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Cheng CA, Ching TC, Tsai SW, Chuang KJ, Chuang HC, Chang TY. Exposure and health risk assessment of indoor volatile organic compounds in a medical university. ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH 2022; 213:113644. [PMID: 35697085 DOI: 10.1016/j.envres.2022.113644] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/26/2021] [Revised: 03/26/2022] [Accepted: 06/06/2022] [Indexed: 06/15/2023]
Abstract
Many volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are used for experiments at universities, and most of them contain benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, xylene, and an extraction solvent of dichloromethane. This study aimed to investigate the indoor concentrations of these five compounds in different locations on campus and to evaluate possible health risks for faculty members and students in a medical university. We selected 10 locations as sampling sites to conduct 4-h monitoring sessions on weekdays each season during 2019-2020. We used a 6-liter canister to collect air samples and analyzed these five VOCs via gas chromatography with a flame ionization detector. Monte Carlo simulation was performed to evaluate the carcinogenic and noncarcinogenic risks of these five VOCs. We found that dichloromethane was the most highly detected compound (median: 621.07 μg/m3; range: 44.01-8523.91 μg/m3), and the Department of Medicine had the highest concentration of the total of these VOCs among all of the locations (median: 5595.29 μg/m3; range: 1565.67-7398.66 μg/m3). The median carcinogenic risks of dichloromethane and benzene were 6.36 × 10-5 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 6.83 × 10-6-7.37 × 10-4) and 5.47 × 10-6 (95% CI: 4.03 × 10-7-2.42 × 10-5), respectively, for faculty members, and the lower risks of 3.14 × 10-5 (95% CI: 3.39 × 10-6-3.64 × 10-4) and 2.69 × 10-6 (95% CI: 1.97 × 10-7-1.19 × 10-5) were estimated for the students. The chronic noncarcinogenic risks of four VOCs were less than one, except for dichloromethane with a median hazard index of 1.92 (95% CI: 2.11 × 10-1-2.22 × 101). This study observed the spatial variation in the concentrations of the total of five VOCs and dichloromethane. The carcinogenic risks were classified as being at the possible level, and the noncarcinogenic risk of dichloromethane was greater than the acceptable level. Increasing local exhaust ventilation during the experiment and reducing the using amount of dichloromethane are recommended actions to reduce VOCs exposures in the medical university.
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Affiliation(s)
- Chieh-An Cheng
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Ting-Chun Ching
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan
| | - Shih-Wei Tsai
- Institute of Environmental and Occupational Health Sciences, College of Public Health, National Taiwan University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Kai-Jen Chuang
- Department of Public Health, School of Medicine, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; School of Public Health, College of Public Health and Nutrition, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan
| | - Hsiao-Chi Chuang
- School of Respiratory Therapy, College of Medicine, Taipei Medical University, Taipei, Taiwan; Division of Pulmonary Medicine, Department of Internal Medicine, Shuang Ho Hospital, Taipei Medical University, New Taipei City, Taiwan
| | - Ta-Yuan Chang
- Department of Occupational Safety and Health, College of Public Health, China Medical University, Taichung, Taiwan.
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Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare Units—A Systematic Literature Review Focusing Recent Research. SUSTAINABILITY 2022. [DOI: 10.3390/su14020967] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 12/15/2022]
Abstract
The adequate assessment and management of indoor air quality in healthcare facilities is of utmost importance for patient safety and occupational health purposes. This study aims to identify the recent trends of research on the topic through a systematic literature review following the preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses (PRISMA) methodology. A total of 171 articles published in the period 2015–2020 were selected and analyzed. Results show that there is a worldwide growing research interest in this subject, dispersed in a wide variety of scientific journals. A textometric analysis using the IRaMuTeQ software revealed four clusters of topics in the sampled articles: physicochemical pollutants, design and management of infrastructures, environmental control measures, and microbiological contamination. The studies focus mainly on hospital facilities, but there is also research interest in primary care centers and dental clinics. The majority of the analyzed articles (85%) report experimental data, with the most frequently measured parameters being related to environmental quality (temperature and relative humidity), microbiological load, CO2 and particulate matter. Non-compliance with the WHO guidelines for indoor air quality is frequently reported. This study provides an overview of the recent literature on this topic, identifying promising lines of research to improve indoor air quality in healthcare facilities.
