Ultrafine and Fine Particulate Matter Inside and Outside of Mechanically Ventilated Buildings

Prenatal Ambient Ultrafine Particle Exposure and Childhood Asthma in the Northeastern United States

Rationale: Ambient ultrafine particles (UFPs; with an aerodynamic diameter < 0.1 μm) may exert greater toxicity than other pollution components because of their enhanced oxidative capacity and ability to translocate systemically. Studies examining associations between prenatal UFP exposure and childhood asthma remain sparse. Objectives: We used daily UFP exposure estimates to identify windows of susceptibility of prenatal UFP exposure related to asthma in children, accounting for sex-specific effects. Methods: Analyses included 376 mother-child dyads followed since pregnancy. Daily UFP exposure during pregnancy was estimated by using a spatiotemporally resolved particle number concentration prediction model. Bayesian distributed lag interaction models were used to identify windows of susceptibility for UFP exposure and examine whether effect estimates varied by sex. Incident asthma was determined at the first report of asthma (3.6 ± 3.2 yr). Covariates included maternal age, education, race, and obesity; child sex; nitrogen dioxide (NO2) and temperature averaged over gestation; and postnatal UFP exposure. Measurements and Main Results: Women were 37.8% Black and 43.9% Hispanic, with 52.9% reporting having an education at the high school level or lower; 18.4% of children developed asthma. The cumulative odds ratio (95% confidence interval) for incident asthma per doubling of the UFP exposure concentration across pregnancy was 4.28 (1.41-15.7), impacting males and females similarly. Bayesian distributed lag interaction models indicated sex differences in the windows of susceptibility, with the highest risk of asthma seen in females exposed to higher UFP concentrations during late pregnancy. Conclusions: Prenatal UFP exposure was associated with asthma development in children, independent of correlated ambient NO2 and temperature. Findings will benefit future research and policy-makers who are considering appropriate regulations to reduce the adverse effects of UFPs on child respiratory health.

Ventilation Systems and Their Impact on Nanoparticle Concentrations in Office Buildings

Nanoparticles (NPs) can infiltrate indoor environments and have a large impact on human health when inhaled. Thus, indoor air quality is highly dependent on the outdoor air and on the filters used in the ventilation systems. In the NanoOffice study, the concentrations and the size distribution of NPs were measured with a five-minute time resolution in twelve office buildings in Umeå. Measurements were taken with an SMPS 3938 during a one-week period in the heating and nonheating seasons. Large differences in ventilation between buildings appeared, despite the fact that similar MVHR ventilation systems were used, and most of them were equipped with F7 filters. The NP concentrations and the simultaneous ventilation flows were measured in buildings with a variable and a more constant ventilation flow. In some cases, an increase in NP concentration could be seen after ventilation turn-on or after an increase in the ventilation flow. There was also one case where the NP concentrations increased in connection with the ventilation being switched off or reducing its flow. However, variable NP concentrations were also shown in buildings with a fairly constant ventilation flow, which was prominent for the two buildings located closest to busy streets. The correlation coefficients between the ventilation flow and particles in different size classes were in general smallest for particles in the smallest size classes, indicating higher filtration efficiency.

The Effects of Ventilation and Filtration on Indoor PM2.5 in Office Buildings in Four Countries

Fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) is an airborne pollutant associated with negative acute and chronic human health outcomes. Although the majority of PM_2.5 research has focused on outdoor exposures, people spend the majority of their time indoors, where PM_2.5 of outdoor origin can penetrate. In this work, we measured indoor PM_2.5 continuously for one year in 37 urban commercial offices with mechanical or mixed-mode ventilation in China, India, the United Kingdom, and the United States. We found that indoor PM_2.5 concentrations were generally higher when and where outdoor PM_2.5 was elevated. In India and China, mean workday indoor PM_2.5 levels exceeded the World Health Organization's 24-hour exposure guideline of 25 µg/m³ about 17% and 27% of the time, respectively. Our statistical models found evidence that the operation of mechanical ventilation systems could mitigate the intrusion of outdoor PM_2.5: during standard work hours, a 10 µg/m³ increase in outdoor PM_2.5 was associated with 19.9% increase in the expected concentration of indoor PM_2.5 (p<0.0001), compared to a larger 23.4% increase during non-work hours (p<0.0001). Finally, our models found that using filters with ratings of MERV 13-14 or MERV 15+ was associated with a 30.9% (95% CI: -55.0%, +6.2%) or 39.4% (95% CI: -62.0%, -3.4%) reduction of indoor PM_2.5, respectively, compared to filters with lower MERV 7-12 ratings. Our results demonstrate the potential efficacy of mechanical ventilation with efficient filtration as a public health strategy to protect workers from PM_2.5 exposure, particularly where outdoor levels of PM_2.5 are elevated.

Impact of Outdoor Air Pollution on Indoor Air Quality in Low-Income Homes during Wildfire Seasons

Indoor and outdoor number concentrations of fine particulate matter (PM2.5), black carbon (BC), carbon monoxide (CO), and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) were monitored continuously for two to seven days in 28 low-income homes in Denver, Colorado, during the 2016 and 2017 wildfire seasons. In the absence of indoor sources, all outdoor pollutant concentrations were higher than indoors except for CO. Results showed that long-range wildfire plumes elevated median indoor PM2.5 concentrations by up to 4.6 times higher than outdoors. BC, CO, and NO2 mass concentrations were higher indoors in homes closer to roadways compared to those further away. Four of the homes with mechanical ventilation systems had 18% higher indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratios of PM2.5 and 4% higher I/O ratios of BC compared to other homes. Homes with exhaust stove hoods had PM2.5 I/O ratios 49% less than the homes with recirculating hoods and 55% less than the homes with no stove hoods installed. Homes with windows open for more than 12 hours a day during sampling had indoor BC 2.4 times higher than homes with windows closed. This study provides evidence that long-range wildfire plumes, road proximity, and occupant behavior have a combined effect on indoor air quality in low-income homes.

