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Lei H, Zhang N, Xiao S, Zhuang L, Yang X, Chen T, Yang L, Wang D, Li Y, Shu Y. Relative Role of Age Groups and Indoor Environments in Influenza Transmission Under Different Urbanization Rates in China. Am J Epidemiol 2024; 193:596-605. [PMID: 37946322 DOI: 10.1093/aje/kwad218] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/23/2022] [Revised: 06/20/2023] [Accepted: 11/01/2023] [Indexed: 11/12/2023] Open
Abstract
Exploring the relative role of different indoor environments in respiratory infections transmission remains unclear, which is crucial for developing targeted nonpharmaceutical interventions. In this study, a total of 2,583,441 influenza-like illness cases tested from 2010 to 2017 in China were identified. An agent-based model was built and calibrated with the surveillance data, to assess the roles of 3 age groups (children <19 years, younger adults 19-60 years, older adults >60 years) and 4 types of indoor environments (home, schools, workplaces, and community areas) in influenza transmission by province with varying urbanization rates. When the urbanization rates increased from 35% to 90%, the proportion of children aged <19 years among influenza cases decreased from 76% to 45%. Additionally, we estimated that infections originating from children decreased from 95.1% (95% confidence interval (CI): 92.7, 97.5) to 59.3% (95% CI: 49.8, 68.7). Influenza transmission in schools decreased from 80.4% (95% CI: 76.5, 84.3) to 36.6% (95% CI: 20.6, 52.5), while transmission in the community increased from 2.4% (95% CI: 1.9, 2.8) to 45.4% (95% CI: 35.9, 54.8). With increasing urbanization rates, community areas and younger adults contributed more to infection transmission. These findings could help the development of targeted public health policies. This article is part of a Special Collection on Environmental Epidemiology. This article is part of a Special Collection on Environmental Epidemiology.
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Lucas REC, da Silva LB, de Souza EL, Leite WKDS, da Silva JMN. Influence of environmental variables on students' cognitive performance in indoor higher education environments. Work 2024:WOR220055. [PMID: 38427517 DOI: 10.3233/wor-220055] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 03/03/2024] Open
Abstract
BACKGROUND Educational environments can have environmental conditions that are incompatible with the needs of students, compromising their well-being and affecting their performance. OBJECTIVE To identify the environmental variables that influence the performance of university students and measure this influence through an experiment in indoor environments. METHODS The study applied an experimental methodology for three consecutive days in seven educational environments located in different regions of Brazil, measuring the environ-mental conditions, the students' perception of the environment, and their cognitive performance. The impact of environmental variables and environmental perception on student performance was analyzed using Generalized Linear Models and a Structural Equation Model. RESULTS Students who took the test at air temperatures between 22.4°C and 24.7°C had a 74.20% chance of performing better than those outside this range. Air temperatures between 26.2°C and 29°C were associated with an 86% chance of taking less time to complete the test. High illuminance levels increased the chance of taking longer to answer the test by 41.7%. CONCLUSIONS Three environmental variables (relative humidity, lighting and air temperature) and two perceptual dimensions (light and thermal perception) directly influence student performance.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Luiz Bueno da Silva
- Department of Production Engineering, Federal University of Paraíba, João Pessoa, Brazil
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Cheng Y, Liu C, Lv Z, Liang Y, Xie Y, Wang C, Wan S, Leng X, Hu M, Zheng G. High-Resolution Mass Spectrometry Screening of Quaternary Ammonium Compounds (QACs) in Dust from Homes and Various Microenvironments in South China. Environ Sci Technol 2024. [PMID: 38276914 DOI: 10.1021/acs.est.3c09942] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 01/27/2024]
Abstract
Despite their ubiquitous use, information regarding the presence of quaternary ammonium compounds (QACs) in various microenvironments remains scarce and only a small subset of QACs has been monitored using targeted chemical analysis. In this study, a total of 111 dust samples were collected from homes and various public settings in South China during the COVID-19 pandemic and were analyzed for traditional and emerging QACs using high-resolution mass spectrometry. The total traditional QAC concentrations in residential dust (∑traditional QAC, sum of 18 traditional QACs) ranged from 13.8 to 150 μg/g with a median concentration of 42.2 μg/g. Twenty-eight emerging QACs were identified in these samples, and the composition of ∑emerging QAC (sum of emerging QACs) to ∑QAC (sum of traditional and emerging QACs) ranged from 19 to 42% across various microenvironments, indicating the widespread existence of emerging QACs in indoor environments. Additionally, dust samples from cinemas exhibited higher ∑QAC concentrations compared to homes (medians 65.9 μg/g vs 58.3 μg/g, respectively), indicating heavier emission sources of QACs in these places. Interestingly, significantly higher ∑QAC concentrations were observed in dust from the rooms with carpets than those without (medians 65.6 μg/g vs 32.6 μg/g, p < 0.05, respectively). Overall, this study sheds light on the ubiquitous occurrence of QACs in indoor environments in South China.
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Affiliation(s)
- Yao Cheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chenglin Liu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Zhong Lv
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yuge Liang
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Yichun Xie
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Chen Wang
- State Key Laboratory of Environmental Criteria and Risk Assessment, Chinese Research Academy of Environmental Sciences, Beijing 100012, China
| | - Sheng Wan
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Xinrui Leng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Min Hu
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
| | - Guomao Zheng
- Shenzhen Key Laboratory of Precision Measurement and Early Warning Technology for Urban Environmental Health Risks, School of Environmental Science and Engineering, Southern University of Science and Technology, Shenzhen 518055, China
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Chawla H, Anand P, Garg K, Bhagat N, Varmani SG, Bansal T, McBain AJ, Marwah RG. A comprehensive review of microbial contamination in the indoor environment: sources, sampling, health risks, and mitigation strategies. Front Public Health 2023; 11:1285393. [PMID: 38074709 PMCID: PMC10701447 DOI: 10.3389/fpubh.2023.1285393] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2023] [Accepted: 10/25/2023] [Indexed: 12/18/2023] Open
Abstract
The quality of the indoor environment significantly impacts human health and productivity, especially given the amount of time individuals spend indoors globally. While chemical pollutants have been a focus of indoor air quality research, microbial contaminants also have a significant bearing on indoor air quality. This review provides a comprehensive overview of microbial contamination in built environments, covering sources, sampling strategies, and analysis methods. Microbial contamination has various origins, including human occupants, pets, and the outdoor environment. Sampling strategies for indoor microbial contamination include air, surface, and dust sampling, and various analysis methods are used to assess microbial diversity and complexity in indoor environments. The review also discusses the health risks associated with microbial contaminants, including bacteria, fungi, and viruses, and their products in indoor air, highlighting the need for evidence-based studies that can relate to specific health conditions. The importance of indoor air quality is emphasized from the perspective of the COVID-19 pandemic. A section of the review highlights the knowledge gap related to microbiological burden in indoor environments in developing countries, using India as a representative example. Finally, potential mitigation strategies to improve microbiological indoor air quality are briefly reviewed.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hitikk Chawla
