Air Quality In Rooms Research Articles

WAYS FOR MINIMIZING THE NEGATIVE EFFECT OF TOBACCO AEROSOL COMPONENTS DURING PASSIVE SMOKING

Introduction. There are reported air quality assessment findings in enclosed spaces in experimental conditions using two kinds of nicotine-containing products - cigarettes and electronic nicotine delivery system (ENDS), seem to be the most common types of smoking. Мaterial and Methods. In the process of the experiment concentrations of tobacco aerosol components, i.e.: 12 chemicals and two aerosols were measured. Studies were carried out in isolated rooms under monitored microclimate parameters and uniform air mixing. Groups of volunteers using cigarettes or electronic nicotine delivery systems and the control non-smoker group participated in the study; everybody gave their informed consent for participation in the experiment. Control of background indices for comparison of air quality in rooms where tobacco products were being smoked was carried out. Results. Our studies allowing to identify chemicals evolving into the air of enclosed rooms where “PARLAMENT Aqua Blue” cigarettes were smoked or electronic tobacco delivery systems “CRICKET Classic 3.0” were used, to estimate total amount of chemicals in air. Prevailing chemicals affecting human health, which can be recommended for the use in calculations and air study of enclosed rooms exposed to tobacco aerosol, were identified. Estimated values of adverse chemical concentrations, air flow and air expenditure rate, resulting from experimental data allow designing ventilation system with regard to hygienic requirements based on maximum allowable concentration values for atmospheric air. Conclusions. Suggested recommendations on calculation of ventilation parameters to produce comfortable human environment in passive smoking conditions will improve air quality in public buildings.

Impact of physical and microbiological parameters on proper indoor air quality in nursery

Although the evaluation of air quality in the residential and office rooms has been significantly developed in recent decades, the issues associated with securing the air quality requirements in nurseries are still not well recognised. This study presents the results of tests regarding the physical and microbiological properties of air in selected rooms of a nursery, including the alternatively variable way of rooms ventilation. The experiment was conducted in four different rooms from the 20th of November 2017 to the 16th of April 2018. The constant measurements of basic parameters of physical air quality in rooms and outside as well as the measurements of microbiological and particulate matter contaminations were conducted in the chosen days of the analysis. The results have confirmed the unsatisfactory air quality in the rooms dedicated to small children. Modernisation of the ventilation system, from a natural one to the supply-exhaust ventilation, has lead to an improvement of physical property of the air, but it did not significantly improve its microbiological quality. Our research indicates that the controlled air flow, method of cleaning the premise and health condition of the children may have a great influence on the physical and microbiological quality of the air.

The Factors of Affect Indoor Air Quality Inpatient at Private Hospital, Pekanbaru, Indonesia.

BACKGROUND:Air quality in inpatient rooms influenced by several factors. Room not qualified health can cause disease and can spread through equipment, the material used, food and drink, health workers, patients and visitors.AIM:The purpose of this study is to know the factors that affect air quality in the inpatient room at a private hospital, Pekanbaru.METHODS:The research is quantitative analytic by design cut latitude study. Samples from 120 nurses were selected overall sampling. The data do with the measurement directly, interviews and observation using a questionnaire. Data analysed by using the chi-square with significance p-value less than 0.05.RESULTS:The quality of the air in inpatient rooms has met the standard. Variables are affecting air quality in inpatient rooms in the hospital significantly with p-value more than 0.05 is temperature, dust, the germ, density occupancy, sanitation room. While the moisture, standard operating procedures and behaviour is not significant.CONCLUSION:The factors that significantly affect indoor air quality inpatient hospitalisation are temperature, dust, germ numbers, occupancy density, room sanitation.

