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Chen Y, Liang Z, Li G, An T. Indoor/Outdoor airborne microbiome characteristics in residential areas across four seasons and its indoor purification. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2024; 190:108857. [PMID: 38954924 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2024.108857] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/17/2024] [Revised: 06/04/2024] [Accepted: 06/27/2024] [Indexed: 07/04/2024]
Abstract
Bioaerosols are more likely to accumulate in the residential environment, and long-term inhalation may lead to a variety of diseases and allergies. Here, we studied the distribution, influencing factors and diffusion characteristics of indoor and outdoor microbiota pollution in six residential buildings in Guangzhou, southern China over a period of one year. The results showed that the particle sizes of bioaerosol were mainly in the range of inhalable particle size (<4.7 μm) with a small difference among four seasons (74.61 % ± 2.17 %). The microbial communities showed obvious seasonal differences with high abundance in summer, but no obvious geographical differences. Among them, the bacteria were more abundant than the fungi. The dominant microbes in indoor and outdoor environments were similar, with Anoxybacillu, Brevibacillus and Acinetobacter as the dominant bacteria, and Cladosporium, Penicillium and Alternaria as the dominant fungi. The airborne microbiomes were more sensitive to temperature and particulate matter (PM2.5, PM10) concentrations. Based on the Sloan neutral model, bacteria were more prone to random diffusion than fungi, and the airborne microbiome can be randomly distributed in indoor and outdoor environments and between the two environments in each season. Bioaerosol in indoor was mainly from outdoor. The health risk evaluation showed that the indoor inhalation risks were higher than those outdoor. The air purifier had a better removal efficiency on 1.1-4.7 μm microorganisms, and the removal efficiency on Gram-negative bacteria was better than that on Gram-positive bacteria. This study is of great significance for the risk assessment and control of residential indoor bioaerosol exposure.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yuying Chen
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhishu Liang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guiying Li
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Taicheng An
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Xie Y, Wang Y, He J, Yang X, Duan X, Zhao B. Human emissions of size-resolved fluorescent bioaerosols in control situations. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2024; 926:171661. [PMID: 38490427 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2024.171661] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/19/2023] [Revised: 03/09/2024] [Accepted: 03/09/2024] [Indexed: 03/17/2024]
Abstract
Human bioaerosols contribute significantly to indoor air quality. This study used a Wideband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor (WIBS-4A) instrument for real-time measurement of particle size distribution and count to differentiate fluorescent bioaerosols from non-fluorescent aerosols. Through an experiment involving 12 subjects (six men and six women) wearing standard cotton clothing in a 2 m × 2 m × 2 m environmental chamber, we established a quantitative method to obtain the bioaerosol emission rate of a single subject, aiming to explore the effects of masks and sex on bioaerosol emissions from different individuals. The mean emission rates of fluorescent bioaerosols in the particle size ranges of 0.5-2.5 μm and 2.5-10 μm were 3.192±2.11×104 counts/(person·h) and 13.98±9.34×104 counts/(person·h), respectively. A comparison between those wearing and not wearing masks revealed no significant differences in the emissions of fluorescent bioaerosols. This suggests respiratory sources may not significantly impact the emissions of fluorescent bioaerosols from individuals under seated breathing conditions. Significant disparities in the fluorescent bioaerosol emission rates of different biological sexes were observed through independent sample analysis. Males exhibited 41 % and 15 % higher emission rates than females for particle size ranges of 0.5-2.5 μm and 2.5-10 μm, respectively, possibly because of different metabolic rates. A significant correlation between metabolic rates and fluorescent bioaerosols (sig = 0.044 < 0.05) was observed in all the subjects. These findings underscore the individual variations that affect bioaerosol emission rates. The data provided by this study will facilitate further analysis of the on-site measured data and source analysis.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yangyang Xie
- Department of Building Science, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, School of Civil and Resources Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Yuxing Wang
- Department of Building Environment and Energy Engineering, School of Civil and Resources Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Junzhou He
- Department of Power Engineering, North China Electric Power University, Baoding, Hebei, China.
| | - Xudong Yang
- Department of Building Science, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Quality Evaluation and Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaoli Duan
- School of Energy and Environmental Engineering, University of Science and Technology Beijing, Beijing, China
| | - Bin Zhao
- Department of Building Science, School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China; Beijing Key Laboratory of Indoor Air Quality Evaluation and Control, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China.
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Seidkhani-Nahal A, Heydari H, Tavakolian A, Najafi ML, Miri M. The association of in-utero exposure to air pollution and atherogenic index of plasma in newborns. Environ Health 2024; 23:22. [PMID: 38369478 PMCID: PMC10875836 DOI: 10.1186/s12940-024-01059-1] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2023] [Accepted: 02/01/2024] [Indexed: 02/20/2024]
Abstract
BACKGROUND Prenatal exposure to particulate matter (PM) and traffic was associated with the programming of cardiovascular diseases (CVDs) in early life. However, the exact underlying mechanisms are not fully understood. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the association between in-utero exposure to PMs and traffic indicators with the atherogenic index of plasma (AIP) in newborns, which is a precise index reflecting an enhancement of lipid risk factors for CVDs. METHODS In this cross-sectional study, a total of 300 mother-newborn pairs were enrolled in Sabzevar, Iran. Spatiotemporal land-use regression models were used to estimate the level of PM1, PM2.5 and PM10 at the mother's residential address. The total length of streets in different buffers (100,300 and 500m) and proximity to major roads were calculated as indicators of traffic. The AIP of cord blood samples was calculated using an AIP calculator. Multiple linear regression models were used to examine the association of PM concentrations as well as traffic indicators with AIP controlled for relevant covariates. RESULTS PM2.5 exposure was significantly associated with higher levels of AIP in newborns. Each interquartile range (IQR) increment of PM2.5 concentration at the mothers' residential addresses was associated with a 5.3% (95% confidence interval (CI): 0.0, 10.6%, P = 0.04) increase in the AIP. Associations between PM1, PM10 and traffic indicators with cord blood level of AIP were positive but not statistically significant. CONCLUSION Our findings showed that in utero exposure to PM2.5 may be associated with CVDs programming through the increase of atherogenic lipids.