- Institute for Cell Biology and Neuroscience, Goethe University Frankfurt, Frankfurt, Germany
| | - Purnima Anand
- Department of Microbiology, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Kritika Garg
- Department of Biosciences and Bioengineering, Indian Institute of Technology Roorkee, Roorkee, India
| | - Neeru Bhagat
- Department of Microbiology, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Shivani G. Varmani
- Department of Biomedical Science, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
| | - Tanu Bansal
- Department of Biochemistry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi, India
| | - Andrew J. McBain
- School of Health Sciences, Faculty of Biology, Medicine and Health, The University of Manchester, Manchester, United Kingdom
| | - Ruchi Gulati Marwah
- Department of Microbiology, Bhaskaracharya College of Applied Sciences, University of Delhi, New Delhi, India
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Chauhan BV, Higgins Jones D, Banerjee G, Agrawal S, Sulaiman IM, Jia C, Banerjee P. Indoor Bacterial and Fungal Burden in "Moldy" versus "Non-Moldy" Homes: A Case Study Employing Advanced Sequencing Techniques in a US Metropolitan Area. Pathogens 2023; 12:1006. [PMID: 37623966 PMCID: PMC10457890 DOI: 10.3390/pathogens12081006] [Citation(s) in RCA: 2] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/06/2023] [Revised: 07/28/2023] [Accepted: 07/28/2023] [Indexed: 08/26/2023] Open
Abstract
The presence of fungi in the indoor environment is associated with allergies and other respiratory symptoms. The aim of this study was to use sequencing and molecular methods, including next-generation sequencing (NGS) approaches, to explore the bacterial and fungal communities and their abundance in the indoor environment of houses (n = 20) with visible "moldy" (HVM) and nonvisible "non-moldy" (HNM) in Memphis, TN, USA. Dust samples were collected from air vents and ground surfaces, and the total DNA was analyzed for bacteria and fungi by amplifying 16S rRNA and ITS genes on the Illumina Miseq. Results indicated that Leptosphaerulina was the most abundant fungal genus present in the air vent and ground samples from HNM and HVM. At the same time, the most abundant bacterial genera in the air vent and ground samples were Propionibacterium and Streptococcus. The fungi community diversity was significantly different in the air vent samples. The abundance of fungal species known to be associated with respiratory diseases in indoor dust samples was similar, regardless of the visibility of fungi in the houses. The existence of fungi associated with respiratory symptoms was compared with several parameters like dust particulate matter (PM), CO2 level, temperature, and humidity. Most of these parameters are either positively or negatively correlated with the existence of fungi associated with respiratory diseases; however, none of these correlations were significant at p = 0.05. Our results indicate that implementing molecular methods for detecting indoor fungi may strengthen common exposure and risk assessment practices.
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Affiliation(s)
- Bhavin V. Chauhan
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | | | - Goutam Banerjee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA
| | - Saumya Agrawal
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA
| | - Irshad M. Sulaiman
- Southeast Regional Laboratory, U.S. Food and Drug Administration, Atlanta, GA 30309, USA
| | - Chunrong Jia
- Division of Epidemiology, Biostatistics, and Environmental Health, School of Public Health, University of Memphis, Memphis, TN 38152, USA
| | - Pratik Banerjee
- Department of Food Science and Human Nutrition, University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign, Urbana, IL 61820, USA
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Kuevor PE, Ghaffari M, Atkins EM, Cutler JW. Fast and Noise-Resilient Magnetic Field Mapping on a Low-Cost UAV Using Gaussian Process Regression. Sensors (Basel) 2023; 23:3897. [PMID: 37112237 PMCID: PMC10143074 DOI: 10.3390/s23083897] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/01/2023] [Revised: 03/29/2023] [Accepted: 04/05/2023] [Indexed: 06/19/2023]
Abstract
This study presents a comprehensive approach to mapping local magnetic field anomalies with robustness to magnetic noise from an unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV). The UAV collects magnetic field measurements, which are used to generate a local magnetic field map through Gaussian process regression (GPR). The research identifies two categories of magnetic noise originating from the UAV's electronics, adversely affecting map precision. First, this paper delineates a zero-mean noise arising from high-frequency motor commands issued by the UAV's flight controller. To mitigate this noise, the study proposes adjusting a specific gain in the vehicle's PID controller. Next, our research reveals that the UAV generates a time-varying magnetic bias that fluctuates throughout experimental trials. To address this issue, a novel compromise mapping technique is introduced, enabling the map to learn these time-varying biases with data collected from multiple flights. The compromise map circumvents excessive computational demands without sacrificing mapping accuracy by constraining the number of prediction points used for regression. A comparative analysis of the magnetic field maps' accuracy and the spatial density of observations employed in map construction is then conducted. This examination serves as a guideline for best practices when designing trajectories for local magnetic field mapping. Furthermore, the study presents a novel consistency metric intended to determine whether predictions from a GPR magnetic field map should be retained or discarded during state estimation. Empirical evidence from over 120 flight tests substantiates the efficacy of the proposed methodologies. The data are made publicly accessible to facilitate future research endeavors.
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Affiliation(s)
- Prince E. Kuevor
- Robotics Department, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Maani Ghaffari
- Naval Architecture and Marine Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
| | - Ella M. Atkins
- Aerospace and Ocean Engineering, Virginia Tech, Blacksburg, VA 24061, USA
| | - James W. Cutler
- Aerospace Engineering, University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, MI 48109, USA
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Hagiuda R, Itagaki T, Hirose D. Aspergillus verrucosus sp. nov., a xerophilic species isolated from house dust and honey in Japan. Int J Syst Evol Microbiol 2023; 73. [PMID: 36821367 DOI: 10.1099/ijsem.0.005727] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 02/24/2023] Open
Abstract
Three strains of a xerophilic Aspergillus species were isolated from house dust and honey in Japan. A molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the combined dataset for four regions (internal transcribed spacer rDNA, calmodulin, β-tubulin, and RNA polymerase II second largest subunit) revealed that the strains formed an independent lineage, sister to Aspergillus halophilicus classified in section Restricti. Morphological comparisons show that the strains differ from A. halophilicus in three aspects: (i) the size of cleistothecia, as well as the surface structure and size of ascospores, (ii) the ability to grow on Harrold's agar and dichloran 18 % glycerol agar, and (iii) the lack of conidiophore formation on potato dextrose agar +20 % NaCl. These strains could be clearly distinguished from all known Aspergillus section Restricti species. Therefore, we consider it to be a novel species and propose the name Aspergillus verrucosus sp. nov. (NBRC 115547T).
