Indoor Environments最新文献

{"title":"A Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) framework for exposure from toilet flushing using experimental aerosol concentration measurements","authors":"Ciara A. Higham ,&nbsp;Martín López-García ,&nbsp;Catherine J. Noakes ,&nbsp;Emma Tidswell ,&nbsp;Louise Fletcher","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100069","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100069","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Flushing a toilet generates aerosols potentially containing microorganisms, serving as a transmission route for pathogens, notably gastrointestinal and respiratory infections. Despite identification of aerosols and positive microbial sampling, there is a lack of quantitative assessments linking aerosol generation to infection risk in toilet settings.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>We develop a framework to evaluate the infection risk to a second susceptible individual using a shared toilet following faecal shedding and flush aerosolisation by an infected individual. Experimental measurements of particle concentrations from a toilet flush in a controlled chamber are combined with a model using Quantitative Microbial Risk Assessment (QMRA) methods. We demonstrate the approach for SARS-CoV-2 and norovirus, examining model sensitivity and how adding cubicle space and varying occupancy times affect risk.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The model suggests non-negligible infection risk from the toilet plume, particularly for pathogens with higher concentrations in faeces. The model suggests norovirus could have a 2 times greater maximum infection risk than SARS-CoV-2. Mean and median risks for all scenarios decreased when the second individual entered 60 s post-flush compared to 0 s. Occupancy times had less impact on risk compared to the timing of entry post-flush.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusion</h3><div>To mitigate infection risk from shared toilets, ventilating the room before entering is crucial. Allowing time between toilet usages may be more effective compared to reducing occupancy times. Models provide valuable insights into relative impacts of measures and comparison between pathogens, but improved quantitative data is needed, particularly in higher risk scenarios (e.g. hospitals, public events), to quantify absolute risks.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 1","pages":"Article 100069"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143155736","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Corrigendum to “Energy retrofits: Factors affecting a just transition to better indoor air quality” [Indoor Environ. 1 (4) (2024) 100058]","authors":"Ann Marie Coggins ,&nbsp;Victoria Hogan ,&nbsp;Asit Kumar Mishra ,&nbsp;Daniel Norton ,&nbsp;Declan Foster ,&nbsp;Nina Wemken ,&nbsp;Hilary Cowie ,&nbsp;Edel Doherty","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100067","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100067","url":null,"abstract":"","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100067"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-12-01","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142743333","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Guidance to investigate university students’ bodily responses and perceptual assessments in sound exposure experiments","authors":"Amneh Hamida ,&nbsp;Alessandro D'Amico ,&nbsp;AnneMarie Eijkelenboom ,&nbsp;Philomena M. Bluyssen","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100066","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100066","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Previous studies have shown that sound influences students both physiologically and perceptually. However, most of these studies focussed on the effects of sounds at group-level, ignoring individual differences. Therefore, we investigated which indicators can be used to identify differences in bodily responses and perceptual assessments of each individual when exposed to four different sounds. First, based on an audiometric test, the hearing acuity of 15 students (from five different profiles based on their acoustical preferences and needs) was measured. Then, two sound exposure experiments were conducted in the SenseLab: direct sound exposure using earbuds in a laboratory setting, and indirect sound exposure with speakers in a real room setting. During each experiment, the attention level (AL), mental relaxation level (MRL), heart rate (HR), and respiration rate (RR) were measured with wearable devices, and students made perceptual assessments of each condition. The percentage of change normalised the four bodily response measurements among students. Based on correlation analysis and t-tests, bodily responses, and perceptual assessments across experiments were compared, at group-level and individual-level. Six students, who suffered from mild hearing loss in low-frequency sounds, showed bodily responses such as increased HR during exposure to low-frequency sound conditions. Perceptual assessments of different sound types during both lab experiments substantiated the acoustical preferences of the students from the five profiles. Bodily responses showed no strong nor significant correlations with perceptual assessments during the direct sound exposure experiments. Differences in bodily responses and perceptual assessments between the two experiments and between group-level and individual-level were observed in AL. It is