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Affiliation(s)
- Ali Seidkhani-Nahal
- Department of Clinical Biochemistry, Faculty of Medical Sciences, Ilam University of Medical Sciences, Ilam, Iran
| | - Hafez Heydari
- Department of Biochemistry, School of Medicine, Iran University of Medical Sciences, Tehran, Iran.
| | - Ayoub Tavakolian
- Emergency Department, Faculty of Medicine, Mashhad University of Medical Sciences, Mashhad, Iran
| | - Moslem Lari Najafi
- Pharmaceutical Sciences and Cosmetic Products Research Center, Kerman University of Medical Sciences, Kerman, Iran
| | - Mohammad Miri
- Leishmaniasis Research Center, Department of Environmental Health, Sabzevar University of Medical Sciences, Sabzevar, Iran.
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Finnegan M, Thach CL, Khaki S, Markey E, O’Connor DJ, Smeaton AF, Morrin A. Characterization of Volatile and Particulate Emissions from Desktop 3D Printers. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2023; 23:9660. [PMID: 38139506 PMCID: PMC10747962 DOI: 10.3390/s23249660] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/11/2023] [Revised: 11/30/2023] [Accepted: 12/04/2023] [Indexed: 12/24/2023]
Abstract
The rapid expansion of 3D printing technologies has led to increased utilization in various industries and has also become pervasive in the home environment. Although the benefits are well acknowledged, concerns have arisen regarding potential health and safety hazards associated with emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and particulates during the 3D printing process. The home environment is particularly hazardous given the lack of health and safety awareness of the typical home user. This study aims to assess the safety aspects of 3D printing of PLA and ABS filaments by investigating emissions of VOCs and particulates, characterizing their chemical and physical profiles, and evaluating potential health risks. Gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) was employed to profile VOC emissions, while a particle analyzer (WIBS) was used to quantify and characterize particulate emissions. Our research highlights that 3D printing processes release a wide range of VOCs, including straight and branched alkanes, benzenes, and aldehydes. Emission profiles depend on filament type but also, importantly, the brand of filament. The size, shape, and fluorescent characteristics of particle emissions were characterized for PLA-based printing emissions and found to vary depending on the filament employed. This is the first 3D printing study employing WIBS for particulate characterization, and distinct sizes and shape profiles that differ from other ambient WIBS studies were observed. The findings emphasize the importance of implementing safety measures in all 3D printing environments, including the home, such as improved ventilation, thermoplastic material, and brand selection. Additionally, our research highlights the need for further regulatory guidelines to ensure the safe use of 3D printing technologies, particularly in the home setting.
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Affiliation(s)
- Melissa Finnegan
- School of Chemical Sciences, National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, D09 DXA0 Dublin, Ireland; (M.F.); (S.K.); (D.J.O.)
- Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University, D09 Y5N0 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Colleen Lee Thach
- Department of Chemistry, The University of Kansas, Lawrence, KS 66046, USA;
| | - Shirin Khaki
- School of Chemical Sciences, National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, D09 DXA0 Dublin, Ireland; (M.F.); (S.K.); (D.J.O.)
- Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University, D09 Y5N0 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Emma Markey
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, D09 Y5N0 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - David J. O’Connor
- School of Chemical Sciences, National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, D09 DXA0 Dublin, Ireland; (M.F.); (S.K.); (D.J.O.)
- Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University, D09 Y5N0 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Alan F. Smeaton
- Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University, D09 Y5N0 Dublin, Ireland;
| | - Aoife Morrin
- School of Chemical Sciences, National Centre for Sensor Research, Dublin City University, D09 DXA0 Dublin, Ireland; (M.F.); (S.K.); (D.J.O.)