INDOOR AIR QUALITY AND MICROBIAL ASSESSMENT OF A NIGERIAN UNIVERSITY CAMPUS IN LAGOS, NIGERIA

Good indoor air quality improves productivity at the workplace. On the other hand, poor indoor air quality could lead to losses in productivity as a result of comfort problems, ill health and sickness-absenteeism. The aim of the study was to assess indoor air quality in various rooms of university buildings covering the offices, lecture theatre, laboratory or workshops and public restroom across eight faculties in a conventional university. Investigations were conducted at twenty-nine indoor locations in the main campus of University of Lagos. Noise level, PM2.5, PM10, relative humidity and temperature, CO, SO2, NOx, and the microbial quality (fungal and bacterial) were all determined. The microbial quality was determined using the sedimentation method (open petri dishes) containing different culture media for sample collection. Noise level ranged from 61.60 to 84.10 dBA. The noise level is quite high in almost all sampling points especially in the workshops, yet there was no significant difference (P>0.05) across all the indoor sampling points and the WHO limit.SO2 were mostly absence, however, the highest value of 0.4 ppm was recorded which was higher than recommended limit of 0.1 ppm.PM2.5 ranged between 4.0–25.0 µg/m3 and PM10 were between 8.0–47.0 µg/m3. Though, there was high variation in PM2.5 and PM10 across all the indoor sampling points, there were no significant difference (P>0.05). They were below the maximum limit of 150 µg/m3.The total fungi load ranged from 10.4 to 963 CFU/m3. There was generally higher number of fungi in the restroom than all the other indoor environments and they were significant in Faculty of social sciences. Fungi isolates include Aspergillus spp. (86.2%), unidentified mold (13.77%) and Sporothrix schenckii (0.03%). Total bacteria load ranged from 96.3 to 689 CFU/m3. The lowest load of bacteria (9.63 x 101 CFU/m3) was recorded in the dean’s office at the faculty of environmental science. The rest rooms have higher bacterial load (6.89 x 102 CFU/m3), which was higher than the recommended maximum limit of 500 CFU/m3. Identification from the colonies showed that about 55% were gram negative and 45% were gram negative cells. Morphological studies showed that cocci were also more predominant over the bacillary shape bacteria (55% versus 45%).

Indoor air in healing environments

PurposeSeveral countries have carried out air quality monitoring in professional workplaces where chemicals are used. Health-care spaces have been less investigated. This paper aims to define a protocol, as developed by a research group, for inpatient rooms to understand the state of the art and to suggest design and management strategies for improving process quality.Design/methodology/approachStarting from the ISO-16000 standard and guidelines for monitoring activities, a protocol is defined for a one year investigation, with passive samplers. Through data analysis of the investigations and analysis of the cleaning and finishing products, heating, ventilation and air conditioning and maintenance activities, etc., it is possible to highlight the potential influences of chemical pollution.FindingsA methodology is defined for understanding the chemical pollution and the possible factors related to construction materials, cleaning products and maintenance activities.Research limitations/implicationsThe paper analyzes only a limited number of case studies because the monitoring activity is still in progress.Practical implicationsThe investigation offers a starting point for a wide tool for the definition of design, maintenance and management strategies in health-care facilities.Social implicationsThe research project, aimed at improving the knowledge of indoor air quality (IAQ) in inpatient rooms, is a starting point for a supporting tool for future regulations concerning health-care facilities.Originality/valueIAQ is an issue on which many governments are focusing. Several health-care researchers have reported studies that aim at improving users’ health. Most investigations are about biological and physical risks, but chemical risks have been less studied. The paper suggests some design and management strategies for inpatient room.

An aerodynamic simulation study for the best positioning of a device to improve Operation Room air quality

