Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering最新文献

{"title":"Polyethylene terephthalate and polypropylene nanoplastics toxicity in vitro: Comparative analysis of paraquat adsorption and cytotoxicity","authors":"Milad Babaei,&nbsp;Amir Nili-Ahmadabadi,&nbsp;Ahmad Ebadi,&nbsp;Akram Ranjbar","doi":"10.1007/s40201-025-00970-0","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-025-00970-0","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>According to global statistics, approximately 400 million tons of plastic are produced worldwide each year, yet only about 9% is recycled. Environmental degradation of plastics generates microplastics and nanoplastics, which have been shown to induce oxidative stress, genotoxicity, and endocrine disruption. Additionally, nanoplastics can adsorb environmental pollutants, act as transport vectors within biological systems, and alter pollutant toxicokinetics. In this study, we conducted a comparative analysis of paraquat adsorption and in vitro cytotoxicity of polyethylene terephthalate nanoplastics (n-PET) and polypropylene nanoplastics (n-PP). The results showed that n-PET exhibited significantly higher adsorption capacity for paraquat than n-PP, with maximum interaction observed at pH 11 and particle sizes below 100 nm. In vitro experiments using the human embryonic kidney (HEK-293) cell line demonstrated higher cytotoxicity for n-PET compared to n-PP. Co-exposure to n-PET and paraquat resulted in significantly greater cytotoxic effects than exposure to either agent alone. IC₅₀ values were determined at 24, 48, and 72 h. Furthermore, both nanoplastics disrupted cellular redox homeostasis, with n-PET inducing a more pronounced oxidative imbalance than n-PP. These findings indicate that n-PET may act as a stronger carrier of paraquat and pose a greater toxicological risk under co-exposure scenarios, highlighting the importance of nanoplastic–pollutant interactions in environmental risk assessment.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-06-04","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148172591","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Mitigating indoor risk of airborne infections using CO2 and PM measurements in university classroom: the MIRAI project","authors":"Riccardo Mazzoli,&nbsp;Tommaso Filippini,&nbsp;Grazia Ghermandi,&nbsp;Marco Vinceti,&nbsp;Alessandro Bigi","doi":"10.1007/s40201-026-00984-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-026-00984-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Indoor air quality (IAQ) impacts well-being and the spread of airborne diseases, particularly in multi-occupancy environments like classrooms. Carbon dioxide (CO₂) and particulate matter (PM) levels have been used in continuous monitoring as indicators of indoor air quality.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>We used cost-effective sensors to assess levels of CO2 and PM in two Italian university classrooms (Unit 1 and Unit 2), differing in size and ventilation, from March 2022 to May 2023. For CO2 and PM monitoring we used respectively ARANET4 sensors and Optical Particle Counters (OPC) assessing aerosol diameter size distribution between 350 nm and 40 μm in order to evaluate trends in IAQ and the influence of environmental factors including ventilation, occupancy, and season.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The naturally ventilated classroom (Unit 1) exhibited higher CO2 and PM concentrations with greater variability, whereas the HVAC-supported one (Unit 2) maintained more consistent air quality but faced occasional spikes. Occupancy also affected CO2 and PM levels, with higher variability in Unit 1 characterized by lower size and generally full occupancy. Seasonal trends highlighted increased PM levels during colder months due to reduced ventilation in both units.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>In this feasibility study, variations in building design, ventilation strategies, and occupancy dynamics were associated with corresponding patterns in IAQ, supporting the use of low-cost, user-friendly sensors as practical tools to characterize ventilation performance and to inform interventions aimed at safer learning spaces. Implementation of CO2 and PM measurements as proxy indicators of ventilation adequacy and of potential airborne infection risk, along with outreach programs and guidelines to educate teachers and students about relevance of IAQ assessment is recommended to promote occupant health and mitigate risk of airborne disease transmission.