concluded that hearing acuity and type of sound (sound frequencies) are key indicators for identifying differences in bodily responses (such as HR and RR) and perceptual assessment. For future research, it is crucial to consider incorporating audiometric tests, bodily responses such as HR and RR, and perceptual assessments in this type of investigations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100066"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142703598","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Ventilation characteristics in a hospital where a COVID-19 outbreak occurred in the winter of 2020","authors":"Motoya. Hayashi,&nbsp;Sayaka. Murata,&nbsp;Koki. Kikuta","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100065","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100065","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>To clear the influences of ventilation performance on COVID-19 outbreaks in hospitals, the ventilation characteristics were investigated in a ward of an over-30-year-old hospital where a large outbreak occurred in the winter of 2020. At the early stage of the outbreak, nasal high-flow (NHF) was used in a treatment room for a week, and many patients stayed in multi-bed rooms during the outbreak. The viruses could expand not only with the infected staff or patients but also with the virus-contained air. To make an emergent ventilation measure plan, which the hospital requested, the actual performance of the air-conditioning and ventilation system and the ventilation characteristics were investigated using airflow volume meters, smoke testers, and a tracer gas CO₂. The results of the measurements and the analysis showed the following. The ventilation rates had decreased to 30 % of the design value in the ward. The ventilation rate was decreased to 10 % in the treatment room where NHF was used, and the ventilation rates were decreased to 4–31 % in the rooms with six beds. The room doors were usually opened, and the opening had the effect of increasing the ventilation rate of the room. However, the virus-contained air could expand to the corridor and the other spaces. The air supply is stopped to keep room temperature at night, and the ventilation is thought to be very poor, especially if the doors are closed. Inadequate ventilation in the old buildings may have affected the hospital outbreak cases. It is essential to check the ventilation characteristics regularly, especially in old buildings. The result contributed to the administrative notice “The Emergent Ventilation Measures to Control COVID-19 in Hospitals” in April 2021 in Japan.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 1","pages":"Article 100065"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-20","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"143155735","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"A field investigation on thermal comfort of kindergarten children in China’s hot summer and cold winter zone during winter","authors":"Weiming Chen ,&nbsp;Ningrui Liu ,&nbsp;Junrui Chang ,&nbsp;Qin Wang ,&nbsp;Hui Zhang ,&nbsp;Yingxin Zhu ,&nbsp;Bin Cao","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100064","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100064","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Preschool children have different thermal characteristic from adults, while research on their thermal comfort within kindergartens remains scarce. This study conducted a survey among 205 children aged 4–6 years and 25 teachers in China, yielding a total of 6441 records. Although the survey area with most indoor temperatures falling below the comfort zone, a significant portion of the survey sessions in class (52 %) reported hot dissatisfaction. Children reported more hot sensations than adults, with almost no cold sensations reported. The mean Thermal Sensation (<em>MTS</em>) of children remained above the neutral point across the surveyed temperature range. The analysis suggests that a primary cause of children's discomfort is over-clothing. The average level of the investigated children’s clothing insulation was 1.78 clo, which was 0.19 clo more than that of the adults in the same environment, equivalent to adding a vest and a T-shirt. Moreover, the children have limited initiative to adjust their clothing. The excessive clothing likely stems from parental overconcern for cold environment, which leading to preventative dressing. Among the surveyed children, those wearing less clothing exhibited better thermal comfort status, underscoring the unnecessity of excessive clothing.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100064"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142720190","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"IAQ and ventilation measurements at the “ZEB Laboratory” office building in Norway","authors":"Maria Justo Alonso ,&nbsp;Hilde Breesch ,&nbsp;Thomas Elvrum Lassen ,&nbsp;Quinten Carton ,&nbsp;Hans Martin Mathisen","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100063","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100063","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This study aims to assess indoor environmental quality (IEQ) within a Zero Emission Building (ZEB) office in Norway, focusing on occupant impact (CO₂, temperature, humidity) and materials/substances influence (formaldehyde, particulate matter (PM_2.5), total volatile organic compounds (TVOC)). It presents a detailed data collection spanning 14 months from March 30th, 2022, to June 