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Rautiainen P, Ruokolainen J, Saarinen P, Pasanen P, Hyttinen M. Emissions, airflow patterns and modeling of test compounds in controlled hospital environments. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2021; 31:374-388. [PMID: 31455092 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2019.1657562] [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: 07/12/2019] [Accepted: 08/15/2019] [Indexed: 06/10/2023]
Abstract
Spreading and distribution of selected volatile organic compounds (VOCs) released as point source emissions in a hospital environment were investigated in two office rooms and two patient rooms. Six tracer compounds were released from six locations and their concentrations were measured in five sampling sites during two consecutive days. The air flow rates, velocity and flow direction, air temperature, pressure differences between adjacent rooms, and relative humidity and concentrations of the tracer compounds were measured. The results revealed that the size of the examined space and ventilation rates, the monitoring point should be either close to the exhaust terminal device or in the middle of the occupied zone the way that supply air flows do not interfere the measurements. Depending on the inlet terminal device and its location, the air is either delivered parallel to the ceiling or it can be directed to a desired spot into the occupied zone. The tracer compounds did spread evenly within the room and their concentrations decreased inversely with the distance. In rooms with a good ventilation, the concentrations at the exhaust air terminal units were close to those measured near the source point. The results obtained from modeling were consistent with the measurements.
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Affiliation(s)
- Paavo Rautiainen
- Department of Building Management, Kuopio University Hospital, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Joonas Ruokolainen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Pekka Saarinen
- Engineering and Business, Turku University of Applied Sciences, Turku, Finland
| | - Pertti Pasanen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
| | - Marko Hyttinen
- Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland, Kuopio, Finland
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Peng X, Jiang M, Wang X, Li D, Sun S, Shao Y, Zheng Y. Photocatalytic purification of contaminated air in intensive care units by ZnSn(OH) 6 nanoparticles. ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE AND POLLUTION RESEARCH INTERNATIONAL 2021; 28:31770-31777. [PMID: 33611731 DOI: 10.1007/s11356-021-12970-2] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/18/2020] [Accepted: 02/10/2021] [Indexed: 06/12/2023]
Abstract
The air purification in intensive care units (ICU) involving the removal of smog and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), disinfection, and sterilization are closely linked to important health issues. The environmental photocatalysis technology that could decompose gaseous pollutants into small molecular inorganic substances provides the potential solution. In a chamber of 30-m3 simulated ICU, photocatalytic purifier with ZnSn(OH)6 nanoparticles photocatalyst is set up to treat 10 VOCs with concentration below 2 ppm. Compared with regular purifiers of plasma and activated carbon, the present photocatalytic purifier can completely eliminate 10 varieties of low-concentration irritating VOCs without CO production. The continuous tests show that loading of 600 g ZnSn(OH)6 has capacity to treat large volumes of VOCs and remains high removal efficiencies up to 600-h operation. The results suggest that the photocatalytic purifier could be potentially applied for the treatment of contaminated indoor air particularly ICU. The mechanism of ZnSn(OH)6 photocatalysis is proposed to interpret the high performance and mineralization of the degradation process.
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Affiliation(s)
- Xinyi Peng
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Research Institute of Photocatalysis, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, People's Republic of China
| | - Mengmeng Jiang
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Research Institute of Photocatalysis, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, People's Republic of China
| | - Xinchen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Research Institute of Photocatalysis, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, People's Republic of China
| | - Danzhen Li
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Research Institute of Photocatalysis, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, People's Republic of China
| | - Shuhui Sun
- Institut National de la Recherche Scientifique-Énergie Matériaux et Télécommunications, Varennes, Quebec, J3X 1S2, Canada
| | - Yu Shao
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Research Institute of Photocatalysis, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, People's Republic of China.
| | - Yi Zheng
- State Key Laboratory of Photocatalysis on Energy and Environment, Research Institute of Photocatalysis, Fuzhou University, Fuzhou, 350116, People's Republic of China.