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-30","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC13222144/pdf/","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148142398","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances and risk of reproductive system cancers: A systematic review and meta-analysis","authors":"Xin Liu,&nbsp;Zhihong Lv,&nbsp;Zixiang Huang,&nbsp;Rui Sun,&nbsp;Dingyu Zhu,&nbsp;Pengcheng Xu,&nbsp;Yiquan Xiong,&nbsp;Xiaowei Guo,&nbsp;Yaxuan Ren,&nbsp;Junhua Zhou","doi":"10.1007/s40201-026-00981-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-026-00981-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS), a class of highly stable synthetic organic compounds, have been detected ubiquitously in human biological samples, raising significant concerns about their safety. The aim of this study was to investigate whether PFAS exposure is associated with higher risk of reproductive cancers.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>Four databases were searched from inception to August 2025. Case-control or cohort studies that examined the association between serum/plasma exposure to five PFAS (perfluorooctanoic acid [PFOA], perfluorooctane sulfonic acid [PFOS], perfluorohexane sulfonic acid [PFHxS], perfluorononanoic acid [PFNA] and perfluorinated sulfonic acids [PFSA]) and reproductive system cancers, including female reproductive system (breast and ovarian cancers) and male reproductive system (prostate and testicular cancers), were included.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>21 case-control studies were included. Pooled adjusted odds ratios (aORs) showed no significant association between PFAS exposure and female reproductive cancers. When comparing highest to lowest exposure, pooled aORs were 1.09 (95% CI 0.83–1.43) for PFOA, 1.11 (0.82–1.48) for PFOS, 0.96 (0.68–1.36) for PFHxS, 1.11 (0.79–1.56) for PFNA, and 1.14 (0.46–2.80) for PFSA. PFOS showed a marginal positive association with male reproductive cancers 1.25 (1.02–1.52), whereas PFOA showed no association 0.87 (0.65–1.17). Notably, PFNA per ln-unit increase was significantly associated with female reproductive cancers 1.39 (1.07–1.79) in sensitivity analyses.</p><h3>Conclusions</h3><p>Overall, serum PFAS exposure was not significantly associated with female reproductive cancers, though PFNA showed a potential positive association in sensitivity analysis. PFOS may be associated with increased risk for male reproductive cancers.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"148136031","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Intelligent models as novel tools for optimizing ultrasonication-ozonation technique in PAH-contaminated soil remediation","authors":"Farhad Qaderi,&nbsp;Abolhassan Banisheikholeslami,&nbsp;Amin Tamadoni","doi":"10.1007/s40201-026-00980-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-026-00980-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) pose serious risks to soil and human health, necessitating effective remediation strategies. This study investigates the efficiency of hybrid ultrasonication-ozonation treatment for the removal of Anthracene (ANT) and Phenanthrene (PHE) from contaminated soils, outperforming individual methods. Experimental results demonstrated that the hybrid method achieved superior removal efficiencies, with maximum values of 70.4% for ANT and 92.0% for PHE at an initial concentration of 350 mg/kg. In contrast, pure ultrasonication reached lower removal rates of 38.9% for ANT and 45.8% for PHE at 390 mg/kg, while ozonation alone achieved 68.4% and 77.1%, respectively. These results highlight the synergistic effect of ultrasonication and ozonation in enhancing PAHs degradation. Machine learning algorithms were developed to predict PAHs removal efficiencies, with the Boosting model achieving the highest predictive accuracy (R² = 0.999 in training and 0.865 in testing datasets). SHAP analysis revealed that Ozone concentration, ultrasonic power, water volume, and initial contaminant concentration were the most influential features. Non-linear relationships and thresholds were observed, particularly for water volume and ultrasonic power, indicating optimal ranges beyond which removal efficiency declined. The study also underscores the critical role of soil texture, especially silt content, in modulating remediation outcomes. These findings provide valuable insights for optimizing PAH removal through advanced oxidation processes.