Human occupant contribution to secondary aerosol mass in the indoor environment

Humans impact indoor air quality directly via emissions from skin, breath, or personal care products, and indirectly via reactions of oxidants with skin constituents, or with skin that has been shed. However, separating the influence of the many emissions and their oxidation products from the influence of outdoor-originated aerosols has been a challenge. Indoor and outdoor aerosols were alternatively sampled at 4 minute time resolution with a high-resolution time-of-flight aerosol mass spectrometer (HR-ToF-AMS) in a classroom with student occupants at regular intervals per university class schedule. Mass spectral analysis showed aerosol enhancements of oxidized and unoxidized hydrocarbon ion families during occupied periods, especially at ion fragments larger than m/z 100 and double bond equivalents consistent with squalene (C30H50) and its oxidized products from reaction with ozone, indicative of the secondary nature of the aerosol mass. Individual hydrocarbon mass fragments consistent with squalene fragmentation, including C5H9+, and C6H9+ were especially enhanced with room occupancy. Emissions of individual organic fragment ions were estimated using a model accounting for outdoor aerosols and air exchange. This showed occupancy related emissions at smaller fragments (C3H5+, C4H9+) that despite reflecting mostly outdoor-originated aerosols transported indoors, also show enhancements from occupant emissions indoors. Total emission of all fragments was 17.6 μg β-1 h-1 above unoccupied levels, translating to approximately 25% increase in organic aerosol mass concentration in the classroom during an occupied hour with a median occupied ozone loss (β). Human occupants, therefore, represent an additional mass burden of organic aerosol, especially in poorly ventilated or highly occupied indoor spaces.

Healthy Air, Healthy Brains: Advancing Air Pollution Policy to Protect Children's Health

Evidence is growing on the adverse neurodevelopmental effects of exposure to combustion-related air pollution. Project TENDR (Targeting Environmental Neurodevelopmental Risks), a unique collaboration of leading scientists, health professionals, and children's and environmental health advocates, has identified combustion-related air pollutants as critical targets for action to protect healthy brain development. We present policy recommendations for maintaining and strengthening federal environmental health protections, advancing state and local actions, and supporting scientific research to inform effective strategies for reducing children's exposures to combustion-related air pollution. Such actions not only would improve children's neurological development but also would have the important co-benefit of climate change mitigation and further improvements in other health conditions.

Adenovirus behavior in air handling unit fiberglass filters

Viral aerosols can lead to respiratory viral infections with high infectivity. About 90% of people's time is spent in closed environments. A few studies have pointed out that the ventilation systems in air handling units (AHUs) that treat and transmit a new synthetic clean and conditioned environment can also spread and transport viral particles in buildings. The aim of this work is to study the characterization of adenovirus, a DNA non-enveloped respiratory virus, on the F7 fiberglass filter used in AHUs. In this study, an experimental setup simulating an AHU was used. The SYBR^® QPCR, Electrical Low-Pressure Impactor (ELPI™) and Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer (SMPS™) were used to detect, measure and characterize the aerosolized adenovirus solution. The characterization results showed that the nebulized adenovirus could be aerosolized in different forms associated or not with cell debris and proteins. The quantification and level of infectivity of adenovirus demonstrated that viruses passed through filters and remained infectious up- and downstream of the system during the 25 min of aerosolization. This study showed that AHUs should be considered an indoor source of viral contamination.

Indoor-outdoor association of particulate matter and bounded elemental composition within coarse, quasi-accumulation and quasi-ultrafine ranges in residential areas of northern India

Attempts have been made to comprehend size distribution pattern of Particulate Matter (PM) and associated elemental concentration within coarse (2.5-10μm), quasi-accumulation (q-Acc) (0.25-2.5μm) and quasi-ultrafine (q-UF) (<0.25μm) ranges at indoors and outdoors of residential homes of Agra. Overall, the average mass concentrations of PM₁₀ and PM_2.5 in indoors were found to be 263.24±59.24 and 212.01±38.06μgm^-3 while in outdoors the concentrations accounted to 194.28±15.25 and 152.88±16.31μgm^-3 respectively; exceeding WHO standards. In view of geographical variation, significantly higher (t=2.461; P=0.044) PM mass was found in outdoor samples of roadside location when compared to homes located far away from busy traffic; whereas indoor concentration exhibited non-significant relationship (t=1.887; P=0.095) between the two categorized homes. Findings of size partitioning trend through deployment of Sioutas Cascade Impactor evidenced presence of high proportion of PM and elemental concentrations within q-Acc and q-UF modes with their distribution pattern and probable emission sources conferred upon. Absence of modal peak in coarse range indicated predominance of anthropogenic emissions with presumed wash-out of coarse particles during frequent precipitation coincidental with sampling event. Seeming modal shifts for some elements (K, Cd, Zn) from q-Acc to q-UF were perceived during infiltration process. Presence of high traffic emission in homes near busy road stemmed the shifting of particles (Cu, K, Co, Zn) towards finer size (preferably q-UF mode) thus exposing residents to adverse health effects through their penetration (Finf=0.14) into indoor environment. Flat slopes (0.11) and poor correlation (8.4%) for metals in coarser range obtained through regression model hypothesized their high deposition velocities and low penetration efficiency. Our findings suggest enhanced resident exposure to fine particles (81%) especially q-UF range (37%) through indoor and outdoor (through infiltration) sources along with complexity of size distribution of airborne particles that prerequisites surplus consideration to achieve a healthier environment within residential area.