BACKGROUND: Proper air ventilation and filtration in Operating Rooms (OR) are two prevention measures to avoid Surgical Site Infections (SSI), which cause increase of hospital staying, cost and death. For identifying how system ventilation variations may impact on the quality of OR air, ad hoc researches need be conducted. The aim is to study how a mobile air particle filtering system may impact on the air quality of the OR when placed in two different positions. METHODS: This descriptive study was conducted during April-May 2018 in an Italian University Hospital. We measured inflow and outflow air ventilations of both an OR and a mobile novel air decontamination-recirculation system unit having a patented crystalline ultraviolet C reactor and a high efficiency particulate air filter. OR was redesigned using the software Solidworks 2017 3D. Using experimental data, the interaction of airflows was graphically simulated by placing the device both next to the main OR entrance, with its airflow towards the surgical bed, and next to the latter, with the airflow towards the main entrance. RESULTS: The device has been able to modify the main flow of a normal air diffusion from the ceiling vents and has created a low pressure effect that drags the air into contact with potentially contaminated surfaces. Air contamination can occur when OR door is opened. If the device is positioned with its air intake next to the door, entry of particulate is facilitated, reducing the effectiveness of the positive pressure inside the OR. To avoid possible contamination caused by the device airstream, we have oriented its air intake towards the operating table. if the door is opened, the airstream helps to prevent the entry of contaminants. CONCLUSIONS: Different positioning of extra flows can significantly impact on air dynamic. Ad-hoc environmental measures are necessary for the most efficient positioning of the device.

Numerical study on air ventilation in the workshop room with multiple heat sources

In the present study, the application of computational fluid dynamic (CFD) to analyze air quality and thermal distribution in the workshop room with the multiple heat sources are investigated. In numerical study, a three-dimensional of a single-phase turbulent flow model is employed to analyze temperature distribution and fluid flow in workshop room. The initial and boundary conditions of the models are based on the experimental data. By solving the equations of continuity, momentum, and energy, the velocity and temperature distributions of air within workshop room are presented. It was found that the predicted air temperature and air velocity within the workshop room are consistent with the experimental results. The ventilation system positions and the installed position of equipment inside the workshop have significant effect on suction force which results in the accumulated heat and transport air pollution within the workshop room. The obtained results of the study are expected to lead to guidelines that will allow the designing the ventilation of air-cooling system to transport air pollution and accumulated heat for large workshop room coupled with multiple heat sources.

Standardization of building technology on demand via robotic

Although the basic installation arrangement and sequence within Technical Building Equipment, based on generation, distribution and transfer of energy quantities, has remained virtually unchanged for some time, this essentially grid-connected world of installations could soon change significantly for different reasons. This feasibility study presents an almost disruptive approach, based on mobile multifunctional, chargeable and unchargeable PCM-TGA robot technology, which should be able to perform room conditioning (esp. heating, room air quality) as well as room monitoring in at least two rooms via a mobile module. Charging takes place at a plug and play transfer station, e.g. via a decentralized heat pump system integrated in the brickwork. First, the authors show the transdisciplinary reasons, which are essentially socio-politically evidence-based, for the need for additive technological development. Then, both the overall system that consists of a decentralized plug-and-play heat pump transfer station integrated in the brickwork and a mobile robotized heat distribution system, which is not tied to a pipe system, are explained. Based on an exemplary floor plan, living areas will then be shown that require permanent conditioning as well as those that can have discontinuous conditioning via the robot. Feasibility is demonstrated by means of building simulation of the load profiles, leading to appropriate storage dimensioning using a suitable phase change material. Here the authors refer to their extensive theoretical and experimental knowledge in handling dynamic PCMs when creating a prototype. Finally, the technological approach undergoes a critical assessment.

Energy efficient fog-assisted IoT system for monitoring diabetic patients with cardiovascular disease