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Charlier B, Coglianese A, De Rosa F, De Caro F, Piazza O, Motta O, Borrelli A, Capunzo M, Filippelli A, Izzo V. Chemical risk in hospital settings: Overview on monitoring strategies and international regulatory aspects. J Public Health Res 2021; 10. [PMID: 33849259 PMCID: PMC8018262 DOI: 10.4081/jphr.2021.1993] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/13/2020] [Accepted: 02/17/2021] [Indexed: 01/21/2023] Open
Abstract
Chemical risk in hospital settings is a growing concern that health professionals and supervisory authorities must deal with daily. Exposure to chemical risk is quite different depending on the hospital department involved and might origin from multiple sources, such as the use of sterilizing agents, disinfectants, detergents, solvents, heavy metals, dangerous drugs, and anesthetic gases. Improving prevention procedures and constantly monitoring the presence and level of potentially toxic substances, both in workers (biological monitoring) and in working environments (environmental monitoring), might significantly reduce the risk of exposure and contaminations. The purpose of this article is to present an overview on this subject, which includes the current international regulations, the chemical pollutants to which medical and paramedical personnel are mainly exposed, and the strategies developed to improve safety conditions for all healthcare workers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bruno Charlier
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA).
| | - Albino Coglianese
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA).
| | - Federica De Rosa
- University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi D'Aragona", Salerno.
| | - Francesco De Caro
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA).
| | - Ornella Piazza
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA).
| | - Oriana Motta
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi .
| | - Anna Borrelli
- University Hospital "San Giovanni di Dio e Ruggi d'Aragona", Salerno.
| | - Mario Capunzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA).
| | - Amelia Filippelli
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA).
| | - Viviana Izzo
- Department of Medicine, Surgery and Dentistry "Scuola Medica Salernitana", University of Salerno, Baronissi (SA).
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Rautiainen P, Hyttinen M, Ruokolainen J, Saarinen P, Timonen J, Pasanen P. Indoor air-related symptoms and volatile organic compounds in materials and air in the hospital environment. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH RESEARCH 2019; 29:479-488. [PMID: 30474394 DOI: 10.1080/09603123.2018.1550194] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/19/2018] [Accepted: 11/15/2018] [Indexed: 06/09/2023]
Abstract
In this case study, hospital workers did suffer from symptoms related to the poor indoor air quality. To investigate reasons for symptoms MM40-survey and house inspection methods were performed. The study consisted of 49 operating rooms and 470 employees. MM-40 survey revealed that over 40% of the staff suffered from skin reactions, over 50% had upper respiratory tract symptoms and 25% suffered headaches. No reason for the staff's symptom could be found in the structural studies of workplaces. The mean air exchange rate of the rooms was 5.51/h. In total 61 materials and 49 indoor air samples were taken. The most frequently found compounds in the material samples were 2-ethyl-1-hexanol and aliphatic hydrocarbons. VOC emissions were high in some of the material samples and they presumably were the one reason for the workers' symptoms observed in some in of the rooms. However, indoor air VOC concentrations were low in most of the cases. According to the linear regression model emissions from flooring material couldn't explain the indoor air concentration of the VOCs. One reason for that was the high ventilation rates of the rooms, which presumably kept VOC levels in indoors low. In addition, VOC concentrations indoors were strongly related to the ongoing healthcare activities in the hospital.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marko Hyttinen
- b Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland
| | - Joonas Ruokolainen
- b Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland
| | - Pekka Saarinen
- c Turku University of Applied Sciences, Institute of Occupational Health , Turku , Finland
| | - Jussi Timonen
- d Turku University of Applied Sciences, Mittavat Oy , Pielavesi , Finland
| | - Pertti Pasanen
- b Department of Environmental and Biological Sciences, University of Eastern Finland , Kuopio , Finland
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Cincinelli A, Martellini T. Indoor Air Quality and Health. INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL RESEARCH AND PUBLIC HEALTH 2017; 14:ijerph14111286. [PMID: 29068361 PMCID: PMC5707925 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14111286] [Citation(s) in RCA: 101] [Impact Index Per Article: 14.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 10/16/2017] [Revised: 10/16/2017] [Accepted: 10/19/2017] [Indexed: 12/18/2022]
Affiliation(s)
- Alessandra Cincinelli
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino Florence, Italy.
| | - Tania Martellini
- Department of Chemistry "Ugo Schiff", University of Florence, via della Lastruccia 3, 50019 Sesto Fiorentino Florence, Italy.
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