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Affiliation(s)
- Ryo Hagiuda
- School of Pharmacy, Nihon University, 7‒7‒1 Narashinodai, Funabashi, Chiba 274‒8555, Japan
| | - Tadashi Itagaki
- School of Pharmacy, Nihon University, 7‒7‒1 Narashinodai, Funabashi, Chiba 274‒8555, Japan
| | - Dai Hirose
- School of Pharmacy, Nihon University, 7‒7‒1 Narashinodai, Funabashi, Chiba 274‒8555, Japan
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Mason L, Zagni B, Bacchin F, Frison C, Scrimin S. Children's Attentional Processes in Outdoor and Indoor Environments: The Role of Physiological Self-Regulation. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2022; 19:13141. [PMID: 36293718 PMCID: PMC9602797 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph192013141] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/24/2022] [Revised: 10/06/2022] [Accepted: 10/11/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
Previous research has documented that exposure to green spaces has the beneficial effects of attention restoration and stress reduction. This study investigated the effects of indoor (classroom) and outdoor (green school garden) environments on attentional processes in interaction with emotion and physiological self-regulation. Children in third and fourth grades (n = 42) completed a school-related emotional Stroop task assessing the effects of outdoor and indoor classroom backgrounds when facing positive and negative stimuli. Children's attentional patterns in a task completed in both environments were also assessed. Heart rate variability was registered at rest as an index of physiological self-regulation. The results revealed that children were less distracted from negative emotional materials when presented with outdoor compared with indoor background stimuli. Greater selective attention and sustained attention were shown in the green than in the classroom environment. Moreover, sustained attention varied in relation to physiological self-regulation but only when performing the task indoor.
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Wu J, Geng J, Fu M, Weng W. Multi-person movement-induced airflow and the effects on virus-laden expiratory droplet dispersion in indoor environments. Indoor Air 2022; 32:e13119. [PMID: 36168216 DOI: 10.1111/ina.13119] [Citation(s) in RCA: 0] [Impact Index Per Article: 0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/18/2022] [Revised: 09/11/2022] [Accepted: 09/12/2022] [Indexed: 06/16/2023]
Abstract
The multi-person movement might cause complex induced airflow and affect the virus-laden expiratory droplet transmission in indoor environments. Using the dynamic mesh model in computational fluid dynamics, the multi-person movement with different personnel location distributions was realized. The induced airflow patterns, virus-laden droplet dispersion, and concentration distribution were investigated in detail. The results show that multi-person movement might intensify inter-regional convection, which has been rarely found in single-person movement conditions. Side-by-side distribution and ladder distribution of moving persons could cause a connected low-pressure area behind the moving persons, which might enhance lateral virus transport, especially where droplets might suspend at the height of the breathing zone. Not only 1-10 μm aerosols but also some 20-50 μm droplets are carried by the multi-person movement-induced airflow to over 3 m. Since the width of induced airflow is about 0.6-1.0 m, moving persons should keep enough horizontal distance (>1.0 m) to limit the air mixing and virus-laden droplet transmission. This paper could provide a detailed reference for the numerical study of multi-person movement-induced airflow patterns, droplet dispersion, and indoor infection control.
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Affiliation(s)
- Jialin Wu
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Institute of Public Safety Research, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of City Integrated Emergency Response Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Jing Geng
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Institute of Public Safety Research, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of City Integrated Emergency Response Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Ming Fu
- Hefei Institute for Public Safety Research, Tsinghua University, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
- Anhui Province Key Laboratory of Human Safety, Hefei, Anhui Province, China
| | - Wenguo Weng
- Department of Engineering Physics, Tsinghua University, Institute of Public Safety Research, Beijing, China
- Beijing Key Laboratory of City Integrated Emergency Response Science, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
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Jhon J. Quiñones, Ali Doosttalab, Steven Sokolowski, Richard M. Voyles, Victor Castaño, Lucy T. Zhang, Luciano Castillo. Prediction of respiratory droplets evolution for safer academic facilities planning amid COVID-19 and future pandemics: A numerical approach. Journal of Building Engineering 2022; 54. [ DOI: 10.1016/j.jobe.2022.104593] [Citation(s) in RCA: 3] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/01/2022] [Revised: 04/06/2022] [Accepted: 04/27/2022] [Indexed: 05/29/2023]
Abstract
Airborne dispersion of the novel SARS-CoV-2 through the droplets produced during expiratory activities is one of the main transmission mechanisms of this virus from one person to another. Understanding how these droplets spread when infected humans with COVID-19 or other airborne infectious diseases breathe, cough or sneeze is essential for improving prevention strategies in academic facilities. This work aims to assess the transport and fate of droplets in indoor environments using Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD). This study employs unsteady Reynolds-Averaged Navier-Stokes (URANS) simulations with the Euler-Lagrange approach to visualize the location of thousands of droplets released in a respiratory event and their size evolution. Furthermore, we assess the dispersion of coughing, sneezing, and breathing saliva droplets from an infected source in a classroom with air conditioning and multiple occupants. The results indicate that the suggested social distancing protocol is not enough to avoid the transmission of COVID-19 since small saliva droplets ( ≤ 12 μm) can travel in the streamwise direction up to 4 m when an infected person coughs and more than 7 m when sneezes. These droplets can reach those distances even when there is no airflow from the wind or ventilation systems. The number of airborne droplets in locations close to the respiratory system of a healthy person increases when the relative humidity of the indoor environment is low. This work sets an accurate, rapid, and validated numerical framework reproducible for various indoor environments integrating qualitative and quantitative data analysis of the droplet size evolution of respiratory events for a safer design of physical distancing standards and air cleaning technologies.
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Ghamari H, Sharifi A. Mapping the Evolutions and Trends of Literature on Wayfinding in Indoor Environments. Eur J Investig Health Psychol Educ 2021; 11:585-606. [PMID: 34708826 DOI: 10.3390/ejihpe11020042] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 05/18/2021] [Revised: 06/14/2021] [Accepted: 06/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/25/2022] Open
Abstract
Research on indoor wayfinding has increased in number and significance since the 1980s. Yet, the information on wayfinding literature is now difficult to manage given its vast scope and spread across journals, institutions, disciplines, and themes. While there is an increasing number of publications within this rapidly growing field of research, there are limited review studies in the field, and there is still missing an overall analysis of the current state of wayfinding literature and its evolution. The main objective of this study is to present a bibliometric analysis of about forty years of research on indoor wayfinding to provide an overview of the research landscape. The final database of the study contained 407 publications. VOSviewer was used as a science mapping software tool to identify major focus areas and to identify influential authors, publications, and journals using various network analysis techniques, such as term co-occurrence, co-citation, and bibliographic coupling. Similar co-occurrence analysis was used to understand how the intellectual base of the field has evolved over time and what the major themes are that have contributed to this evolution. The results show that this field has initially been mainly focused on few themes but has later become more diversified to acknowledge the multi-dimensional characteristics of indoor wayfinding. While spatial knowledge acquisition and cognitive maps are still dominant core areas, there are topics, such as signage, isovists, and the use of eye-tracking and virtual reality, that still need to be further investigated.