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-19","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147985952","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Alternative urban drinking water supply scenarios under climate change: evaluation of carbon footprint and energy demands","authors":"Soheil Safari,&nbsp;Ahmad Sharafati,&nbsp;Mohammad Mosaferi,&nbsp;Mahdi Zarghami,&nbsp;Neda Gilani","doi":"10.1007/s40201-026-00977-1","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-026-00977-1","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Climate change in recent years, particularly in the form of increased temperatures and higher evaporation, has contributed to the stress on freshwater resources in arid and semi-arid regions. On the other hand, population growth and increased water demand have made the supply of high-quality water a global challenge. Furthermore, lower energy consumption, along with a reduced carbon footprint, of urban water supply systems has been vital to all communities. In the present study, five different drinking water supply scenarios in a cold, semi-arid city were proposed and compared with a novel methodological approach. The comparison was conducted based on carbon footprint and energy consumption, contrasting each scenario with the existing system. Technical calculations were done on the basis of field data, expertise of concerned authorities, and set standards, while carbon footprints were simulated using SimaPro software. Results show that network-based scenarios, such as dedicated potable water networks and decentralized drinking water stations, have the smallest carbon footprints, while bottled water has the highest emissions. Implementation of bottled water in the studied city would increase daily carbon emissions to over 3,203.1 tons. It was found that the separation of potable water and sanitary water in the current network may lead to the reduction of daily carbon emissions by 130.5 tons, with a possibility of up to 184.1 tons in localized network setups. Ultimately, it is concluded that the adoption of low-carbon, network-based water supply alternatives would reduce energy consumption and operating costs, while also enhancing public health.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147830079","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Evaluation of cigarette butt pollution index and associated heavy metal leakage in urban and rural environments of Iran","authors":"Masoud Yousefi,&nbsp;Fatemeh Torkaman Asadi,&nbsp;Ahmad Badeenezhad,&nbsp;Mohammad Ansarizadeh,&nbsp;Lida Rafati,&nbsp;Javad Torkashvand","doi":"10.1007/s40201-026-00976-2","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-026-00976-2","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><p>Although cigarette butts (CBs) are known as a hazardous waste and an important litter in public environments, the density of littered cigarette butts in rural areas and the concentration of pollutants leaking from them remain a knowledge gap. This study aimed to investigate the difference in cigarette butt density in urban and rural areas of Iran and the environmental consequences caused by the leakage of various pollutants from them, by comparing the Cigarette Butt Pollution Index (CBPI). </p><h3>Method</h3><p>Visual surveys were conducted in seven locations in urban environments and sixteen locations in eight villages.</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The range of cigarette butt density in urban environments was 0.25/m2 to 0.81/m2 (0.46/m2 on average), while in rural environments, it was 0.8/m2 to 2.33/m2 (1.54/m2 on average). Additionally, the CBPI in rural areas was three times higher than in urban areas, resulting in an average CBPI of 31.24 in rural areas and 10.7 in urban areas. In addition, the higher durability of cigarette butts in rural environments resulted in the leakage of 1.09–2.38 µg/m2 of heavy metals, while the leakage of metals from littered cigarette butts in urban environments was estimated to be 0.065–0.406 µg/m2.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>Developing public services such as cleaning systems in rural environments is essential to reduce pollution caused by cigarette butts.