Indoor airPub Date : 2024-06-05DOI: 10.1155/2024/5503400
Jimin Kim, Jongmin Park, Perng-Jy Tsai, Chungsik Yoon
{"title":"The Effects of Temperature and Humidity on Electrostatic Changes in Respirators and Their Filtration Efficiency","authors":"Jimin Kim, Jongmin Park, Perng-Jy Tsai, Chungsik Yoon","doi":"10.1155/2024/5503400","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5503400","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>The filtering mechanism of respirators involves static electricity and physical mechanisms, such as inertial impaction, interception, and diffusion. Static electricity is used to reduce pressure resistance, but electrostatic effects and the environmental variables that affect them are not well studied. Therefore, this study evaluated the contribution of static electricity to the filtration efficiency of respirators and the effects of changes in temperature and humidity on static electricity and the resulting filtration efficiency. Eight respirators from four manufacturers—four for workers (1<sup>st</sup> class respirators) and four for citizens (KF-94 respirators)—were selected, all of which met legal standards in Korea. The filtration efficiency and pressure drop were evaluated at baseline and after removing static electricity with isopropanol. To study the effects of humidity and temperature on the efficiency of the respirators, the respirators were exposed to 30, 50, and 98% humidity while the temperature was fixed at 25°C and to temperatures of −30, 25, and 70°C while the humidity was fixed at 50%. Static electricity was measured using a surface-potential meter, and the filtration efficiency was measured using NaCl and paraffin oil. When static electricity was removed from the 1<sup>st</sup> class and KF-94 respirators, the filtration efficiency decreased by 21.7% and 19.5%, respectively. Humidity affected the change in static electricity slightly more than temperature, but since not all static electricity was removed, the filtration efficiency was not affected greatly. The changes in static electricity and filtration efficiency due to humidity were significant, but this was because the standard deviation was small. Even under 98% humidity, the filtration efficiency was only 1–2% lower than that at 30% humidity and still met the 94% filtration efficiency criterion for respirators.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-06-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/2024/5503400","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141264575","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indoor airPub Date : 2024-05-29DOI: 10.1155/2024/2415739
Charlotte Minig, Klaas Reglitz, Martin Steinhaus
{"title":"Odor-Active Compounds in Flexible Polyurethane Materials","authors":"Charlotte Minig, Klaas Reglitz, Martin Steinhaus","doi":"10.1155/2024/2415739","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/2415739","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>Flexible polyurethane (PU) materials find extensive use in upholstery, mattresses, and automobiles, yet the molecular background of their odor is still inadequately understood. To address this gap, we aimed at identifying major odorants in fifteen samples representing eight common types of flexible PU materials. The volatiles isolated from the samples were subjected to activity-guided screening via gas chromatography-olfactometry. Structures were assigned by comparing odor, retention data, and mass spectra to those of authentic reference compounds. This approach led to the identification of 50 odorants, 39 of which had not previously been described in PU. The odorants belonged to a wide range of compound classes, including tertiary amines, fatty acid oxidation products, short-chain aldehydes, trioxocanes, pyrazines, aromatic hydrocarbons and heterocycles, chlorinated compounds, phenol derivatives, fragrance compounds, and nitriles. For some odorants, further insights were gained into their origins and release behavior. For example, the odorous 1,4-dimethylpiperazine had been used as a catalyst, and propanal was shown to be not only a PU odorant but also the precursor of an odor-active trioxocane. Additionally, the quantitation of acetaldehyde and propanal suggested their continuous regeneration from the samples. While the sources of other compounds still have to be clarified, the data obtained in this study could pave the way for odor reduction strategies in the production of PU materials, ultimately resulting in an improved odor and consumer experience.