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Qian H, Miao T, Liu L, Zheng X, Luo D, Li Y. Indoor transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Indoor Air 2021; 31:639-645. [PMID: 33131151 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12766] [Citation(s) in RCA: 194] [Impact Index Per Article: 64.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/13/2020] [Revised: 09/25/2020] [Accepted: 10/27/2020] [Indexed: 05/05/2023]
Abstract
It is essential to understand where and how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted. Case reports were extracted from the local Municipal Health Commissions of 320 prefectural municipalities in China (not including Hubei Province). We identified all outbreaks involving three or more cases and reviewed the major characteristics of the enclosed spaces in which the outbreaks were reported and their associated indoor environmental aspects. Three hundred and eighteen outbreaks with three or more cases were identified, comprising a total of 1245 confirmed cases in 120 prefectural cities. Among the identified outbreaks, 53.8% involved three cases, 26.4% involved four cases, and only 1.6% involved ten or more cases. Home-based outbreaks were the dominant category (254 of 318 outbreaks; 79.9%), followed by transport-based outbreaks (108; 34.0%), and many outbreaks occurred in more than one category of venue. All identified outbreaks of three or more cases occurred in indoor environments, which confirm that sharing indoor spaces with one or more infected persons is a major SARS-CoV-2 infection risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Qian
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Te Miao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li Liu
- School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohong Zheng
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Danting Luo
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuguo Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Abstract
It is essential to understand where and how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted. Case reports were extracted from the local Municipal Health Commissions of 320 prefectural municipalities in China (not including Hubei Province). We identified all outbreaks involving three or more cases and reviewed the major characteristics of the enclosed spaces in which the outbreaks were reported and their associated indoor environmental aspects. Three hundred and eighteen outbreaks with three or more cases were identified, comprising a total of 1245 confirmed cases in 120 prefectural cities. Among the identified outbreaks, 53.8% involved three cases, 26.4% involved four cases, and only 1.6% involved ten or more cases. Home-based outbreaks were the dominant category (254 of 318 outbreaks; 79.9%), followed by transport-based outbreaks (108; 34.0%), and many outbreaks occurred in more than one category of venue. All identified outbreaks of three or more cases occurred in indoor environments, which confirm that sharing indoor spaces with one or more infected persons is a major SARS-CoV-2 infection risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Qian
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Te Miao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li Liu
- School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohong Zheng
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Danting Luo
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuguo Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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Abstract
It is essential to understand where and how severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is transmitted. Case reports were extracted from the local Municipal Health Commissions of 320 prefectural municipalities in China (not including Hubei Province). We identified all outbreaks involving three or more cases and reviewed the major characteristics of the enclosed spaces in which the outbreaks were reported and their associated indoor environmental aspects. Three hundred and eighteen outbreaks with three or more cases were identified, comprising a total of 1245 confirmed cases in 120 prefectural cities. Among the identified outbreaks, 53.8% involved three cases, 26.4% involved four cases, and only 1.6% involved ten or more cases. Home-based outbreaks were the dominant category (254 of 318 outbreaks; 79.9%), followed by transport-based outbreaks (108; 34.0%), and many outbreaks occurred in more than one category of venue. All identified outbreaks of three or more cases occurred in indoor environments, which confirm that sharing indoor spaces with one or more infected persons is a major SARS-CoV-2 infection risk.
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Affiliation(s)
- Hua Qian
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Te Miao
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
| | - Li Liu
- School of Architecture, Tsinghua University, Beijing, China
| | - Xiaohong Zheng
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Danting Luo
- School of Energy and Environment, Southeast University, Nanjing, China
| | - Yuguo Li
- Department of Mechanical Engineering, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
- School of Public Health, The University of Hong Kong, Hong Kong, China
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15
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Stålne K, Pedersen E. Transdisciplinary Research on Indoor Environment and Health as a Social Process. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2021; 18:4379. [PMID: 33924174 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph18084379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 1] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 02/10/2021] [Revised: 04/12/2021] [Accepted: 04/15/2021] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Although issues concerning indoor environments and their interaction with humans span many disciplines, such as aerosol technology, environmental psychology, health, and building physics, they are often studied separately. This study describes a research project with the transdisciplinary aim of bridging such disciplinary boundaries. Semi-structured interviews were conducted with the twelve project members to explore their understanding of transdisciplinarity regarding the conceptual as well as social aspects of collective learning and leadership and the measures taken to achieve this. The interviews were coded in NVivo (QSR International, Doncaster, Australia), which was used to identify themes concerning notions associated with transdisciplinarity, collective leadership, collective intelligence, and learning. A shared understanding of transdisciplinarity meant that the researchers transcended their disciplinary boundaries by moving into each other’s fields. This collective learning process was facilitated by introductory lectures on each other’s fields, contributing to collective leadership and a safe atmosphere. We argue that a transdisciplinary approach is appropriate in order to address indoor environment issues as well other complex problems, for which additional time and resources should be allocated for individual and collective learning processes.
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Sánchez Espinosa KC, Almaguer Chávez M, Duarte-Escalante E, Rojas Flores TI, Frías-De-León MG, Reyes-Montes MDR. Phylogenetic Identification, Diversity, and Richness of Aspergillus from Homes in Havana, Cuba. Microorganisms 2021; 9:115. [PMID: 33418970 PMCID: PMC7825327 DOI: 10.3390/microorganisms9010115] [Citation(s) in RCA: 5] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.7] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Grants] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 12/16/2020] [Revised: 12/31/2020] [Accepted: 01/04/2021] [Indexed: 12/12/2022] Open
Abstract
Aspergillus is one of the most common fungal genera found indoors; it is important because it can cause a wide range of diseases in humans. Aspergillus species identification is based on a combination of morphological, physiological, and molecular methods. However, molecular methodologies have rarely been used for the identification of environmental isolates of Aspergillus in Cuba. Therefore, the objective of this work was to identify the species of the genus Aspergillus obtained from houses in Havana, Cuba, through the construction of phylogeny from a partial sequence of the benA gene region, and to analyze the diversity and richness of Aspergillus in the studied municipalities. Isolates of Aspergillus spp. included in this study presented the typical macro- and micromorphology described for the genus. According to this polyphasic characterization, A. niger, A. flavus, A. welwitschiae, A. heteromorphus, A. sydowii, A. tamarii, A. fumigatus, A. clavatus, and A. tubingensis were the most abundant species. Most of the identified species constitute new records for outdoor and indoor environments in Cuba and contribute to the knowledge of fungal biodiversity in the country. These results constitute an alert for the health authorities of the country, since prolonged exposure of the inhabitants to Aspergillus spores can cause severe persistent asthma, among other diseases.
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Affiliation(s)
- Kenia C. Sánchez Espinosa
- Departamento de Microbiología y Virología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Habana, 25, Número 455, Entre I y J, La Habana 10400, Cuba; (K.C.S.E.); (M.A.C.); (T.I.R.F.)
| | - Michel Almaguer Chávez
- Departamento de Microbiología y Virología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Habana, 25, Número 455, Entre I y J, La Habana 10400, Cuba; (K.C.S.E.); (M.A.C.); (T.I.R.F.)
| | - Esperanza Duarte-Escalante
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria No. 3000, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
| | - Teresa Irene Rojas Flores
- Departamento de Microbiología y Virología, Facultad de Biología, Universidad de La Habana, 25, Número 455, Entre I y J, La Habana 10400, Cuba; (K.C.S.E.); (M.A.C.); (T.I.R.F.)