1st, 2023. Occupancy varied significantly, affecting measured indoor air quality (IAQ) parameters, with the lowest temperatures recorded on the second floor and specific areas like the canteen experiencing temperature drops during low usage times. Relative humidity levels remained over 20 % in winter despite the building's low occupancy, a notable aspect given Norway's dry winters. PM_2.5 levels stayed below World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines, indicating effective pollution management. The study also evaluates the impact of reducing the ventilation rates on IAQ, noting no significant IAQ compromise. An analysis correlating IAQ measurements with building occupants' satisfaction post-intervention revealed that temperature is the most significant factor affecting satisfaction levels, excluding acoustic satisfaction. Occupants generally reported satisfaction with the indoor environmental quality (IEQ), with specific dissatisfaction tied to thermal environment and IAQ, suggesting the importance of temperature control in occupant perception. This research not only provides valuable insights into IEQ management in Zero Energy and Zero Emission office buildings but also emphasizes the critical role of indoor temperature and the potential of wooden structures to stabilize humidity levels, contributing to occupant comfort and satisfaction.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100063"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-11-08","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142653584","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Effects of bedroom environment on average heart rate during sleep in temperate regions: Winter conditions in healthy males in their twenties with average BMI","authors":"Noriaki Oota ,&nbsp;Yasuki Yamauchi ,&nbsp;Gota Iwase ,&nbsp;Masaru Abuku ,&nbsp;Yasuhiro Hiraguri","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100062","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100062","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>The nocturnal average heart rate correlates more strongly with mortality rates than the resting heart rate or 24-hour average heart rate. Additionally, it has been suggested that as the average heart rate decreases, SDNN increases, indicating favorable autonomic function. This study aimed to identify the environmental factors that most significantly affect the day-to-day variability of average heart rate during sleep (SHR) in winter. Measurements were conducted in the participants' usual bedrooms of nine healthy male participants in their twenties with an average BMI, living in a temperate region. The measurement periods were from December 1, 2022, to March 8, 2023, and from December 1, 2023, to February 6, 2024. In addition to the heart rate, body movement, room, radiant, and bed microclimate temperatures, carbon dioxide concentration, relative humidity, and illuminance were measured. The results demonstrated that, when comparing across participants, the average room and radiant temperatures during the measurement period had a significant negative correlation with the average SHR during the measurement period, with correlation coefficients of −0.83 and −0.91, respectively. Using a multilevel structural equation model, no valid model was obtained at the between level, which examined differences between participants, while a valid model was found at the within level, which examined differences within participants. At the within level, the most explanatory factors for SHR were body movement, operative temperature, bed microclimate temperature, carbon dioxide concentration, and the interaction term between the bed microclimate temperature and carbon dioxide concentration. Overall, a deeper understanding of the impact of environmental conditions on average sleep heart rate could facilitate the design of environments favorable for autonomic nervous system activity during sleep.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100062"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142592941","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Institutional distrust and levels of functional impairment related to indoor air-associated symptoms: A Finnish population-based study","authors":"Sanna Selinheimo ,&nbsp;Einar Eidstø ,&nbsp;Jussi Lampi ,&nbsp;Anniina Salmela ,&nbsp;Juha Pekkanen","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100061","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100061","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Introduction</h3><div>While distrust in social institutions has been linked with poor health outcomes, this association has not been examined in relation to indoor air (IA). We investigated the relationship between functional impairment due to IA-associated symptoms and distrust in social institutions, both in general and distrust particularly in IA-related questions.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>The Finnish population-based Indoor Air and Health survey (n=1750) was utilized to assess any IA-associated symptoms and functional impairment due to these symptoms within the past 12 months. The associations between levels of functional impairment and distrust in social institutions (health care, juridical system, government officials, construction business, media, and social media) were analyzed using multinomial logistic regression adjusted for gender, age, and education.