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-05-29","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/2024/2415739","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141246125","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Relationships between Electroencephalogram and Thermal Perception of Passenger in Winter Vehicle Compartments","authors":"Xin Xu, Lanping Zhao, Yuxin Hu, Qinyue Zheng, Guomin Wu, Zhigang Yang","doi":"10.1155/2024/6816185","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/6816185","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>The development of electric vehicles (EVs) has prompted a critical examination of the trade-off between range and human thermal comfort. Therefore, an accurate, real-time assessment of human thermal perception inside vehicles is important. This study investigates an electroencephalogram- (EEG-) based method for evaluating human thermal comfort in the vehicle passenger compartment. Under transient winter heating conditions, the study experimentally investigates the correlation between objective physiological parameters (skin temperature and electroencephalogram) and subjective human thermal perception. The results reveal distinct patterns in EEG signals corresponding to changes in thermal perception. Specifically, the <i>δ</i> rhythm exhibits a U-shape variation with increasing thermal perception, while the <i>θ</i>, <i>α</i>, <i>β</i>, and <i>γ</i> rhythms display an inverted U-shape variation. Differences in each frequency band across thermal comfort states in humans are greater than differences in the frequency band across thermal sensation states. Furthermore, the relative power of the <i>θ</i> rhythm emerges as the most effective in discerning the thermal perception state of the human body. The EEG signal characteristics of the T7 and T8 channels align more closely with human thermal sensation, whereas the AF4 channel excels at discriminating the state of human thermal comfort. The insights gained from this study serve as a foundation for evaluating human thermal perception in vehicles, enhancing human-vehicle interaction, and addressing challenges related to human thermal comfort and vehicle range.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-05-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/2024/6816185","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141246099","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indoor airPub Date : 2024-05-22DOI: 10.1155/2024/9593123
Farzad Pourfattah, Weiwei Deng, Lian-Ping Wang
{"title":"How Does the Interaction of the Human Thermal Plume and Breathing Affect the Microenvironment and Macroenvironment of an Elevator Cabin?","authors":"Farzad Pourfattah, Weiwei Deng, Lian-Ping Wang","doi":"10.1155/2024/9593123","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/9593123","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>The details of the interaction of human thermal plume and breathing activities are simulated in the current study of an unsteady turbulent flow field in an elevator cabin. Air velocity and temperature distributions of the circulation flow pattern (i.e., the macroenvironment), the breathing-scale microenvironment’s characteristics, and the thermal plume’s fate are analyzed. The current study is aimed at showing how respiratory activities such as breathing and human thermal plumes affect the flow field and respiratory contaminants dispersion pattern in a nonventilated enclosed environment (the elevator cabin). The results from three cases, i.e., breathing thermal manikins, nonbreathing thermal manikins, and isothermal breathing manikins, are contrasted to unveil better the effects of human thermal plume and breathing on the flow field, including the velocity distribution, dispersion pattern of the exhaled contaminant, the human body’s heat transfer coefficient, and the large-scale flow pattern. Results reveal that breathing inhalation increases the upward velocity of the thermal plume on the one hand, which directly affects the microenvironment and indirectly impacts the macroenvironment due to the more vigorous reflected thermal plume. On the other hand, the upward thermal plume reduces the penetration length of the exhaled jet. Breathing activities create ring vortices that connect the microenvironment and the macroenvironment. The circulation flow features a downward flow in the cabin’s center, affecting the vortex strength and contaminant dispersion pattern. Overall, the human thermal plume and human breathing make comparable contributions to the resulting elevator-cabin flow characteristics.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-05-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/2024/9593123","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141110951","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indoor airPub Date : 2024-05-21DOI: 10.1155/2024/6810701