- Insight SFI Research Centre for Data Analytics, Dublin City University, D09 Y5N0 Dublin, Ireland;
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Addor YS, Newman N, Baumgardner D, Indugula R, Hughes D, Jandarov R, Reponen T. Assessment of indoor bioaerosol exposure using direct-reading versus traditional methods-potential application to home health care. JOURNAL OF OCCUPATIONAL AND ENVIRONMENTAL HYGIENE 2023; 20:401-413. [PMID: 37163743 DOI: 10.1080/15459624.2023.2212007] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/12/2023]
Abstract
Home healthcare workers (HHCWs) can be occupationally exposed to bioaerosols in their clients' homes. However, choosing the appropriate method to measure bioaerosol exposures remains a challenge. Therefore, a systematic comparison of existing measurement approaches is essential. Bioaerosol measurements with a real-time, fluorescence-based Wideband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor (WIBS) were compared to measurements with four traditional off-line methods (TOLMs). The TOLMS included optical microscopic counting of spore trap samples, microbial cultivation of impactor samples, qPCR, and next-generation sequencing (NGS) of filter samples. Measurements were conducted in an occupied apartment simulating the environments that HHCWs could encounter in their patients' homes. Descriptive statistics and Spearman's correlation test were computed to compare the real-time measurement with those of each TOLM. The results showed that the geometric mean number concentrations of the total fluorescent aerosol particles (TFAPs) detected with the WIBS were several orders of magnitude higher than those of total fungi or bacteria measured with the TOLMs. Among the TOLMs, concentrations obtained with qPCR and NGS were the closest to the WIBS detections. Correlations between the results obtained with the WIBS and TOLMs were not consistent. No correlation was found between the concentrations of fungi detected using microscopic counting and any of the WIBS fluorescent aerosol particle (FAP) types, either indoors or outdoors. In contrast, the total concentrations detected with microbial cultivation correlated with the WIBS TFAP results, both indoors and outdoors. Outdoors, the total concentration of culturable bacteria correlated with FAP-type AC. In addition, fungal and bacterial concentrations obtained with qPCR correlated with FAP types AB and AC. For a continuous, high-time resolution but broad scope, the real-time WIBS could be considered, whereas a TOLM would be the best choice for specific and more accurate microbial characterization. HHCWs' activities tend to re-aerosolize bioaerosols causing wide temporal variation in bioparticle concentrations. Thus, the advantage of using the real-time instrument is to capture those variations. This study lays a foundation for future exposure assessment studies targeting HHCWs.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao S Addor
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Nicholas Newman
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Department of Pediatrics, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
- Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | | | - Reshmi Indugula
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Dagen Hughes
- Droplet Measurement Technologies LLC, Longmont, Colorado
| | - Roman Jandarov
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
| | - Tiina Reponen
- Department of Environmental and Public Health Sciences, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, Ohio
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Nehr S, Duarte RMBO, Almeida AS, Baus L, Bergmann KC. Assessing the relevance of allergenic pollen in indoor environments-current knowledge base and research needs. ALLERGO JOURNAL INTERNATIONAL 2023; 32:1-9. [PMID: 37359419 PMCID: PMC10262119 DOI: 10.1007/s40629-023-00251-y] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 04/17/2023] [Accepted: 05/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/28/2023]
Abstract
Airborne pollen allergens-a relevant component of bioaerosols and, therefore, of airborne particulate matter-are considered an important metric in air quality assessments. Although the measurement of airborne pollen allergen concentrations in outdoor environments (namely, in urban areas) has been recognized as a key environmental health indicator, no such obligation exists for indoor environments (dwellings or occupational settings). However, people spend most of their daily time (80-90%) indoors, where the majority of their exposure to air pollution, including pollen allergens, occurs. Nonetheless, the relative importance of airborne pollen allergen exposure indoors differs from outdoors because of differences in pollen loads, sources, dispersion, and degree of penetration from the outdoor surroundings, as well as the differences in the allergenic pollen profiles. In this brief review, we mined the literature over the last 10 years to summarize what existing measurements reveal about the relevance of airborne allergenic pollen in indoor environments. The research priorities on this topic are presented, highlighting the challenges and the motivations for obtaining pollen data in built environments which are key to understand the extent and mechanisms of human exposure to airborne pollen allergens. Thus, we provide a comprehensive assessment of the relevance of airborne allergenic pollen in indoor environments, highlighting knowledge gaps and research needs related to their health effects.
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Affiliation(s)
- Sascha Nehr
- CBS International Business School, Kaiserstraße 6, 50321 Brühl, Germany
| | - Regina M. B. O. Duarte
- CESAM—Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810–193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Antoine S. Almeida
- CESAM—Center for Environmental and Marine Studies, Department of Chemistry, University of Aveiro, 3810–193 Aveiro, Portugal
| | - Lukas Baus
- CBS International Business School, Kaiserstraße 6, 50321 Brühl, Germany
| | - Karl-Christian Bergmann
- Charité – Universitätsmedizin Berlin, Freie Universität Berlin, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Charitéplatz 1, 10117 Berlin, Germany
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Zhang S, Liang Z, Wang X, Ye Z, Li G, An T. Bioaerosols in an industrial park and the adjacent houses: Dispersal between indoor/outdoor, the impact of air purifier, and health risk reduction. ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL 2023; 172:107778. [PMID: 36724713 DOI: 10.1016/j.envint.2023.107778] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/03/2022] [Revised: 01/20/2023] [Accepted: 01/24/2023] [Indexed: 06/18/2023]
Abstract
Inhaling airborne pathogens may cause severe epidemics showing huge threats to indoor dwellings residents. The ventilation, environmental parameters, and human activities would affect the abundance and pathogenicity of bioaerosols in indoor. However, people know little about the indoor airborne microbes especially pathogens near the industrial park polluted with organics and heavy metals. Herein, the indoor bioaerosols' community composition, source and influencing factors near an electronic waste (e-waste) industrial park were investigated. Results showed that the average bioaerosol level in the morning was lower than evening. Bioaerosol concentration and activity in indoor (1936 CFU/m3 and 7.62 × 105 ng/m3 sodium fluorescein in average) were lower than the industrial park (4043 CFU/m3 and 7.77 × 105 ng/m3 sodium fluorescein), and higher microbial viability may be caused by other pollutants generated during e-waste dismantling process. Fluorescent biological aerosol particles occupied 17.6%-23.7% of total particles, indicating that most particles were non-biological. Bacterial communities were richer and more diverse than fungi. Furthermore, Bacillus and Cladosporium were the dominant indoor pathogens, and pathogenic fungi were more influenced by environmental factors than bacteria. SourceTracker analysis indicates that outdoor was the main source of indoor bioaerosols. The hazard quotient (<1) of airborne microbes through inhalation was negligible, but long-term exposure to pathogens could be harmful. Air purifiers could effectively remove the airborne fungi and spheroid bacteria than cylindrical bacteria, but open doors and windows would reduce the purification efficiency. This study is great important for risk assessments and control of indoor bioaerosols near industrial park.