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>Of the respondents with symptoms (23.1 %), the level of functional impairment varied from severe (1.8 %) to no impairment (4.9 %). Distrust in social institutions was more common in IA-related questions than in general. Higher levels of functional impairment were associated with increased distrust particularized in IA-related questions in other institutions except for media and social media: higher levels of functional impairment were associated with increased trust in these institutions. The strongest associations were observed with distrust in health care and government officials (aOR 4.10, 95 %CI 1.97–8.53, and aOR 3.35, 95 %CI 1.62–6.94, for those with severe impairment compared to those with no IA-associated symptoms).</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>Higher levels of self-reported functional impairment due to IA-associated symptoms were associated with decreased trust in most social institutions, but with increased trust in media and social media. These findings should be considered in communication on and prevention of IA-associated health issues.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100061"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142552947","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Energy retrofits: Factors affecting a just transition to better indoor air quality","authors":"Ann Marie Coggins ,&nbsp;Victoria Hogan ,&nbsp;Asit Kumar Mishra ,&nbsp;Daniel Norton ,&nbsp;Declan Foster ,&nbsp;Nina Wemken ,&nbsp;Hilary Cowie ,&nbsp;Edel Doherty","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100058","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100058","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In comparison with other European countries, Ireland has a disproportionately high number of poorly performing energy-inefficient buildings. Consequently, Ireland has one of the most ambitious energy retrofit programmes in Europe. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of deep energy renovation measures i.e. (replacement of heating system and upgrade to building envelope) on indoor air quality, thermal comfort and ventilation in a sample of primarily social housing in Ireland. A mixed methods approach including measurement of indoor air quality and a thermal comfort questionnaire survey was employed. Indoor concentration measurements of PM_2.5, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, and radon along with measurements of air temperature and relative humidity were made (N=14). Occupants (n=56) completed a thermal comfort questionnaire survey pre- and post-retrofit. Data collection ran from autumn 2020 until autumn 2023.</div><div>Thermal comfort improved post-retrofit along with occupant satisfaction with the indoor thermal environment and heating-systems. Post-retrofit, higher bedroom CO₂, and higher PM_2.5 concentrations were recorded in both living areas and bedrooms. Occupant behaviours e.g. blocking wall vents were significant predictors of poorer ventilation while smoking indoors was related to higher concentrations of PM_2.5. In general, homes that had mechanical ventilation systems installed were better ventilated. Underventilation, as indicated by visible condensation or mould was observed in half of the social homes surveyed and reported by questionnaire respondents (26 %). Tailored communications to occupants regarding the important role of ventilation and indoor air quality is required as part of retrofit to optimise impacts on IEQ.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100058"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142531414","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}

{"title":"Moving the needle on home health: Reconceptualizing social problems in a multi-stakeholder system","authors":"Paige Ambord ,&nbsp;Tami C. Bond ,&nbsp;Paul W. Francisco ,&nbsp;Sheryl Magzamen","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100060","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100060","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Despite significant evidence that housing quality plays a key role in the overall health of the population, health risks that originate at home have failed to garner direct policy attention or intervention commensurate with their impact. Drawing on the sociology of social problems, we identify how causal and political responsibility for risks in the United States context is complicated when these environmental health risks are embedded in private homes. We argue that changing how home health is addressed by health and building practitioners requires a reconceptualization of home health whereby the multiple responsible parties and sources of exposure become leverage points for future research and interventions. This reframing includes identifying housing as an arena of health, representing a class of risks tied to place. We also contend that health is an essential element of homes as systems and must be embedded in how those in building science, construction, property management, and code design approach housing. Finally, we suggest the need for specialists to navigate home health issues, drawing on the hospitalist model of health provision. These proposals illustrate multiple points at which residents, researchers, and health and building professionals may intervene and home health risks can be addressed.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100060"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-18","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142561023","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}