Ru Wang, Wenyuan Wang, Wei Zhang, Zhengxue Li, Zhengyang An, Dongming Zhou, Yong Min
{"title":"Formaldehyde-Degrading Bacteria R1 Is Effective in Removing HCHO from the Air in an Indoor Environment","authors":"Ru Wang, Wenyuan Wang, Wei Zhang, Zhengxue Li, Zhengyang An, Dongming Zhou, Yong Min","doi":"10.1155/2024/6810701","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/6810701","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 <p>Formaldehyde (HCHO) is a widespread air pollutant in the indoor environment. Previous studies have shown that some bacteria have potential application to remove indoor HCHO. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the effectiveness of <i>Methylobacterium</i> sp. strain R1 (S-R1) in removing formaldehyde (HCHO) from indoor air using biofilters. Three experiments confirmed S-R1’s ability to degrade HCHO in the air, with <sup>13</sup>C-NMR analysis revealing its involvement in the metabolic process. Optimal biofilter parameters, including 35 sponge layers, 30% humidity, and 9.50 m<sup>3</sup>/min air flow, resulted in a removal efficiency of up to 90% and an elimination capability of 24111-27000 <i>μ</i>g/(m<sup>3</sup>∗h) during a 60-minute test period. Long-term (31-day) operation of the biofilter with the optimal parameters effectively reduced HCHO levels from 1.60 mg/m<sup>3</sup> to 0.02-0.03 mg/m<sup>3</sup>, below China’s national standard, and maintained this level. Fluorescence microscope observation and downstream gas detection revealed stable S-R1 cell numbers and no bacterial leakage, respectively. Two conclusions can be drawn: (1) S-R1 is effective in removing HCHO in polluted air and (2) with optimum parameters, the S-R1 biofilter is engineering effective in purifying the indoor air environment.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-05-21","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/epdf/10.1155/2024/6810701","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141116151","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"OA","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indoor airPub Date : 2024-04-27DOI: 10.1155/2024/5531325
Ziyu Shu, Feng Yuan, Jie Wang, Jian Zang, Baizhan Li, Mehdi Shahrestani, Emmanuel Essah, Hazim Awbi, Mike Holland, Fangxin Fang, Christopher Pain, Prashant Kumar, Hua Zhong, Alan Short, Paul Linden, Runming Yao
{"title":"Prioritising Actions for Improving Classroom Air Quality Based on the Analytic Hierarchy Process: Case Studies in China and the UK","authors":"Ziyu Shu, Feng Yuan, Jie Wang, Jian Zang, Baizhan Li, Mehdi Shahrestani, Emmanuel Essah, Hazim Awbi, Mike Holland, Fangxin Fang, Christopher Pain, Prashant Kumar, Hua Zhong, Alan Short, Paul Linden, Runming Yao","doi":"10.1155/2024/5531325","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5531325","url":null,"abstract":"<p>The air quality in classrooms significantly impacts school children’s health and learning performance. It has been reported worldwide that classroom air quality does not meet the required standard and actions are pledged for improvement. However, it poses a challenge for decision-making in terms of prioritising taking-up measures. The aim of this study is to propose a method of identifying the action measures for improving classroom air quality and prioritising them. Case studies in the UK and China were conducted, and the key measures were identified through literature studies, open-ended questionnaire surveys, and workshop discussions, which are classified into three categories: B1, policy; B2, technology; and B3, information sharing. The analytical hierarchy process (AHP) is applied in the prioritisation of the action measures. A total of 138 teachers and parents from China and the UK participated in this case study. The genetic algorithm-optimised Hadamard product (GAOHP) method is applied to justify the consistency ratio (CR) within the required threshold value in order to ensure the consistency of the subjective perception and the accuracy of comparative weights. The results show that item B2, technology, is the most desired measure by both Chinese and British parents and teachers, despite the deviation from the optimal choice in China and the UK. Among the proposed action measures, the UK respondents strongly expected air purifiers with natural ventilation as opposed to their Chinese counterparts preferring to share the real-time status of classroom air quality. Our work will provide strong support for the subsequent selection of indoor air quality improvement strategies for schools.</p>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141164960","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