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-05-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147829935","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Evaluating the impact of land use on urban surface water quality: a case study of the Western Tehran watershed","authors":"Zabih Charrahy,&nbsp;Sanaz Minookadeh,&nbsp;Mehdi Esmaeili Bidhendi,&nbsp;Seiyed Mossa Hosseini","doi":"10.1007/s40201-026-00975-3","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-026-00975-3","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The quality of urban surface waters is strongly influenced by land-use patterns, and changes in the type and intensity of human activities can exert significant impacts on the ecological health of aquatic systems. This study aims to evaluate the effects of land use on the water quality of the Kan River in the western Tehran watershed using the IRWQIsc index and spatial–statistical analyses. To achieve this, land-use maps were updated using Sentinel, Landsat, and Google Earth imagery, and water-quality data were collected from 10 sampling stations during 2024–2025. Land-use characteristics were analyzed within six spatial buffer zones (100, 500, 1000, 2000, 3000, and 5000 m). The results showed a considerable decline in water-quality index scores toward the downstream sections of the river. Agricultural, industrial, and commercial land uses exhibited the strongest associations with increased levels of nitrogenous, phosphorous, and organic pollutants. Redundancy Analysis (RDA) revealed that with increasing spatial scale, the influence of land-use classes on water-quality parameters shifts from point-source to multi-factor patterns. Green spaces and barren lands showed inverse relationships with pollutant concentrations, maintaining their protective role across all spatial scales. The findings underscore the significance of multi-scale spatial analysis for integrated urban water-quality management and provide a foundation for environmental planning and water-resource policymaking in the Tehran metropolitan region.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-03-03","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147336377","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Factors affecting the microbiological air quality in a school corridor - a case study","authors":"Kamran Ayaz,&nbsp;Ewa Zabłocka-Godlewska,&nbsp;Małgorzata Adamiec-Organiściok,&nbsp;Magdalena Skonieczna","doi":"10.1007/s40201-026-00974-4","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-026-00974-4","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Purpose</h3><p>Investigation of Indoor Bioaerosol Concentration (IBC) with potential health risks assesment, with dependence on number of present people, temperature and relative humidity (RH) in school corridor space, which remain under-researched spaces.</p><h3>Methods</h3><p>The impact method (AirIdeal 3P) was used for measurements of IBC including α- and β-hemolytic bacteria, <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i>, mannitol(+)<i>Staphylococci</i>, <i>Pseudomonas aeruginosa</i>, mesophiles, psychrophiles, actinomycetes, fungi. Genetical identification of <i>S. aureus</i> and hemolytic bacteria (MecA gene analysis, 16 S rRNA sequencing, and phylogenetic analysis) were performed. Pearson’s correlation was used to assess the association between student occupancy and IBC, while Spearman’s rank correlation was used to evaluate relationships between microclimatic conditions and IBC (<i>p</i> &lt; 0.05).</p><h3>Results</h3><p>The highest concentrations of mannitol(+)<i>Staphylococci</i> (2510 CFU m⁻³), <i>S. aureus</i> (1360 CFU m⁻³), and mesophiles (2520 CFU m⁻³) were observed on days with the largest number of students (264). All bacterial groups showed I/O &gt; 1, while fungi showed I/O &lt; 1. Indoors, the highest mean concentration was reached by psychrophiles (1403 CFU m⁻³). Pearson’s correlation was significant for mannitol(+)<i>Staphylococci</i> (<i>r</i> = 0.85), <i>Staphylococcus aureus</i> (<i>r</i> = 0.79), and mesophiles (<i>r</i> = 0.76), showing the dynamic and positive relationship between student number and IBC. MecA gene and 16 S rRNA analysis confirmed the presence of <i>S. aureus</i>. 16 S rRNA and phylogenetic analysis of β-hemolytic bacteria revealed the <i>Staphylococcus</i> (33%), <i>Bacillus</i> (33%), <i>Corynebacterium</i> (20%) as dominant genera. Spearman’s rank correlation revealed a weak correlation between meteorological factors and IBC.</p><h3>Conclusion</h3><p>The presence of potential airborne pathogens with proven internal sources underscores the need for detailed monitoring of corridor air quality.