity of traffic (<200 m), stressful schoolwork, and classroom noise (contributions ranged from 7.91% to 23.12%). Specificity, accuracy and area under the curve (AUC) values for most outcomes were higher when using RF compared to logistic regression, while sensitivity was similar in both methods. CONCLUSION This study suggests that ETS, dampness in the indoor school environment, use of air fresheners, living in proximity to traffic (<200 m) and noise are common environmental risk factors for the investigated health outcomes. RF pointed out better predictive values, sensitivity and accuracy compared to logistic regression.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ziqiang Lin
- Department of Psychiatry, New York University School of Medicine, One Park Ave, New York, NY 10016, United States of America; Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States of America
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States of America; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States of America
| | - Iulia A Neamtiu
- Health Department, Environmental Health Center, 58 Busuiocului Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Bo Ye
- Department of Environmental Health Science, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States of America; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, University at Albany, State University of New York, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY 12144, United States of America
| | - Eva Csobod
- Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), Ady Endre ut 9-11, 2000 Szentendre, Hungary
| | - Emese Fazakas
- Health Department, Environmental Health Center, 58 Busuiocului Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Eugen Gurzau
- Health Department, Environmental Health Center, 58 Busuiocului Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania; Cluj School of Public Health - College of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Deng X, Thurston G, Zhang W, Ryan I, Jiang C, Khwaja H, Romeiko X, Marks T, Ye B, Qu Y, Lin S. Application of data science methods to identify school and home risk factors for asthma and allergy-related symptoms among children in New York. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2021; 770:144746. [PMID: 33736384 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.144746] [Citation(s) in RCA: 6] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/11/2020] [Revised: 12/09/2020] [Accepted: 12/21/2020] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
OBJECTIVES Few studies have comprehensively assessed multiple environmental exposures affecting children's health. This study applied machine-learning methods to evaluate how indoor environmental conditions at home and school contribute to asthma and allergy-related symptoms. METHODS We randomly selected 10 public schools representing different socioeconomic statuses in New York State (2017-2019) and distributed questionnaires to students to collect health status and home-and school-environmental exposures. Indoor air quality was measured at school, and ambient particle exposures (PM2.5 and components) were measured using real-time personal monitors for 48 h. We used random forest model to identify the most important risk factors for asthma and allergy-related symptoms, and decision tree for visualizing the inter-relationships among the multiple risk factors with the health outcomes. RESULTS The top contributing factors identified for asthma were family rhinitis history (relative importance: 10.40%), plant pollen trigger (5.48%); bedroom carpet (3.58%); environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) trigger symptom (2.98%); and ETS exposure (2.56%). For allergy-related symptoms, plant pollen trigger (10.88%), higher paternal education (7.33%), bedroom carpet (5.28%), family rhinitis history (4.78%), and higher maternal education (4.25%) were the strongest contributing factors. Conversely, primary heating with hot water radiator was negatively (-6.86%) associated with asthma symptoms. Younger children (<9 years old) with family history of rhinitis and carpeting in the bedroom were the prominent combined risk factors for asthma. Children jointly exposed to pollen, solvents, and carpeting in their home tended to have greater risks of allergy-related symptoms, even without family history of rhinitis. CONCLUSION Family rhinitis history, bedroom carpet, and pollen triggers were the most important risk factors for both asthma and allergy-related symptoms. Our new findings included that hot-water radiator was related to reduced asthma symptoms, and the combination of young age, rhinitis history, and bedroom carpeting was related to increased asthma symptoms. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinlei Deng
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | - George Thurston
- Department of Environmental Medicine, School of Medicine, New York University, New York, NY 12144, USA
| | - Wangjian Zhang
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | - Ian Ryan
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | - Connie Jiang
- Department of Statistics, College of Arts and Sciences, University of Virginia, Charlottesville, VA 22904, USA
| | - Haider Khwaja
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA; Wadsworth Center, New York State Department of Health, Albany, NY 12201, USA
| | - Xiaobo Romeiko
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | - Tia Marks
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | - Bo Ye
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA
| | - Yanji Qu
- Guangdong Cardiovascular Institute, WHO Collaborating Center for Research and Training in Cardiovascular Diseases, Guangdong Provincial People's Hospital, Guangdong Academy of Medical Sciences, Guangzhou 510080, China
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA; Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, University at Albany, State University of New York, Rensselaer, NY 12144, USA.