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Affiliation(s)
- Simeng Zhang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zhishu Liang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Xiaolong Wang
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Zikai Ye
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
| | - Guiying Li
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China.
| | - Taicheng An
- Guangdong-Hong Kong-Macao Joint Laboratory for Contaminants Exposure and Health, Guangdong Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Health Risk Control, Institute of Environmental Health and Pollution Control, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China; Guangzhou Key Laboratory of Environmental Catalysis and Pollution Control, Key Laboratory for City Cluster Environmental Safety and Green Development of the Ministry of Education, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Guangdong University of Technology, Guangzhou 510006, China
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Li X, Sun B, Lyu K, Chen J, Zhang Y, Sun Y, Li C, Sui T, Wang X, Hu Y, Wang Q, Xu D. Research on the relationship between architectural features in northeast China and vertical aerosol transmission of COVID-19. Front Public Health 2023; 10:1052610. [PMID: 36711357 PMCID: PMC9881651 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2022.1052610] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Accepted: 12/19/2022] [Indexed: 01/15/2023] Open
Abstract
During the COVID-19 pandemic, many buildings in northeast China have had clusters of infected cases in the vertical layout. There is speculation that vertical aerosol transmission occurs. The houses in northeast China are airtight, and range hoods may be used for a long period of time when cooking. The pathway and factors influencing vertical aerosol transmission are worth studying. To elucidate a viral aerosol transmission pathway, we selected a multistory apartment and a high-rise building in Changchun city, Jilin province, China, to conduct an in-depth investigation and on-site simulation experiments. According to epidemiological investigation information on infected cases, building structures, drainage, ventilation, etc., we used fluorescent microspheres to simulate the behaviors of infected people, such as breathing and flushing the toilet after defecation, to discharge simulated viruses and track and monitor them. The field simulation experiment confirmed the transmission of fluorescent microsphere aerosols to other rooms in two types of buildings using a vertical aerosol transmission pathway of toilet flush-sewage pipe-floor drain without a water seal. Our study showed that, in the absence of a U-shaped trap or floor drain water seal whether in a multistory apartment or high-rise residential building, there is a transmission pathway of "excretion of virus through feces-toilet flushing-sewage pipe-floor drain without water seal," which will cause the vertical transmission of viral aerosol across floors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Moreover, the negative pressure generated by turning on the range hood when closing doors and windows increase aerosol transmission. Based on this negative pressure, prevention and control measures for residential buildings in northeast China during the COVID-19 pandemic were proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xia Li
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Bingxin Sun
- Changchun Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Keyang Lyu
- National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China
| | - Jiayu Chen
- Shandong Provincial Third Hospital, Jinan, Shandong, China
| | - Yunjian Zhang
- Changchun Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yu Sun
- Changchun Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Chenguang Li
- Changchun Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Tianzhuo Sui
- Changchun Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Xinxin Wang
- Changchun Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Yu Hu
- Changchun Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Changchun, Jilin, China
| | - Qin Wang
- China CDC Key Laboratory of Environment and Population Health, National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China,*Correspondence: Qin Wang ✉
| | - Dongqun Xu
- National Institute of Environmental Health, Chinese Center for Disease Control and Prevention, Beijing, China,Dongqun Xu ✉
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9
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Li J, Zuraimi S, Schiavon S, Wan MP, Xiong J, Tham KW. Diurnal trends of indoor and outdoor fluorescent biological aerosol particles in a tropical urban area. THE SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT 2022; 848:157811. [PMID: 35931158 DOI: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2022.157811] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/16/2022] [Revised: 07/20/2022] [Accepted: 07/31/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We evaluated diurnal trends of size-resolved indoor and outdoor fluorescent biological airborne particles (FBAPs) and their contributions to particulate matter (PM) within 0.5-20 μm. After a ten-week continuous sampling via two identical wideband integrated bioaerosol sensors, we found that both indoor and outdoor diurnal trends of PM were driven by its bioaerosol component. Outdoors, the median [interquartile range] FBAP mass concentration peaked at 8.2 [5.8-9.9] μg/m3 around sunrise and showed a downtrend from 6:00 to 18:00 during the daytime and an uptrend during the night. The nighttime FBAP level was 1.8 [1.4-2.2] times higher than that during the daytime, and FBAPs accounted for 45 % and 56 % of PM during daytime and nighttime, respectively. Indoors, the rise in concentrations of FBAPs smaller than 1 μm coincided with the starting operation of the heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) system at 6:00, and the concentration peaked at 8:00 and dropped to the daily average by noontime. This indicated that the starting operation of the HVAC system dislodged the overnight settled and accumulated fine bioaerosols into the indoor environment. For particles larger than 1 μm, the variation of mass concentration was driven by occupancy. Based on regression modeling, the contributions of indoor PM, non-FBAP, and FBAP sources to indoor mass concentrations were estimated to be 93 %, 67 %, and 97 % during the occupied period.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jiayu Li
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS), 1 Create Way, 138602, Singapore.