Blood glucose plays an important role in maintaining body’s activities. For example, brain only uses glucose as its energy source. However, when blood glucose level is abnormal, it causes some serious consequences. For instance, low-blood glucose phenomenon referred to as hypoglycemia can cause heart repolarization and induce cardiac arrhythmia causing sudden cardiac deaths. Diabetes, which can be viewed as a high-blood glucose level for a long period of time, is a dangerous disease as it can directly or indirectly cause heart attack, stroke, heart failure, and other vicious diseases. A solution for reducing the serious consequences caused by diabetes and hypoglycemia is to continuously monitor blood glucose level for real-time responses such as adjusting insulin levels from the insulin pump. Nonetheless, it is a misstep when merely monitoring blood glucose without considering other signals or data such as Electrocardiography (ECG) and activity status since they have close relationships. When hypoglycemia occurs, a fall can easily occur especially in case of people over 65 years old. Fall’s consequences are more hazardous when a fall is not detected. Therefore, we present a Fog-based system for remote health monitoring and fall detection. Through the system, both e-health signals such as glucose, ECG, body temperature and contextual data such as room temperature, humidity, and air quality can be monitored remotely in real-time. By leveraging Fog computing at the edge of the network, the system offers many advanced services such as ECG feature extraction, security, and local distributed storage. Results show that the system works accurately and the wearable sensor node is energy efficient. Even though the node is equipped with many types of sensors, it can operate in a secure way for up to 157 h per a single charge when applying a 1000 mAh Lithium battery.

CFD simulation of local exhaust ventilation for aviation fire-test lab

Excellent indoor air quality in an enclosed area has always become a major safety aspect in designing a building. Issues with regards to circulation of air and exhaust system must be first resolved before the said building can be used for any purposes. The goal of this study is to identify ways to improve air quality in the aviation fire test room at the Propulsion Laboratory that is located in Universiti Putra Malaysia (UPM), Selangor, Malaysia. A computational fluid dynamics (CFD) method was employed to predict the air contaminant inside the lab. When performing the activities, the indoor air quality have to be ensure circulated and ventilated in the lab. Using a mechanical fans and natural ventilation are a traditional method to provide indoor air quality into the propulsion. Whereby, this method may not be enough to provide the required indoor air quality for specific aviation fire-test setup. Such labs may suffer from increasing air contaminant based on the improper and irregular air distribution. A grid independent test (GIT) was done to reduce the effects of meshing on the results was carried out to estimate the discretization error. Computational fluid dynamic (CFD) method was carried out to identify a suitable ventilation system that would result in the greatest improvement in the indoor air quality (IAQ) inside the lab. The results of using the CFD simulation show that installing Local Exhaust Ventilation (LEV) at the lab could significantly improve the IAQ inside the lab. The airflow increase by 84% and the CO, CO2 and NO reduce by 84%, 89 and 81%, respectively. Improvement of the IAQ by increasing the airflow and reducing in the air CO, CO2, and NO, which can be considered as very significant achievement.

On hygienic regulation of microclimate and air quality in office rooms

On hygienic regulation of microclimate and air quality in office rooms

Development and Characterization of a white Led-Based Spectrophotometer for UV/VIS Gaseous Pollutants Detection Employing Michelson Interferometer and an Optical Filtering System

Aim of this paper is the design of an absorption spectrophotometer based on LED technology presenting several advantages such as high luminous efficiency, reliability, long operating duration, low maintenance and low power consumption besides the reduction of analyte temperature variations which occur if Xenon light source is used. An optical filtering system was realized to detect analyte absorption for each wavelength range selected by proper optical filters; also to characterize filtered light beam in terms of its coherence length, thus correlating measured absorption spectrum with light source characteristics, the Michelson interferometer was used. Realized white LED-based spectrophotometer can be used to monitor air quality in hospital rooms or to detect atmospheric pollution deriving from vehicular traffic and different typology of pollutants (e.g., heavy metals deriving by industrial activities). A PC-interfaced control unit acquires and processes raw data provided by sensors (pressure, temperature, humidity, luminosity) and manages the optical filtering system motion by actuating a stepper motor. Whole system operation was tested and obtained results confirm the proper functioning and correct interaction, through PC terminal, between user and control unit.