</p></div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-23","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"147300653","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"Pharmaceuticals in leachate from worldwide municipal waste landfills: a review","authors":"Anna Krysztopik,&nbsp;Izabela Anna Tałałaj,&nbsp;Justyna Kapelewska,&nbsp;Róża Sawczuk","doi":"10.1007/s40201-026-00972-6","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-026-00972-6","url":null,"abstract":"<div><p>Pharmaceuticals are emerging contaminants that are commonly found in the environment. They can also be found in leachate from landfills, which enters due to improper handling of pharmaceutical waste (throwing it into the trash). This paper aims to review pharmaceutical's occurrence in leachates from municipal landfills with a particular focus on pharmaceuticals planned for monitoring in surface waters in EU countries, as well as to prioritize the environmental risks associated with individual compounds. The data on the occurrence of individual pharmaceuticals in leachates were grouped into anti-inflammatory and analgesic drugs, hormonal drugs, anticonvulsants and antidepressants, and others. A total of 268 study results were identified, containing determinations of 110 pharmaceuticals, drug components and their metabolites. The largest number of studies concerned diclofenac, carbamazepine, ibuprofen and gemfibrozil, where diclofenac and ibuprofen had the highest concentrations in their group. Three of them (diclofenac, carbamazepine and ibuprofen) will be added to the list of priority substances in surface water, according to a proposed amendment to Directive 2008/105/EC on environmental quality standards for water policy. Risk assessment based on a prioritization index revealed that ten pharmaceutical compounds present in landfill leachates pose a very high environmental risk. These include ibuprofen, 17-beta-estradiol, estrone, and diclofenac. Even treated landfill leachates can be a source of pharmaceuticals in surface waters. Therefore, the need to define standards or guidelines regarding limit values ​​for selected pharmaceuticals contained in treated leachates should be considered, with emphasis on substances presenting the highest ecological risk.</p><h3>Graphical abstract</h3><div><figure><div><div><picture><source><img></source></picture></div></div></figure></div></div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146218251","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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":"CFD study on the impact of pedestal fan ventilation and patient inclination on cough aerosol dispersion in dental environments","authors":"Aeswin Lawrance,&nbsp;Kamalesh Singararaj,&nbsp;Saravanan Balaji,&nbsp;Harish Rajan","doi":"10.1007/s40201-026-00973-5","DOIUrl":"10.1007/s40201-026-00973-5","url":null,"abstract":"<div>\u0000 \u0000 <p>The dispersion of cough-generated aerosols in enclosed healthcare environments poses a significant risk of airborne transmission, necessitating effective ventilation strategies to safeguard patients and healthcare staff. Conventional ceiling-mounted ventilation systems often fail to rapidly remove particles from the breathing zone, motivating the need for localized airflow enhancement. This study investigates the combined effect of pedestal fan-assisted ventilation and patient coughing inclination on aerosol transport, droplet clearance, and infection risk within a dental room. A transient computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model was developed to simulate the evolution of cough-generated droplets under varying patient inclinations and different fan speeds. The results reveal that particle transport is governed by the interplay of cough jet momentum, aerodynamic drag, turbulent dispersion, and gravitational settling. At 0°, droplets remain suspended, resulting in the highest infection risk, exceeding 75% under low airflow conditions. With a 30° inclination, the risk decreases to 64%, while at 45° it further reduces to 42% under low airflow and to 26% under high airflow, confirming the optimal alignment of cough momentum with ventilation streamlines. The droplet number fraction also shows the greatest reduction at 45°, decreasing by 21.5% under low airflow and by 28.4% under high airflow compared to 0°. Larger droplets consistently settle due to gravity, whereas smaller aerosols remain entrained until cleared by the outlet-directed airflow. The findings demonstrate that optimizing patient inclination, particularly at 45°, in conjunction with higher fan speeds, significantly enhances particle clearance and reduces infection risk. This approach can be effectively applied in dental clinics and similar indoor settings, where quick aerosol control is essential to reduce the risk of cross-infections.</p>\u0000 </div>","PeriodicalId":628,"journal":{"name":"Journal of Environmental Health Science and Engineering","volume":"24 1","pages":""},"PeriodicalIF":3.0,"publicationDate":"2026-02-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"146177312","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":4,"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}