| | - Sultan Zuraimi
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS), 1 Create Way, 138602, Singapore
| | - Stefano Schiavon
- Center for the Built Environment (CBE), UC Berkeley, 390 Wurster Hall, Berkeley, CA 94720, USA
| | - Man Pun Wan
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore
| | - Jinwen Xiong
- School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering, Nanyang Technological University, 50 Nanyang Ave, 639798, Singapore
| | - Kwok Wai Tham
- Department of Building, National University of Singapore, 4 Architecture Drive, 117566, Singapore
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10
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Markey E, Hourihane Clancy J, Martínez-Bracero M, Neeson F, Sarda-Estève R, Baisnée D, McGillicuddy EJ, Sewell G, O’Connor DJ. A Modified Spectroscopic Approach for the Real-Time Detection of Pollen and Fungal Spores at a Semi-Urban Site Using the WIBS-4+, Part I. SENSORS (BASEL, SWITZERLAND) 2022; 22:s22228747. [PMID: 36433340 PMCID: PMC9694534 DOI: 10.3390/s22228747] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/11/2022] [Revised: 11/08/2022] [Accepted: 11/10/2022] [Indexed: 05/19/2023]
Abstract
The real-time monitoring of primary biological aerosol particles (PBAP) such as pollen and fungal spores has received much attention in recent years as a result of their health and climatic effects. In this study, the Wideband Integrated Bioaerosol Sensor (WIBS) 4+ model was evaluated for its ability to sample and detect ambient fungal spore and pollen concentrations, compared to the traditional Hirst volumetric method. Although the determination of total pollen and fungal spore ambient concentrations are of interest, the selective detection of individual pollen/fungal spore types are often of greater allergenic/agricultural concern. To aid in this endeavour, modifications were made to the WIBS-4 instrument to target chlorophyll fluorescence. Two additional fluorescence channels (FL4 and FL5 channels) were combined with the standard WIBS channels (FL1, FL2, FL3). The purpose of this modification is to help discriminate between grass and herb pollen from other pollen. The WIBS-4+ was able to successfully detect and differentiate between different bioaerosol classes. The addition of the FL4 and FL5 channels also allowed for the improved differentiation between tree (R2 = 0.8), herbaceous (R2 = 0.6) and grass (R2 = 0.4) pollen and fungal spores (R2 = 0.8). Both grass and herbaceous pollen types showed a high correlation with D type particles, showing strong fluorescence in the FL4 channel. The additional fluorescent data that were introduced also improved clustering attempts, making k-means clustering a comparable solution for this high-resolution data.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Markey
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, D09 E432 Dublin, Ireland
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (M.M.-B.)
| | | | - Moisés Martínez-Bracero
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, D09 E432 Dublin, Ireland
- Correspondence: (E.M.); (M.M.-B.)
| | - Finnian Neeson
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, D09 E432 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Roland Sarda-Estève
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), CNRS-CEA-UVSQ, 91191 Saint-Aubin, France
| | - Dominique Baisnée
- Laboratoire des Sciences du Climat et de l’Environnement (LSCE), CNRS-CEA-UVSQ, 91191 Saint-Aubin, France
| | - Eoin J. McGillicuddy
- School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Technological University Dublin, D07 H6K8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - Gavin Sewell
- School of Chemical and Pharmaceutical Sciences, Technological University Dublin, D07 H6K8 Dublin, Ireland
| | - David J. O’Connor
- School of Chemical Sciences, Dublin City University, D09 E432 Dublin, Ireland
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11
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Cheung T, Li J, Goh J, Sekhar C, Cheong D, Tham KW. Evaluation of aerosol transmission risk during home quarantine under different operating scenarios: A pilot study. BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT 2022; 225:109640. [PMID: 36210963 PMCID: PMC9528801 DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2022.109640] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/01/2022] [Revised: 09/22/2022] [Accepted: 09/24/2022] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
SARS-CoV-2 has been recognized to be airborne transmissible. With the large number of reported positive cases in the community, home quarantine is recommended for the infectors who are not severely ill. However, the risks of household aerosol transmission associated with the quarantine room operating methods are under-explored. We used tracer gas technique to simulate the exhaled virus laden aerosols from a patient under home quarantine situation inside a residential testbed. The Sulphur hexafluoride (SF6) concentration was measured both inside and outside the quarantine room under different operating settings including, air-conditioning and natural ventilation, presence of an exhaust fan, and the air movement generated by ceiling or pedestal fan. We calculated the outside-to-inside SF6 concentration to indicate potential exposure of occupants in the same household. In-room concentration with air-conditioning was 4 times higher than in natural ventilation settings. Exhaust fan operation substantially reduced in-room SF6 concentration and leakage rate in most of the ventilation scenarios, except for natural ventilation setting with ceiling fan. The exception is attributable to the different airflow patterns between ceiling fan (recirculates air vertically) and pedestal fan (moves air horizontally). These airflow variations also led to differences in SF6 concentration at two sampling heights (0.1 m and 1.7 m) and SF6 leakage rates when the quarantine room door was opened momentarily. Use of natural ventilation rather than air-conditioning, and operating exhaust fan when using air-conditioning are recommended to lower exposure risk for home quarantine. A more holistic experiment will be conducted to address the limitations reflected in this study.
