Liquid crystal monomers in ventilation and air conditioning dust: Indoor characteristics, sources analysis and toxicity assessment

Indoor dust contaminated with liquid crystal monomers (LCMs) released from various commercial liquid crystal display (LCD) screens may pose environmental health risks to humans. This study aimed to investigate the occurrence of 64 LCMs in ventilation and air conditioning filters (VACF) dust, characterize their composition profiles, potential sources, and associations with indoor characteristics, and assess their in vitro toxicity using the human lung bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B). A total of 31 LCMs with concentrations (ΣLCMs) ranging from 43.7 ng/g to 448 ng/g were detected in the collected VACF dust. Additional analysis revealed the potential interactions between indoor environmental conditions and human exposure risks associated with the detected LCMs in VACF dust. The service area and working time of the ventilation and air conditioning system, and the number of indoor LCD screens were positively correlated with the fluorinated ΣLCMs in VACF dust (r = 0.355 ∼ 0.511, p < 0.05), while the associations with the non-fluorinated ΣLCMs were not found (p > 0.05), suggesting different environmental behavior and fates of fluorinated and non-fluorinated LCMs in the indoor environment. Four main indoor sources of LCMs (i.e., computer (37.1%), television (28.3%), Brand A smartphone (21.2%) and Brand S smartphone (13.4%)) were identified by positive matrix factorization-multiple linear regression (PMF-MLR). Exposure to 14 relatively frequently detected LCMs, individually and in the mixture, induced significant oxidative stress in BEAS-2B cells. Among them, non-fluorinated LCMs, specifically 3cH2B and MeP3bcH, caused dominant decreased cell viability. This study provides new insights into the indoor LCMs pollution and the associated potential health risks due to the daily use of electronic devices.

Feasibility of High-Frequency Monitoring of the Home Environment and Health in Older Adults: Proof of Concept

Technology provides new opportunities to understand and optimize the relationship between the home indoor environmental quality and health outcomes in older adults. We aimed to establish proof-of-concept and feasibility of remote, real-time, high-frequency, and simultaneous monitoring of select environmental variables and outcomes related to health and wellbeing in older adults. Thirty-four participants (27 were female) with an average age (SD) of 81 years (±7.1) were recruited from community and supportive housing environments. Environmental sensors were installed in each home and participants were asked to use a wearable device on their finger and answer smartphone-based questionnaires on a daily basis. Further, a subgroup of participants were asked to complete tablet-based cognitive tests on a daily basis. Average compliance with the wearable (time worn properly / total time with device) was 81%. Participants responded to 69% of daily smartphone surveys and completed 80% of the prescribed cognitive tests. These results suggest that it is feasible to study the impact of the home thermal environment and air quality on biological rhythms, cognition, and other outcomes in older adults. However, the success of non-passive data collection elements may be contingent upon baseline cognition.

Lighting requirements of dwellings: a comparison between Russian federation and Italy

Good lighting is a key factor for indoor health and wellness. Hygienic regulations regarding illumination requirements have been elaborated much time ago and in different countries. The authors describe these requirements in Italy and in the Russian Federation, analysing their contents and issues and comparing them. The results show that the Russian ones are updated, more precise and complete. In conclusion, the authors stress the strong need for a revision and update of the specific Italian hygienic and sanitary regulations.

Organophosphate esters flame retardants in the indoor environment

Concentrations of 13 organophosphate ester flame retardants (OPEs) were measured in air, dust and window wipes from 63 homes in Canada, the Czech Republic and the United States in the spring and summer of 2013 to look for abundances, differences among regions, and partitioning behavior. In general, we observed the highest concentrations for halogenated OPEs, particularly TCEP, TCIPP and TDCIPP, and also non-halogenated TPHP. Differences between regions strongly depended on the matrix. The concentrations of OPEs in dust were significantly higher in the US than in Canada (CAN) and Czech Republic (CZ). CZ had the highest concentrations in window film and CAN in air. ΣOPE concentrations were 2-3 and 1-2 orders of magnitude greater than ΣBFRs in air, and dust and window films, respectively. We found a significant relationship between the concentrations in dust and air, and between the concentrations in window film and air for OPEs with log K_OA values <12, suggesting that equilibrium was reached for these compounds but not for those with log K_OA>12. This hypothesis was confirmed by a large discrepancy between values predicted using a partitioning model and the measured values for OPEs with log K_OA values >12.

Health inequalities and inadequate housing: the case of exceptions to hygienic requirements for dwellings in Italy

In the past decades, Italian hygienic requirements for dwellings have been modified by multiple derogations. Aim of the present work is to analyse the derogations introduced at a national, regional, and local level. The most important derogations were related to the habitable use of semi-basements and garrets, and building restoration. The paper also describes the regulations regarding indemnity for infringement of building abuses. The authors underline the need for more uniformity and clarity in the determination of health standards of dwellings, as well as for a simplification of the existing legislation.

Measuring and Characterizing Tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) Phosphate Emission from Open Cell Spray Polyurethane Foam

Understanding emission of Tris(2-chloro-1-methylethyl) Phosphate (TCPP) from spray polyurethane foam (SPF) insulation will contribute to the assessment of exposure to TCPP in indoor environments. This study aims to: (1) develop a method to determine the gas phase concentration of TCPP in equilibrium with the material phase (y₀) for open cell SPF, (2) determine the partition coefficient for TCPP between air and SPF (K), and (3) examine the influence of temperature on y₀ and K. The emission of TCPP from two kinds of open cell SPF in a closed micro-chamber without flow are being tested. The steady-state gas phase TCPP concentration in the chamber (C _equ) is also being measured. C_{m 0} (the initial concentration of TCPP in SPF) is measured using a solvent extraction method. C _equ and C _m0 will then be used to determine y₀. These measurements are still in progress, and the preliminary results will be presented at the conference.