{"title":"Changes in Indoor Air Quality in Public Facilities before and after the Enactment of Taiwan’s Indoor Air Quality Management Act","authors":"Hsiu-Ling Chen, Pei-Shan Chih, Kai-Jen Chuang, Hsiao-Chi Chuang, Li-Te Chang","doi":"10.1155/2024/5898087","DOIUrl":"https://doi.org/10.1155/2024/5898087","url":null,"abstract":"<p>South Korea was the first to administer the Indoor Air Quality Control Act in 1996, followed by Taiwan’s implementation in 2012. This study investigated indoor air quality (IAQ) in public facilities before and after the enactment of Taiwan’s Indoor Air Quality Management (IAQM) Act in 2012 to assess the effectiveness of the Act. The study also calculates health risks for employers, and consumers/visitors separately. The mean concentration of carbon dioxide (CO<sub>2</sub>) after the IAQM Act’s enactment was higher than before, except for government offices. The lowest attainment rates for CO<sub>2</sub>, below 80%, were 73% in hospitals and 78% in libraries. As for formaldehyde, average concentrations were higher after the IAQM Act’s implementation, except for the exhibition room and library. Notably, improvements in particulate matter with a diameter less than 2.5 <i>μ</i>m (PM<sub>2.5</sub>) levels were evident in hospitals and libraries compared to other environments (attainment rates increased from 85% to 100% and 89% to 94%, respectively). However, in schools, preschools, and public transport spaces, unattainment rates worsened. Regarding cancer risk from formaldehyde exposure in the public, the 95% of upper risk limits ranged from 3.44 × 10<sup>−5</sup> in the public transport system to 8.80 × 10<sup>−4</sup> in preschools. Our findings highlight the necessity of integrating more measurement data after IAQM Act implementation and formulating management strategies based on risk assessments for future investigations.</p>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"141164959","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indoor airPub Date : 2024-04-24DOI: 10.1155/2024/5055615
Hyunjun Yun, Ji Hoon Seo, Jinho Yang
{"title":"Development of Particle Filters for Portable Air Purifiers by Combining Melt-Blown and Polytetrafluoroethylene to Improve Durability and Performance","authors":"Hyunjun Yun, Ji Hoon Seo, Jinho Yang","doi":"10.1155/2024/5055615","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/5055615","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Improving indoor air quality through the use of air purifiers has become a major focus, with emphasis on developing filters with high efficiency, high holding capacity, and low-pressure drop to improve the clean air delivery rate (CADR) for air purifiers. However, although most studies focused on developing media and evaluating their performance, few studies have reached the employment for a pleated filter. In this study, we newly synthesized flat media and pleated filters by combining polytetrafluoroethylene membrane (PT) and melt-blown (MB) materials (PM) and compared its initial performance to that of other air purifier filters (MB, glass fiber, and PT). Additionally, we analyzed how the performance changed after the particles were loaded. The initial efficiency of the PM filter showed a higher quality factor (QF) than the other filters. Furthermore, when more particles were loaded, the penetration of the PM did not change. These results demonstrate the potential of the PM. However, the CADR and submicron-sized (0.02–0.113 <i>μ</i>m) CADR (sCADR) were highest for the MB filter due to the initial pressure drop. Therefore, additional improvements are required to apply the PM in air purifiers. However, the results suggest that the PM can be a new alternative for air purifier filters used in medical centers or facilities with vulnerable populations where a high-efficiency particle air (HEPA) filter must be used.</p>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-24","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140662569","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indoor airPub Date : 2024-04-23DOI: 10.1155/2024/6192008
Beibei Wang, He Huang, Ning Qin, Wenjing Zhao, Qin Wang, Suzhen Cao, Xing Chen, Xiangyu Xu, Xiaoli Duan