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Affiliation(s)
- Toby Cheung
- Department of the Built Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Jiayu Li
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore (BEARS), Singapore
| | - Jiamin Goh
- Department of the Built Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Chandra Sekhar
- Department of the Built Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - David Cheong
- Department of the Built Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore
| | - Kwok Wai Tham
- Department of the Built Environment, National University of Singapore, Singapore
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12
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Addor YS, Baumgardner D, Hughes D, Newman N, Jandarov R, Reponen T. Assessing residential indoor and outdoor bioaerosol characteristics using the ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence-based wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE. PROCESSES & IMPACTS 2022; 24:1790-1804. [PMID: 36056699 DOI: 10.1039/d2em00177b] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
We assessed and compared indoor and outdoor residential aerosol particles in a third-floor apartment from August through September 2020. The measurements were conducted using a direct-reading ultraviolet light-induced fluorescence (UV-LIF) wideband integrated bioaerosol spectrometer (WIBS). It measures individual particle light scattering and fluorescence from which particle properties can be derived. The number concentrations of total aerosol particles (TAP) and total fluorescent aerosol particles (TFAP) were significantly higher indoors. Daily and hourly TFAP mean concentrations followed the same trends as the TAP, both indoors and outdoors. The daily mean rank of the TFAP fraction (TFAP/TAP) was significantly higher indoors (23%) than outdoors (19%). Particles representing bacteria dominated indoors while particles representing fungi and pollen dominated outdoors. The mean volume-weighted median diameters for TFAP were 1.67 μm indoors and 2.09 μm outdoors. Higher TFAP fraction indoors was likely due to occupants' activities that generated or resuspended particles. This study contributes to understanding the characteristics of residential aerosol particles in situations when occupants spend most of their time indoors. Based on our findings, a large portion of all indoor aerosol particles could be biological (15-20%) and of respirable particle size (≥95%). Using a novel direct reading UV-LIF-based sensor can help quickly assess aerosol exposures relevant to human health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao S Addor
- University of Cincinnati, Department of the Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Darrel Baumgardner
- Droplet Measurement Technologies LLC., 2400 Trade Centre Avenue, Longmont, CO 80503, USA
| | - Dagen Hughes
- Droplet Measurement Technologies LLC., 2400 Trade Centre Avenue, Longmont, CO 80503, USA
| | - Nicholas Newman
- University of Cincinnati, Department of the Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
- University of Cincinnati, Department of Pediatrics, Cincinnati, OH, USA
- Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, Division of General and Community Pediatrics, Cincinnati, OH, USA
| | - Roman Jandarov
- University of Cincinnati, Department of the Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
| | - Tiina Reponen
- University of Cincinnati, Department of the Environmental and Public Health Sciences, Cincinnati, OH, USA.
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13
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Nathu VD, Virkutyte J, Rao MB, Nieto-Caballero M, Hernandez M, Reponen T. Direct-Read Fluorescence-Based Measurements of Bioaerosol Exposure in Home Healthcare. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2022; 19:ijerph19063613. [PMID: 35329300 PMCID: PMC8951687 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph19063613] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2022] [Revised: 03/10/2022] [Accepted: 03/14/2022] [Indexed: 02/06/2023]
Abstract
Home healthcare workers (HHCWs) are subjected to variable working environments which increase their risk of being exposed to numerous occupational hazards. One of the potential occupational hazards within the industry includes exposure to bioaerosols. This study aimed to characterize concentrations of three types of bioaerosols utilizing a novel fluorescence-based direct-reading instrument during seven activities that HHCWs typically encounter in patients’ homes. Bioaerosols were measured in an indoor residence throughout all seasons in Cincinnati, OH, USA. A fluorescence-based direct-reading instrument (InstaScope, DetectionTek, Boulder, CO, USA) was utilized for all data collection. Total particle counts and concentrations for each particle type, including fluorescent and non-fluorescent particles, were utilized to form the response variable, a normalized concentration calculated as a ratio of concentration during activity to the background concentration. Walking experiments produced a median concentration ratio of 52.45 and 2.77 for pollen and fungi, respectively. Fungi and bacteria produced the highest and lowest median concentration ratios of 17.81 and 1.90 for showering, respectively. Lastly, our current study showed that sleeping activity did not increase bioaerosol concentrations. We further conclude that utilizing direct-reading methods may save time and effort in bioaerosol-exposure assessment.
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Affiliation(s)
- Vishal D. Nathu
- Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA; (V.D.N.); (J.V.); (M.B.R.)
| | - Jurate Virkutyte
- Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA; (V.D.N.); (J.V.); (M.B.R.)
| | - Marepalli B. Rao
- Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA; (V.D.N.); (J.V.); (M.B.R.)
| | - Marina Nieto-Caballero
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0428, USA; (M.N.-C.); (M.H.)
| | - Mark Hernandez
- Department of Environmental Engineering, College of Engineering & Applied Science, University of Colorado Boulder, Boulder, CO 80309-0428, USA; (M.N.-C.); (M.H.)
| | - Tiina Reponen
- Department of Environmental & Public Health Sciences, College of Medicine, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0056, USA; (V.D.N.); (J.V.); (M.B.R.)
