Indoor Environments最新文献

{"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}

{"title":"Evidence-based strategies for optimizing long-term temperature monitoring in offices","authors":"Peixian Li ,&nbsp;Xiangjun Zhao ,&nbsp;Siyan Wang ,&nbsp;Thomas Parkinson ,&nbsp;Richard de Dear ,&nbsp;Xing Shi","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100059","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100059","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Long-term monitoring of the thermal environment in office buildings has become increasingly relevant with the rise of wireless sensor networks. However, there is a notable absence of explicit guidelines for implementing monitoring strategies in such contexts. This lack of direction can lead to inconsistent deployment of sensor networks, resulting in higher maintenance costs and inaccurate long-term assessments of thermal conditions. Based on data analyses of high-accuracy, high-frequency field measurements conducted over a year or longer across multiple offices in Sydney and Shanghai, this study proposes a strategy for long-term temperature monitoring. The strategy advises practitioners to prioritize considerations such as air-conditioning type, room size, and space function when selecting \"representative\" sensor locations. Typically, sampling every 30 min is deemed adequate for shared offices where an error margin of ±0.5°C is acceptable. For environments with stable indoor temperatures, less frequent sampling intervals suffice. A power regression model tailored for offices equipped with central AC and no operable windows was developed to predict the maximum allowable sampling interval based on several days of indoor temperature monitoring in winter. Regarding monitoring duration, the study advocates a preferred sampling period of one year to comprehensively capture seasonal variations. Alternatively, a minimum monitoring period of four to six months commencing in late spring or early summer is identified as potentially sufficient. These findings offer valuable insights for optimizing long-term thermal monitoring practices in offices and may contribute to expanding the scope of thermal comfort standards.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100059"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142531416","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":"Characterizing indoor air quality and identifying factors influencing air quality at home microenvironment in Dhaka city","authors":"Afsana Yasmin ,&nbsp;Imran Ahmed ,&nbsp;Maria Haider ,&nbsp;Md. Kamal Hossain ,&nbsp;Mohammad Abdul Motalib ,&nbsp;Md. Shakhaoat Hossain","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100056","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100056","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>In low- and middle-income countries, indoor air pollution stands as a significant contributor to morbidity and mortality, prompting research into the factors influencing exposure at home in urban environments. Thus, this study was designed to investigate the indoor air quality and identifying factors influencing indoor air quality which help in targeting intervention to reduce indoor home air quality. The study conducted in Dhaka city involved 43 homes, where continuous monitoring of PM_2.5 concentration was carried out over a 24-h period. Various factors related to home characteristics (i.e., home area and cooking fuel type), ventilation practices (i.e., duration of window opening), and indoor activities (i.e., cooking frequency, daily average cooking duration per meal, cleaning, smoking and use of mosquito coil and spray) were assessed to explore their impact on indoor air quality. Through the multiple linear regression model, the relationship between the factors and indoor pollutant concentrations was analyzed. The average PM_2.5 concentration recorded in this investigation was five time higher in comparison to the World Health Organization's (WHO) 24-h guideline level for ambient air pollution. Four factors including outdoor air, home area, cooking duration and cleaning frequency were found to be significantly linked to indoor concentrations, collectively explaining 64 % of the variability in indoor PM_2.5 levels. Outdoor air infiltration emerged as the most influential predictor of indoor levels, contributing significantly to indoor concentrations. The identified factors could assist in targeting interventions to reduce microenvironmental PM_2.5 concentration at home.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100056"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142531415","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 dust loading on the long-term performance of portable HEPA air cleaner to woodsmoke – A laboratory investigation","authors":"Ching-Hsuan Huang,&nbsp;Ningrui Liu,&nbsp;Jeffry Shirai,&nbsp;Martin Cohen,&nbsp;Elena Austin,&nbsp;Edmund Seto","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100057","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2024.100057","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Portable air cleaners (PACs) equipped with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters are recommended to reduce indoor particulate matter (PM) exposure from wildfire smoke, particularly in regions like the Pacific Northwest, where seasonal wildfires affect air quality. While many studies have evaluated the long-term effectiveness of HEPA PACs, few have focused on the effects of dust loading and their performance in filtering woodsmoke over extended periods. This study investigated the impact of filter dust loading on the performance of a HEPA PAC (Winix C535, Winix America) in reducing woodsmoke particles. Filters were pre-loaded with varying amounts of ASHRAE ISO 12103–1 A2 fine test dust, and an exposure chamber was used to assess clean air delivery rate (CADR), airflow rate, and power consumption. Results indicated a significant decline in PAC performance with increasing filter loading, highlighting the importance of regular filter replacements to maintain effective operation. Based on simulations considering dynamic indoor PM_2.5 concentration, in a typical scenario with a 90-m² room, baseline PM_2.5 emission rates, and continuous operation at fan speed Level 2 (5-year mean indoor PM_2.5: 2.99 μg/m³), it would take over 5 years for the PAC filters to accumulate 46 g of dust – an amount associated with a significant drop in CADR observed in the study. These findings suggest that the commonly recommended 1-year replacement schedule by manufacturers may be overly conservative for such conditions. By utilizing indoor air quality sensors to monitor PM concentrations, users can tailor filter replacement schedules to maintain optimal PAC performance in real-world environments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"1 4","pages":"Article 100057"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2024-10-11","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"142442062","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}