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Neamtiu IA, Lin S, Chen M, Roba C, Csobod E, Gurzau ES. Assessment of formaldehyde levels in relation to respiratory and allergic symptoms in children from Alba County schools, Romania. ENVIRONMENTAL MONITORING AND ASSESSMENT 2019; 191:591. [PMID: 31446497 DOI: 10.1007/s10661-019-7768-6] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/21/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Our study assessed the exposure to formaldehyde of Romanian school children in relation to the classroom indoor environment characteristics and respiratory and allergic symptoms reported in a questionnaire survey, using the data collected in the SINPHONIE (Schools Indoor Pollution and Health: Observatory Network in Europe) project. Measurements of formaldehyde and microclimate parameters were conducted in three classrooms per school, in five schools, together with one outdoor measurement at each school. Questionnaires were used to collect information on classroom characteristics and health effects among children. The indoor formaldehyde levels for a school week varied between 15.5 and 66.2 μg/m3, with a median value of 34.8 μg/m3. The adjusted odds ratios for allergy-like, asthma-like, and flu-like symptoms were 3.23 (95% CI 1.31-8.00), 2.69 (95% CI 1.04-6.97), and 2.39 (95% CI 1.04-5.50), respectively, when exposed to higher formaldehyde levels (≥ 35 μg/m3) during a school week, compared to lower formaldehyde level exposure (< 35 μg/m3). Higher levels of indoor formaldehyde were significantly associated with health symptoms in children. The high indoor formaldehyde levels were related to the use of water-resistant paint for ceiling coverings, moisture damage signs, and lower classroom natural ventilation rates.
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Affiliation(s)
- Iulia A Neamtiu
- Health Department, Environmental Health Center, 58 Busuiocului Street, 400240, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania.
| | - Shao Lin
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, School of Public Health, State University of New York, University at Albany, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Biostatistics, School of Public Health, State University of New York, University at Albany, 1 University Place, Rensselaer, NY, 12144, USA
| | - Menglan Chen
- School of Public Health, Yale University, New Haven, CT, 06520, USA
| | - Carmen Roba
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
| | - Eva Csobod
- Regional Environmental Center for Central and Eastern Europe (REC), 9-11 Ady Endre ut, Szentendre, 2000, Hungary
| | - Eugen S Gurzau
- Health Department, Environmental Health Center, 58 Busuiocului Street, 400240, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Faculty of Environmental Science and Engineering, Babes-Bolyai University, 30 Fantanele Street, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
- Cluj School of Public Health-College of Political, Administrative and Communication Sciences, Babes-Bolyai University, 7 Pandurilor Street, Universitas Building, Cluj-Napoca, Romania
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Online Questionnaire as a Tool to Assess Symptoms and Perceived Indoor Air Quality in a School Environment. ATMOSPHERE 2018. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos9070270] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/16/2022]
Abstract
School environments are a complex entirety where various different exposure factors are related that contribute to the indoor air quality (IAQ) and may affect occupants’ health and well-being. Indoor air questionnaires are useful for collecting information about the occupants’ experiences and perceptions of the indoor air and for evaluating the results of the measures taken. A common way to implement health questionnaires is to ask the respondents to describe symptoms at certain time points, such as weeks or months. The aim of our study was to develop a short and easy online questionnaire to assess symptoms and perceived IAQ. We also aimed to test the usability of the questionnaire in school buildings and assess the differences between the online measurement data (CO2, T, and RH) and the IAQ complaints and symptoms reported by the pupils. A total of 105 teachers and 1268 pupils in 36 classrooms at six schools answered the questionnaires over a two-week period. The participants completed the questionnaire always after the lesson in the studied classroom. We received 719 answers from the teachers and 6322 answers from the pupils. The results demonstrated that the teachers reported more IAQ problems and symptoms than the pupils did. Differences between classrooms were observed in both the IAQ problem and reference schools. The most common significant differences (p-value > 0.05) between the classrooms were among humidity, too cold air, and stuffy air, and among symptoms, dry/sore throat, tiredness, headache, and skin symptoms. Maximum values of CO2 measurements and the highest prevalence of stuffy air were relatively consistent. The testing process demonstrated that such a questionnaire was suitable for adults and children aged at least 12 years. The results of our study suggest that a quick and easy online questionnaire that is completed within a short period may be useful for gathering valuable knowledge about perceived IAQ. It could be used in combination with other indoor environment investigations to produce detailed results and restorative measures.
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