{"title":"Effect of NPAH Exposure on Lung Function of Children in Indoor Coal Combustion Environment","authors":"Beibei Wang, He Huang, Ning Qin, Wenjing Zhao, Qin Wang, Suzhen Cao, Xing Chen, Xiangyu Xu, Xiaoli Duan","doi":"10.1155/2024/6192008","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/6192008","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Nitropolycyclic aromatic hydrocarbon (NPAH) emissions from the combustion of household solid fuel may cause great harm to public health. Children are one of the most susceptible population groups at risk of indoor air pollutants due to their immature respiratory and immune systems. In this study, a primary school using household coal combustion for heating in winter was selected and forty participants were randomly recruited among schoolchildren. Fine particulate matter samples were collected by both individual portable samplers and fixed middle-flow samplers during the heating and nonheating seasons. The NPAH concentrations in PM<sub>2.5</sub> samples were analyzed by a gas chromatograph coupled to a mass spectrometer. Potential sources of NPAHs were identified by NPAH ratios as well as principal component analysis. Lung function of children was tested by an electronic spirometer. The relationship between NPAH exposure level and children’s lung function was studied. Finally, the cancer risk caused by NPAH inhalation was assessed. The results showed significantly higher individual NPAH exposure level in heating season (0.901 ± 0.396 ng·m<sup>-3</sup>) than that in nonheating season (0.094 ± 0.107 ng·m<sup>-3</sup>). Coal/biomass combustion and secondary formation were the potential NPAH sources in heating season. Significantly lower lung function of children was also found in heating season compared with that in nonheating season. As a result of the Monte Carlo simulation, the averaged incremental lifetime cancer risk (ILCR) values from the inhalation of NPAHs in the heating and nonheating seasons were 3.50 × 10<sup>−8</sup> and 2.13 × 10<sup>−8</sup>, respectively. Our research revealed the association between NPAH exposure and children’s lung function and confirmed the adverse effect of indoor coal combustion. The results also indicated that further control strategies on indoor coal combustion are needed to reduce the risk of NPAH exposure and protect children’s health.</p>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140668546","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Indoor airPub Date : 2024-04-17DOI: 10.1155/2024/8834373
Yi-An Lin, Ying-Chieh Chan, Wan-Chen Lee
{"title":"Effects of Window Position and Exhaust Flow Rate on Residential Kitchen Hood Performance: A Validated Numerical Approach","authors":"Yi-An Lin, Ying-Chieh Chan, Wan-Chen Lee","doi":"10.1155/2024/8834373","DOIUrl":"10.1155/2024/8834373","url":null,"abstract":"<p>Previous studies showed that opening windows could help with kitchen ventilation in pollutant removal. However, no studies have systematically examined the impacts of window positions on kitchen hood performance, and there is insufficient information on indoor airflow characteristics and pollutant distribution from makeup air through open windows. Therefore, the objective of this study was to use a validated computational fluid dynamics approach with CO<sub>2</sub> as an indoor air quality indicator (a surrogate for cooking emissions) to understand the impacts of exhaust flow rate and the window opening position on the flow characteristics, concentration distribution, and capture efficiency (CE) of the hood. We conducted four-point validation tests of the numerical models based on CO<sub>2</sub> concentration and temperature measurements under steady-state conditions. The validated models were subsequently used in simulations to understand the effects of six different window opening positions and the two exhaust flow rates on exposure. We found that the CO<sub>2</sub> concentration could be better reduced by having windows open at the higher location. Generally, the front windows were more effective with CE > 80<i>%</i>, followed by the back and the side windows, respectively. We also found that as the exhaust flow rate increased from 6.72 to 12.16 m<sup>3</sup>/min, CE reached >75% for all window positions, where the most significant increase was 1.58 times for the lower side window. To sum up, changing the relative position of the window and the exhaust hood could help disperse the incoming airflow from the window, improve the kitchen’s overall ventilation, and reduce pollutant concentration.</p>","PeriodicalId":13529,"journal":{"name":"Indoor air","volume":"2024 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":5.8,"publicationDate":"2024-04-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"140692955","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":2,"RegionCategory":"环境科学与生态学","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}