| | - María Guadalupe Frías-De-León
- Hospital Regional de Alta Especialidad de Ixtapaluca, Carretera Federal México-Puebla Km. 34.5, Pueblo de Zoquiapan, Ixtapaluca 56530, Mexico;
| | - María del Rocío Reyes-Montes
- Departamento de Microbiología y Parasitología, Facultad de Medicina, Universidad Nacional Autónoma de México (UNAM), Ciudad Universitaria No. 3000, Ciudad de México 04510, Mexico;
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Liao Z, Wang W, Qi X, Zhang X. RGB-D Object SLAM Using Quadrics for Indoor Environments. Sensors (Basel) 2020; 20:s20185150. [PMID: 32917023 PMCID: PMC7571184 DOI: 10.3390/s20185150] [Citation(s) in RCA: 10] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.5] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/31/2020] [Revised: 08/29/2020] [Accepted: 09/07/2020] [Indexed: 11/18/2022]
Abstract
Indoor service robots need to build an object-centric semantic map to understand and execute human instructions. Conventional visual simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) systems build a map using geometric features such as points, lines, and planes as landmarks. However, they lack a semantic understanding of the environment. This paper proposes an object-level semantic SLAM algorithm based on RGB-D data, which uses a quadric surface as an object model to compactly represent the object’s position, orientation, and shape. This paper proposes and derives two types of RGB-D camera-quadric observation models: a complete model and a partial model. The complete model combines object detection and point cloud data to estimate a complete ellipsoid in a single RGB-D frame. The partial model is activated when the depth data is severely missing because of illuminations or occlusions, which uses bounding boxes from object detection to constrain objects. Compared with the state-of-the-art quadric SLAM algorithms that use a monocular observation model, the RGB-D observation model reduces the requirements of the observation number and viewing angle changes, which helps improve the accuracy and robustness. This paper introduces a nonparametric pose graph to solve data associations in the back end, and innovatively applies it to the quadric surface model. We thoroughly evaluated the algorithm on two public datasets and an author-collected mobile robot dataset in a home-like environment. We obtained obvious improvements on the localization accuracy and mapping effects compared with two state-of-the-art object SLAM algorithms.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Wei Wang
- Correspondence: ; Tel.: +86-010-8231-4554
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18
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Gomez C, Hernandez AC, Barber R. Topological Frontier-Based Exploration and Map-Building Using Semantic Information. Sensors (Basel) 2019; 19:E4595. [PMID: 31652607 DOI: 10.3390/s19204595] [Citation(s) in RCA: 15] [Impact Index Per Article: 3.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 08/29/2019] [Revised: 09/25/2019] [Accepted: 10/18/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Exploration of unknown environments is a fundamental problem in autonomous robotics that deals with the complexity of autonomously traversing an unknown area while acquiring the most important information of the environment. In this work, a mobile robot exploration algorithm for indoor environments is proposed. It combines frontier-based concepts with behavior-based strategies in order to build a topological representation of the environment. Frontier-based approaches assume that, to gain the most information of an environment, the robot has to move to the regions on the boundary between open space and unexplored space. The novelty of this work is in the semantic frontier classification and frontier selection according to a cost–utility function. In addition, a probabilistic loop closure algorithm is proposed to solve cyclic situations. The system outputs a topological map of the free areas of the environment for further navigation. Finally, simulated and real-world experiments have been carried out, their results and the comparison to other state-of-the-art algorithms show the feasibility of the exploration algorithm proposed and the improvement that it offers with regards to execution time and travelled distance.
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19
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Zhang X, Wang W, Qi X, Liao Z, Wei R. Point-Plane SLAM Using Supposed Planes for Indoor Environments. Sensors (Basel) 2019; 19:E3795. [PMID: 31480722 DOI: 10.3390/s19173795] [Citation(s) in RCA: 27] [Impact Index Per Article: 5.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2019] [Revised: 08/20/2019] [Accepted: 08/29/2019] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Simultaneous localization and mapping (SLAM) is a fundamental problem for various applications. For indoor environments, planes are predominant features that are less affected by measurement noise. In this paper, we propose a novel point-plane SLAM system using RGB-D cameras. First, we extract feature points from RGB images and planes from depth images. Then plane correspondences in the global map can be found using their contours. Considering the limited size of real planes, we exploit constraints of plane edges. In general, a plane edge is an intersecting line of two perpendicular planes. Therefore, instead of line-based constraints, we calculate and generate supposed perpendicular planes from edge lines, resulting in more plane observations and constraints to reduce estimation errors. To exploit the orthogonal structure in indoor environments, we also add structural (parallel or perpendicular) constraints of planes. Finally, we construct a factor graph using all of these features. The cost functions are minimized to estimate camera poses and global map. We test our proposed system on public RGB-D benchmarks, demonstrating its robust and accurate pose estimation results, compared with other state-of-the-art SLAM systems.
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20
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Caetano LA, Faria T, Springer J, Loeffler J, Viegas C. Antifungal-resistant Mucorales in different indoor environments. Mycology 2019; 10:75-83. [PMID: 31069121 PMCID: PMC6493325 DOI: 10.1080/21501203.2018.1551251] [Citation(s) in RCA: 12] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 07/30/2018] [Accepted: 11/17/2018] [Indexed: 12/04/2022] Open
Abstract
This paper sought to address the prevalence of Mucorales in different indoor environments in Portugal. Environmental samples (183 in total) were collected at dwellings (n = 79) and workplaces (bakeries, swine farms, taxis, waste-sorting plants) (n = 93) by passive sampling using electrostatic dust collector (EDC), air-conditioning filters, litter, and/or raw materials. Samples were inoculated onto non-selective MEA and DG18 media and were screened for antifungal drug-resistance in azole-supplemented agar Sabouraud media. A probe-based Mucorales-specific real-time PCR assay (Muc18S) was used to detect Mucorales in complement to conventional culture-based methods. Mucorales order was found as more prevalent in air-conditioning filters from waste-sorting fork lifters (35.7%). Amongst Mucorales isolates able to grow in azole-supplemented media, 16 isolates of Mucor sp., Rhizopus sp. or Rhizomucor sp. were not susceptible to 1 mg/L voriconazole, and four isolates of Mucor sp. or Rhizopus sp. were not susceptible to 4 mg/L itraconazole. In conclusion, combination of the culture-based and molecular methods proved to be reliable for Mucorales order identification in complex environmental samples.
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Affiliation(s)
- Liliana Aranha Caetano
- H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Research Institute for Medicines (iMed.ULisboa), Faculty of Pharmacy, University of Lisbon, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Tiago Faria
- Centro de Ciências e Tecnologias Nucleares, Instituto Superior Técnico, Universidade de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
| | - Jan Springer
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Juergen Loeffler
- Medizinische Klinik und Poliklinik II, University Hospital Wuerzburg, Wuerzburg, Germany
| | - Carla Viegas
- H&TRC- Health & Technology Research Center, ESTeSL- Escola Superior de Tecnologia da Saúde, Instituto Politécnico de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
- Centro de Investigação em Saúde Pública, Escola Nacional de Saúde Pública, Universidade NOVA de Lisboa, Lisbon, Portugal
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21
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Chiaramello E, Bonato M, Fiocchi S, Tognola G, Parazzini M, Ravazzani P, Wiart J. Radio Frequency Electromagnetic Fields Exposure Assessment in Indoor Environments: A Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E955. [PMID: 30884917 PMCID: PMC6466609 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16060955] [Citation(s) in RCA: 36] [Impact Index Per Article: 7.2] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/31/2019] [Revised: 03/05/2019] [Accepted: 03/14/2019] [Indexed: 12/24/2022]
Abstract
Exposure to radiofrequency (RF) electromagnetic fields (EMFs) in indoor environments depends on both outdoor sources such as radio, television and mobile phone antennas and indoor sources, such as mobile phones and wireless communications applications. Establishing the levels of exposure could be challenging due to differences in the approaches used in different studies. The goal of this study is to present an overview of the last ten years research efforts about RF EMF exposure in indoor environments, considering different RF-EMF sources found to cause exposure in indoor environments, different indoor environments and different approaches used to assess the exposure. The highest maximum mean levels of the exposure considering the whole RF-EMF frequency band was found in offices (1.14 V/m) and in public transports (0.97 V/m), while the lowest levels of exposure were observed in homes and apartments, with mean values in the range 0.13⁻0.43 V/m. The contribution of different RF-EMF sources to the total level of exposure was found to show slightly different patterns among the indoor environments, but this finding has to be considered as a time-dependent picture of the continuous evolving exposure to RF-EMF.