- Correspondence:
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14
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Song L, Zhou J, Wang C, Meng G, Li Y, Jarin M, Wu Z, Xie X. Airborne pathogenic microorganisms and air cleaning technology development: A review. JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS 2022; 424:127429. [PMID: 34688006 DOI: 10.1016/j.jhazmat.2021.127429] [Citation(s) in RCA: 18] [Impact Index Per Article: 9.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/02/2021] [Revised: 09/30/2021] [Accepted: 10/01/2021] [Indexed: 06/13/2023]
Abstract
Transmission of pathogens through air is a critical pathway for the spread of airborne diseases, as airborne pathogenic microorganisms cause several harmful infections. This review summarizes the occurrence, transmission, and adverse impacts of airborne pathogenic microorganisms that spread over large distances via bioaerosols. Air cleaning technologies have demonstrated great potential to prevent and reduce the spread of airborne diseases. The recent advances in air cleaning technologies are summarized on the basis of their advantages, disadvantages, and adverse health effects with regard to the inactivation mechanisms. The application scope and energy consumption of different technologies are compared, and the characteristics of air cleaners in the market are discussed. The development of high-efficiency, low-cost, dynamic air cleaning technology is identified as the leading research direction of air cleaning. Furthermore, future research perspectives are discussed and further development of current air cleaning technologies is proposed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Lu Song
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Jianfeng Zhou
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, USA
| | - Can Wang
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China.
| | - Ge Meng
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Yunfei Li
- Tianjin Key Lab of Indoor Air Environmental Quality Control, Tianjin, PR China; School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Tianjin University, Tianjin, PR China
| | - Mourin Jarin
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, USA
| | - Ziyan Wu
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, USA
| | - Xing Xie
- School of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Georgia Institute of Technology, GA, USA.
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15
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Mishra D, Yadav R, Pratap Singh R, Taneja A, Tiwari R, Khare P. The incorporation of lemongrass oil into chitosan-nanocellulose composite for bioaerosol reduction in indoor air. ENVIRONMENTAL POLLUTION (BARKING, ESSEX : 1987) 2021; 285:117407. [PMID: 34049138 DOI: 10.1016/j.envpol.2021.117407] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/24/2020] [Revised: 04/30/2021] [Accepted: 05/16/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The bioaerosols present in indoor air play a major role in the transmission of infectious diseases to humans, therefore concern about their exposure is increased recently. In this regard, the present investigation described the preparation of lemongrass essential oil (LGEO) loaded chitosan and cellulose nanofibers composites (CH/CNF) for controlling the indoor air bioaerosol. The evaluation of the inhibitory effect of the composite system on culturable bacteria of the indoor air was done at different sites (air volume from 30 m3 to 80 m3) and in different size fractions of aerosol (<0.25 μm-2.5 μm). The composite system had high encapsulation efficiency (88-91%) and citrals content. A significant reduction in culturable bacteria of aerosol (from 6.23 log CFUm-3 to 2.33 log CFUm-3) was observed in presence of cellulose nanofibers and chitosan composites. The bacterial strains such as Staphylococcus sp., Bacillus cereus, Bacillus pseudomycoides sp., Pseudomonas otitidis, and Pseudomonas sp. Cf0-3 in bioaerosols were inhibited dominantly due to the diffusion of aroma molecules in indoor air. The results indicate that the interaction of diffused aroma molecule from the composite system with bacterial strains enhanced the production of ROS, resulting in loss of membrane integrity of bacterial cells. Among different size fractions of aerosol, the composite system was more effective in finer size fractions (<0.25 μm) of aerosol due to the interaction of smaller aroma compounds with bacterial cells. The study revealed that LGEO loaded chitosan and cellulose nanofibers composites could be a good option for controlling the culturable bacteria even in small-sized respirable bioaerosol.
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Affiliation(s)
- Disha Mishra
- Division of Crop Production and Protection, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226 015, India
| | - Ranu Yadav
- Division of Crop Production and Protection, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226 015, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India
| | - Raghvendra Pratap Singh
- Division of Crop Production and Protection, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226 015, India
| | - Ajay Taneja
- Department of Chemistry, Dr B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra, 282002, India
| | - Rahul Tiwari
- Department of Chemistry, Dr B.R. Ambedkar University, Agra, 282002, India
| | - Puja Khare
- Division of Crop Production and Protection, CSIR-Central Institute of Medicinal and Aromatic Plants, Lucknow, 226 015, India; Academy of Scientific and Innovative Research (AcSIR), Ghaziabad, 201002, India.