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Affiliation(s)
- Emma Chiaramello
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Marta Bonato
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy.
- Dipartimento di Elettronica, Informazione e Bioingegneria DEIB, Politecnico di Milano, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Serena Fiocchi
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Gabriella Tognola
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Marta Parazzini
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Paolo Ravazzani
- Istituto di Elettronica e di Ingegneria dell'Informazione e delle Telecomunicazioni IEIIT CNR, 20133 Milano, Italy.
| | - Joe Wiart
- Télécom ParisTech, LTCI University Paris Saclay, Chair C2M, 75013 Paris, France.
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22
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Lundgren Kownacki K, Gao C, Kuklane K, Wierzbicka A. Heat Stress in Indoor Environments of Scandinavian Urban Areas: A Literature Review. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2019; 16:E560. [PMID: 30769945 PMCID: PMC6406735 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph16040560] [Citation(s) in RCA: 20] [Impact Index Per Article: 4.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 01/17/2019] [Revised: 02/05/2019] [Accepted: 02/10/2019] [Indexed: 01/02/2023]
Abstract
Climate change increases the risks of heat stress, especially in urban areas where urban heat islands can develop. This literature review aims to describe how severe heat can occur and be identified in urban indoor environments, and what actions can be taken on the local scale. There is a connection between the outdoor and the indoor climate in buildings without air conditioning, but the pathways leading to the development of severe heat levels indoors are complex. These depend, for example, on the type of building, window placement, the residential area's thermal outdoor conditions, and the residents' influence and behavior. This review shows that only few studies have focused on the thermal environment indoors during heat waves, despite the fact that people commonly spend most of their time indoors and are likely to experience increased heat stress indoors in the future. Among reviewed studies, it was found that the indoor temperature can reach levels 50% higher in °C than the outdoor temperature, which highlights the importance of assessment and remediation of heat indoors. Further, most Heat-Health Warning Systems (HHWS) are based on the outdoor climate only, which can lead to a misleading interpretation of the health effects and associated solutions. In order to identify severe heat, six factors need to be taken into account, including air temperature, heat radiation, humidity, and air movement as well as the physical activity and the clothes worn by the individual. Heat stress can be identified using a heat index that includes these six factors. This paper presents some examples of practical and easy to use heat indices that are relevant for indoor environments as well as models that can be applied in indoor environments at the city level. However, existing indexes are developed for healthy workers and do not account for vulnerable groups, different uses, and daily variations. As a result, this paper highlights the need for the development of a heat index or the adjustment of current thresholds to apply specifically to indoor environments, its different uses, and vulnerable groups. There are several actions that can be taken to reduce heat indoors and thus improve the health and well-being of the population in urban areas. Examples of effective measures to reduce heat stress indoors include the use of shading devices such as blinds and vegetation as well as personal cooling techniques such as the use of fans and cooling vests. Additionally, the integration of innovative Phase Change Materials (PCM) into facades, roofs, floors, and windows can be a promising alternative once no negative health and environmental effects of PCM can be ensured.
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Affiliation(s)
- Karin Lundgren Kownacki
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Chuansi Gao
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Kalev Kuklane
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.
| | - Aneta Wierzbicka
- Ergonomics and Aerosol Technology, Department of Design Sciences, Lund University, 221 00 Lund, Sweden.
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23
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Rasmussen PE, Levesque C, Chénier M, Gardner HD. Rare earth elements and select actinoids in the Canadian House Dust Study. Indoor Air 2017; 27:965-976. [PMID: 28303615 DOI: 10.1111/ina.12379] [Citation(s) in RCA: 13] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 09/13/2016] [Accepted: 03/12/2017] [Indexed: 06/06/2023]
Abstract
Nationally representative baseline data are presented for rare earth elements (REE), thorium (Th) and uranium (U) in house dust sampled from 1025 urban homes, in units of concentrations (μg g-1 ), loadings (μg m-2 ), and loading rates (ng m-2 d-1 ). Spearman rank correlations indicate that, in addition to outdoor sources, consumer products and building materials can influence indoor dust concentrations of REE, Th, and U. Correlations (P<.01) with numbers of occupants, dogs, and cats suggest soil track-in. Correlations (P<.01) with hardwood floors suggest release of REE additives used in pigments and coatings during daily wear and tear. Concentrations of light REE are elevated in smokers' homes compared to non-smokers' homes (P<.001), suggesting that a key source is "mischmetal," the REE alloy used in cigarette-lighter flints. Indoor sources include geological impurities in raw materials used in consumer products, such as U and Th impurities in bentonite clay used in cat litter, and REE impurities in phosphates used for a variety of applications including dog food and building materials. Median gastric bioaccessibility (pH 1.5) of most REE in dust ranges from about 20% to 29%. Household vacuum samples correlate with fresh dust samples from the same homes (P<.001 for all investigated elements).
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Affiliation(s)
- P E Rasmussen
- Exposure and Biomonitoring Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - C Levesque
- Exposure and Biomonitoring Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - M Chénier
- Exposure and Biomonitoring Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
| | - H D Gardner
- Exposure and Biomonitoring Division, Healthy Environments and Consumer Safety Branch, Health Canada, Ottawa, ON, Canada
- Department of Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of Ottawa, Ottawa, ON, Canada
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24
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Tamrakar SB, Henley J, Gurian PL, Gerba CP, Mitchell J, Enger K, Rose JB. Persistence analysis of poliovirus on three different types of fomites. J Appl Microbiol 2017; 122:522-530. [PMID: 27660041 DOI: 10.1111/jam.13299] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.0] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 06/17/2016] [Revised: 08/31/2016] [Accepted: 09/19/2016] [Indexed: 11/29/2022]
Abstract
AIMS The goal of this study was to explore various models for describing viral persistence (infectivity) on fomites and identify the best fit models. METHODS AND RESULTS The persistence of poliovirus over time was studied on three different fomite materials: steel, cotton and plastic. Known concentrations of poliovirus type 1 were applied to the surface coupons in an indoor environment for various lengths of time. Viruses were recovered from the surfaces by vortexing in phosphate buffer. Seven different mathematical models of relative persistence over time were fit to the data, and the preferred model for each surface was selected based on the Bayesian information criterion. CONCLUSIONS While the preferred model varied by fomite type, the virus showed a rapid initial decay on all of the fomite types, followed by a transition to a more gradual decay after about 4-8 days. Estimates of the time for 99% reduction ranged from 81 h for plastic to 143 h for cotton. A 6 log reduction of recoverable infectivity of poliovirus did not occur during the 3-week duration of the experiment for any of the fomites. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY In protected indoor environments poliovirus can remain infective for weeks. The models identified by this study can be used in risk assessments to identify appropriate strategies for managing this risk.