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16
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Loading Rates of Dust and Bioburden in Dwellings in an Inland City of Southern Europe. ATMOSPHERE 2021. [DOI: 10.3390/atmos12030378] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/25/2022]
Abstract
Sampling campaigns indoors have shown that occupants exposed to contaminated air generally exhibit diverse health outcomes. This study intends to assess the deposition rates of total settleable dust and bioburden in the indoor air of dwellings onto quartz fiber filters and electrostatic dust collectors (EDCs), respectively. EDC extracts were inoculated onto malt extract agar (MEA) and dichloran glycerol (DG18) agar-based media used for fungal contamination characterization, while tryptic soy agar (TSA) was applied for total bacteria assessment, and violet red bile agar (VRBA) for Gram-negative bacteria. Azole-resistance screening and molecular detection by qPCR was also performed. Dust loading rates ranged from 0.111 to 3.52, averaging 0.675 μg cm−2 day−1. Bacterial counts ranged from undetectable to 16.3 colony-forming units (CFU) m−2 day−1 and to 2.95 CFU m−2 day−1 in TSA and VRBA, respectively. Fungal contamination ranged from 1.97 to 35.4 CFU m−2 day−1 in MEA, and from undetectable to 48.8 CFU m−2 day−1 in DG18. Penicillium sp. presented the highest prevalence in MEA media (36.2%) and Cladosporium sp. in DG18 (39.2%). It was possible to observe: (a) settleable dust loadings and fungal contamination higher in dwellings with pets; (b) fungal species considered indicators of harmful fungal contamination; (c) Aspergillus section Candidi identified in supplemented media with voriconazole and posaconazole; (d) specific housing typologies and (e) specific housing characteristics influencing the microbial contamination.
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17
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Gall ET, Mishra AK, Li J, Schiavon S, Laguerre A. Impact of Cognitive Tasks on CO 2 and Isoprene Emissions from Humans. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:139-148. [PMID: 33301299 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c03850] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The human body emits a wide range of chemicals, including CO2 and isoprene. To examine the impact of cognitive tasks on human emission rates of CO2 and isoprene, we conducted an across-subject, counterbalanced study in a controlled chamber involving 16 adults. The chamber replicated an office environment. In groups of four, participants engaged in 30 min each of cognitive tasks (stressed activity) and watching nature documentaries (relaxed activity). Measured biomarkers indicated higher stress levels were achieved during the stressed activity. Per-person CO2 emission rates were greater for stressed than relaxed activity (30.3 ± 2.1 vs 27.0 ± 1.7 g/h/p, p = 0.0044, mean ± standard deviation). Isoprene emission rates were also elevated under stressed versus relaxed activity (154 ± 25 μg/h/p vs 116 ± 20 μg/h/p, p = 0.041). The chamber temperature was held constant at 26.2 ± 0.49 °C; incidental variation in temperature did not explain the variance in emission rates. Isoprene emission rates increased linearly with salivary α-amylase levels (r2 = 0.6, p = 0.02). These results imply the possibility of considering cognitive tasks when determining building ventilation rates. They also present the possibility of monitoring indicators of cognitive tasks of occupants through measurement of air quality.
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Affiliation(s)
- Elliott T Gall
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
| | - Asit Kumar Mishra
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore, Singapore 138602
| | - Jiayu Li
- Berkeley Education Alliance for Research in Singapore, Singapore 138602
| | - Stefano Schiavon
- Center for the Built Environment, University of California, Berkeley, California 94720-2284, United States
| | - Aurélie Laguerre
- Department of Mechanical and Materials Engineering, Portland State University, Portland, Oregon 97201, United States
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18
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Yang S, Bekö G, Wargocki P, Williams J, Licina D. Human Emissions of Size-Resolved Fluorescent Aerosol Particles: Influence of Personal and Environmental Factors. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY 2021; 55:509-518. [PMID: 33337850 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.0c06304] [Citation(s) in RCA: 16] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 05/04/2023]
Abstract
Human emissions of fluorescent aerosol particles (FAPs) can influence the biological burden of indoor air. Yet, quantification of FAP emissions from human beings remains limited, along with a poor understanding of the underlying emission mechanisms. To reduce the knowledge gap, we characterized human emissions of size-segregated FAPs (1-10 μm) and total particles in a climate chamber with low-background particle levels. We probed the influence of several personal factors (clothing coverage and age) and environmental parameters (level of ozone, air temperature, and relative humidity) on particle emissions from human volunteers. A material-balance model showed that the mean emission rate ranged 5.3-16 × 106 fluorescent particles per person-h (0.30-1.2 mg per person-h), with a dominant size mode within 3-5 μm. Volunteers wearing long-sleeve shirts and pants produced 40% more FAPs relative to those wearing t-shirts and shorts. Particle emissions varied across the age groups: seniors (average age 70.5 years) generated 50% fewer FAPs compared to young adults (25.0 years) and teenagers (13.8 years). While we did not observe a measurable influence of ozone (0 vs 40 ppb) on human FAP emissions, there was a strong influence of relative humidity (34 vs 62%), with FAP emissions decreasing by 30-60% at higher humidity.
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Affiliation(s)
- Shen Yang
- Human-Oriented Built Environment Lab, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
| | - Gabriel Bekö
- International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Pawel Wargocki
- International Centre for Indoor Environment and Energy, Department of Civil Engineering, Technical University of Denmark, 2800 Lyngby, Denmark
| | - Jonathan Williams
- Max Planck Institute for Chemistry, Hahn-Meitner Weg 1, 55128 Mainz, Germany
- Energy, Environment and Water Research Center, The Cyprus Institute, 2121 Nicosia, Cyprus
| | - Dusan Licina
- Human-Oriented Built Environment Lab, School of Architecture, Civil and Environmental Engineering, École Polytechnique Fédérale de Lausanne (EPFL), 1015 Lausanne, Switzerland
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