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Affiliation(s)
| | - J Henley
- University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - P L Gurian
- Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA, USA
| | - C P Gerba
- University of Arizona, Tucson, AZ, USA
| | - J Mitchell
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - K Enger
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
| | - J B Rose
- Michigan State University, East Lansing, MI, USA
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25
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Boros K, Fortin D, Jayawardene I, Chénier M, Levesque C, Rasmussen PE. Comparison of Gastric versus Gastrointestinal PBET Extractions for Estimating Oral Bioaccessibility of Metals in House Dust. Int J Environ Res Public Health 2017; 14:E92. [PMID: 28106788 DOI: 10.3390/ijerph14010092] [Citation(s) in RCA: 9] [Impact Index Per Article: 1.3] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 11/24/2016] [Revised: 12/23/2016] [Accepted: 01/13/2017] [Indexed: 11/17/2022]
Abstract
Oral bioaccessibility estimates for six metals which are prevalent as contaminants in Canada (zinc, lead, cadmium, copper, nickel, and chromium) are investigated for house dust using the simple gastric phase versus the two-phase physiologically-based extraction technique (PBET). The purpose is to determine whether a complete gastrointestinal (GI) assay yields a more conservative (i.e., higher) estimate of metal bioaccessibility in house dust than the gastric phase alone (G-alone). The study samples include household vacuum dust collected from 33 homes in Montreal, Canada, plus four certified reference materials (NIST 2583, NIST 2584, NIST 2710 and NIST 2710a). Results indicate that percent bioaccessibilities obtained using G-alone are generally greater than or equivalent to those obtained using the complete GI simulation for the six studied metals in house dust. Median bioaccessibilities for G-alone/GI in household vacuum dust samples (n = 33) are 76.9%/19.5% for zinc, 50.4%/6.2% for lead, 70.0%/22.4% for cadmium, 33.9%/30.5% for copper and 28.5%/20.7% for nickel. Bioaccessible chromium is above the detection limit in only four out of 33 samples, for which G-alone results are not significantly different from GI results (p = 0.39). It is concluded that, for the six studied metals, a simple G-alone extraction provides a conservative and cost-effective approach for estimating oral bioaccessibility of metals in house dust.
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Mezzoiuso AG, Gola M, Rebecchi A, Riccò M, Capolongo S, Bufoli M, Tirani M, Odone A, Signorelli C. Indoors and health: results of a systematic literature review assessing the potential health effects of living in basements. Acta Biomed 2017. [PMID: 29083346 PMCID: PMC6142851 DOI: 10.23750/abm.v%vi%i.6741] [Citation(s) in RCA: 4] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.6] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Indexed: 11/05/2022]
Abstract
INDOORS AND HEALTH: RESULTS OF A SYSTEMATIC LITERATURE REVIEW ASSESSING THE POTENTIAL HEALTH EFFECTS OF LIVING IN BASEMENTS A new law approved in March 2017 in the Lombardy Region makes it possible to live in basements. Basements are defined as buildings partly below curb level but with at least one-half of its height above the curb. Basements’ features and structural characteristics might pose risks to human health. In this paper we adopt a multidisciplinary approach to assess the potential health effects of living in basements. In particular, we define a conceptual framework to describe basements’ structural characteristics which are risk factors, as well as the mechanisms through which they impact on human health. We also conduct a systematic review on the scientific databases PubMed, Embase, DOAJ, Proquest and EBSCO to retrieve, pool and critically analyze all available research that quantified the risk of living in basements for different health outcomes. Available evidence suggests living in basements increases the risk of respiratory diseases (asthma and allergic disorders); more heterogeneous data are available for cancers and cardiovascular diseases. As more quantitative data need to be prospectively retrieved to assess and monitor the risk of living in basements for human health, clear minimum requirements for light, air, sanitation and egress are to be defined by technical experts and enforced by policy makers. (www.actabiomedica.it)
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Affiliation(s)
| | - Marco Gola
- Dipartimento ABC, Politecnico di Milano, Milano
| | | | - Matteo Riccò
- Dipartimento di Sanità Pubblica, Azienda USL di Reggio Emilia, Reggio Emilia
| | | | | | | | - Anna Odone
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano,Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Parma, Parma,Correspondence: Anna Odone Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia Università di Parma E-mail:
| | - Carlo Signorelli
- Università Vita-Salute San Raffaele, Milano,Dipartimento di Medicina e Chirurgia, Università di Parma, Parma
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LaKind JS, Overpeck J, Breysse PN, Backer L, Richardson SD, Sobus J, Sapkota A, Upperman CR, Jiang C, Beard CB, Brunkard JM, Bell JE, Harris R, Chretien JP, Peltier RE, Chew GL, Blount BC. Exposure science in an age of rapidly changing climate: challenges and opportunities. J Expo Sci Environ Epidemiol 2016; 26:529-538. [PMID: 27485992 PMCID: PMC5071542 DOI: 10.1038/jes.2016.35] [Citation(s) in RCA: 7] [Impact Index Per Article: 0.9] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [MESH Headings] [Track Full Text] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/03/2016] [Accepted: 06/13/2016] [Indexed: 05/18/2023]
Abstract
Climate change is anticipated to alter the production, use, release, and fate of environmental chemicals, likely leading to increased uncertainty in exposure and human health risk predictions. Exposure science provides a key connection between changes in climate and associated health outcomes. The theme of the 2015 Annual Meeting of the International Society of Exposure Science-Exposures in an Evolving Environment-brought this issue to the fore. By directing attention to questions that may affect society in profound ways, exposure scientists have an opportunity to conduct "consequential science"-doing science that matters, using our tools for the greater good and to answer key policy questions, and identifying causes leading to implementation of solutions. Understanding the implications of changing exposures on public health may be one of the most consequential areas of study in which exposure scientists could currently be engaged. In this paper, we use a series of case studies to identify exposure data gaps and research paths that will enable us to capture the information necessary for understanding climate change-related human exposures and consequent health impacts. We hope that paper will focus attention on under-developed areas of exposure science that will likely have broad implications for public health.
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Affiliation(s)
- Judy S LaKind
- LaKind Associates, LLC, 106 Oakdale Avenue, Catonsville, 21228 MD USA
- Department of Epidemiology and Public Health, University of Maryland School of Medicine, Baltimore, 21201 MD USA
- Department of Pediatrics, Hershey Medical Center, Penn State U College of Medicine, Hershey, 17033 PA USA
| | - Jonathan Overpeck
- Institute of the Environment, University of Arizona, ENR2 Building, Room N523, 1064 East Lowell Street, PO Box 210137, Tucson, 85721-013 7 AZ USA
| | - Patrick N Breysse
- National Center for Environmental Health/Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS-F60,, Atlanta, 30341 GA USA
| | - Lorrie Backer
- National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS-F60, Atlanta, 30341 GA USA
| | - Susan D Richardson
- Department of Chemistry and Biochemistry, University of South Carolina, 631 Sumter Street, JM Palms Center for GSR, Columbia, 29208 SC USA
| | - Jon Sobus
- National Exposure Research Laboratory, US Environmental Protection Agency, Mail Code: E205-04, Research Triangle Park, 27711 NC USA
| | - Amir Sapkota
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, 20742 MD USA
| | - Crystal R Upperman
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, 20742 MD USA
| | - Chengsheng Jiang
- Maryland Institute for Applied Environmental Health, University of Maryland School of Public Health, College Park, 20742 MD USA
| | - C Ben Beard
- Division of Vector-Borne Diseases, Bacterial Diseases Branch, National Center for Emerging and Zoonotic Infectious Diseases, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop P-02, 3156 Rampart Road, Fort Collins, 80521 CO USA
| | - J M Brunkard
- Waterborne Diseases Prevention Branch, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, Mail Stop C-09, 1600 Clifton Road NE, Atlanta, 30333 GA USA
| | - Jesse E Bell
- Cooperative Institute for Climate and Satellites—NC, North Carolina State University, 151 Patton Avenue, Asheville, 28801 NC USA
| | - Ryan Harris
- USAF, 14th Weather Squadron (DoD Applied Climate Services), Asheville, NC USA
| | - Jean-Paul Chretien
- Armed Forces Health Surveillance Branch, Defense Health Agency, Silver Spring, MD USA
| | - Richard E Peltier
- Department of Environmental Health Sciences, University of Massachusetts, Amherst, 149 Goessmann Laboratory, 686 North Pleasant Street, Amherst, 01003 MA USA
| | - Ginger L Chew
- Division of Environmental Hazards and Health Effects, Air Pollution and Respiratory Health Branch, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS-F60, Atlanta, 30341 GA USA
| | - Benjamin C Blount
- Tobacco and Volatiles Branch of the Division of Laboratory Sciences, National Center for Environmental Health, Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 4770 Buford Highway, NE, MS F47, Atlanta, 30341 GA USA
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Bashir M, Ahmed M, Weinmaier T, Ciobanu D, Ivanova N, Pieber TR, Vaishampayan PA. Functional Metagenomics of Spacecraft Assembly Cleanrooms: Presence of Virulence Factors Associated with Human Pathogens. Front Microbiol 2016; 7:1321. [PMID: 27667984 PMCID: PMC5017214 DOI: 10.3389/fmicb.2016.01321] [Citation(s) in RCA: 19] [Impact Index Per Article: 2.4] [Reference Citation Analysis] [What about the content of this article? (0)] [Affiliation(s)] [Abstract] [Key Words] [Track Full Text] [Download PDF] [Figures] [Journal Information] [Subscribe] [Scholar Register] [Received: 03/09/2016] [Accepted: 08/10/2016] [Indexed: 01/09/2023] Open
Abstract
Strict planetary protection practices are implemented during spacecraft assembly to prevent inadvertent transfer of earth microorganisms to other planetary bodies. Therefore, spacecraft are assembled in cleanrooms, which undergo strict cleaning and decontamination procedures to reduce total microbial bioburden. We wanted to evaluate if these practices selectively favor survival and growth of hardy microorganisms, such as pathogens. Three geographically distinct cleanrooms were sampled during the assembly of three NASA spacecraft: The Lockheed Martin Aeronautics' Multiple Testing Facility during DAWN, the Kennedy Space Center's Payload Hazardous Servicing Facility (KSC-PHSF) during Phoenix, and the Jet Propulsion Laboratory's Spacecraft Assembly Facility during Mars Science Laboratory. Sample sets were collected from the KSC-PHSF cleanroom at three time points: before arrival of the Phoenix spacecraft, during the assembly and testing of the Phoenix spacecraft, and after removal of the spacecraft from the KSC-PHSF facility. All samples were subjected to metagenomic shotgun sequencing on an Illumina HiSeq 2500 platform. Strict decontamination procedures had a greater impact on microbial communities than sampling location Samples collected during spacecraft assembly were dominated by Acinetobacter spp. We found pathogens and potential virulence factors, which determine pathogenicity in all the samples tested during this study. Though the relative abundance of pathogens was lowest during the Phoenix assembly, potential virulence factors were higher during assembly compared to before and after assembly, indicating a survival advantage. Decreased phylogenetic and pathogenic diversity indicates that decontamination and preventative measures were effective against the majority of microorganisms and well implemented, however, pathogen abundance still increased over time. Four potential pathogens, Acinetobacter baumannii, Acinetobacter lwoffii, Escherichia coli and Legionella pneumophila, and their corresponding virulence factors were present in all cleanroom samples. This is the first functional metagenomics study describing presence of pathogens and their corresponding virulence factors in cleanroom environments. The results of this study should be considered for microbial monitoring of enclosed environments such as schools, homes, hospitals and more isolated habitation such the International Space Station and future manned missions to Mars.
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Affiliation(s)
- Mina Bashir
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA, USA; Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of GrazGraz, Austria
| | - Mahjabeen Ahmed
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of TechnologyPasadena, CA, USA; Department of Biological Sciences, California State Polytechnic UniversityPomona, CA, USA
| | - Thomas Weinmaier
- Division of Computational Systems Biology, Department of Microbiology and Ecosystem Science, University of Vienna Vienna, Austria
| | - Doina Ciobanu
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | - Natalia Ivanova
- Department of Energy, Joint Genome Institute Walnut Creek, CA, USA
| | - Thomas R Pieber
- Division of Endocrinology and Diabetology, Medical University of Graz Graz, Austria
| | - Parag A Vaishampayan
- Biotechnology and Planetary Protection Group, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, California Institute of Technology Pasadena, CA, USA
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Abstract
BACKGROUND Contaminants encountered in many households, such as environmental tobacco smoke, house dust mite, cockroach, cat and dog dander, and mold, are risk factors in asthma. Young children are a particularly vulnerable subpopulation for environmentally mediated asthma, and the economic burden associated with this disease is substantial. Certain mechanical interventions are effective both in reducing allergen loads in the home and in improving asthmatic children's respiratory health. RESULTS Combinations of interventions including the use of dust mite-impermeable bedding covers, improved cleaning practices, high-efficiency particulate air vacuum cleaners, mechanical ventilation, and parental education are associated with both asthma trigger reduction and improved health outcomes for asthmatic children. Compared with valuated health benefits, these combinations of interventions have proven cost effective in studies that have employed them. Education alone has not proven effective in changing parental behaviors such as smoking in the home. CONCLUSIONS Future research should focus on improving the effectiveness of education on home asthma triggers, and understanding long-term children's health effects of the interventions that have proven effective in reducing asthma triggers.
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Affiliation(s)
- Felicia Wu
- Department of Environmental and Occupational Health, University of Pittsburgh, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania 15261, USA.
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