Indoor air quality investigation of a university library based on field measurement and questionnaire survey

This article presents field studies and questionnaire survey on the indoor air quality (IAQ) in library rooms in University of Science and Technology Beijing in April 2016, with no heating, to find out actual situation of IAQ in university library. Nine rooms equipped without centralized air-conditioning system were carefully selected for the test. Results showed that each room had diverse indoor thermal environment and concentrations of CO2, PM2.5, formaldehyde and TVOC. The concentration of CO2 ranged from 575 to 2400 ppm, PM2.5 concentration was 40–70% of the outdoor, the highest concentration of formaldehyde and TVOC was ~0.042 and 0.285 mg m−3, respectively with half of the upper limit. The concentrations of CO2 and PM2.5 in the holding-reading rooms were higher than that in the rooms only holding books. The situation of formaldehyde and TVOC concentrations was just opposite. The correlations between satisfaction of IAQ and the concentrations of indoor air pollutants were not as a constant, but changing with different rooms. Based on gray system theory, satisfactions were affected seriously by CO2 and PM2.5. One improving plan with the theme of ‘ventilating rapidly along with purifying’ was determined based on a general mass balance equation. In theory, IAQ can be improved <5 min for the most unfavorable condition. Through analysis, requirements of fresh air and functionality of the space usages should be considered in the ventilation or central air-conditioning system design.

The concentration of radon gas in air-conditioned indoor Air quality can increase the potential of lung cancer

Research has been conducted on the concentration of radon gas in air quality in air-conditioned rooms that can increase the potential for lung cancer. Indoor air quality is influenced by factors such as room occupants, material buildings, equipment and furniture in the room, contamination of pollutants from the outdoor air, seasonal influences, lighting, temperature, humidity, indoor noise, and ventilation. In addition, indoor air quality can be affected by radon gas. The concentration of radon gas is relatively high compared to other natural radionuclides. It is estimated that around 55% of the radionuclide concentration in nature comes from radon gas and is the largest source of radiation received by the world population, which is around 1.3 mSv/year. Based on the Risert of the National Institute of Occupational Health and Safety (NIOSH), America in 1997 as many as 52% of respiratory diseases associated with sick building syndrome stemmed from a lack of ventilation in the room and poor AC room performance, thus increasing the potential for lung cancer. The method used in this study is to determine the physical quantity and concentration of the radiation dose of radon gas in the room. The results show that air quality in terms of temperature, humidity, and noise is significantly still in compliance with environmental health requirements according to Kepmenkes No. 1405/Menkes/SK/XI/2002. But the lighting in the room has not been significantly fulfilled. Rooms with gypsum ceilings increase radiation doses and air-conditioned rooms can accumulate radiation doses evenly in the room.

The distribution of air temperature and velocity in the selected boiler room

The crucial impact on the indoor air quality in technological rooms, including boiler plant buildings, is made by operation of technological devices and ventilation systems. Therefore, the distribution of air temperature and velocity in these rooms mainly depends on location and heat gains generated by combustion devices, as well as emplacement of air supply and air exhaust elements. The temperature and airflow volume of supplied air is also an issue, because the indoor environment parameters are formed by the flow of air in the working area. Determination of the impact of physical factors on the thermal environment in a room is possible using an analysis of the air temperature and velocity. This issue is vital in terms of necessity to maintain the adequate heat conditions in the working area. Therefore, basing on the experimental measurements and numerical calculations (made in DesignBuilder software), the distribution of air temperature and velocity was analyzed in the selected industrial boiler room, located in the Lodz city, in Poland. The results obtained were compared with the recommended and limit values in the industrial buildings.

DALY indicator as an assessment tool for indoor air quality impact on human health

The quality of indoor environment is an extremely important issue, because people spend large parts of the day inside buildings. The quality of the indoor environment is largely dependent on the quality of indoor air. The parameters of the air we breathe affect our health and comfort of room use. Currently, when energy efficiency is a priority, it is difficult to maintain comfort and conditions appropriate for human health. The artificial environment in a room and related inadequate air quality cause many diseases, such as asthma, lung diseases, cardiovascular diseases, as well as poor well-being and reduced productivity. The Disability Adjusted Life Years (DALY) indicator means “loss of life corrected by disability” and is widely used by the World Health Organization to measure a disease burden on the population and identify the causes of a disease. The aim of the article is to present the structure of the DALY indicator and its suitability to assess the impact of indoor air quality on human health. The most frequent diseases caused by low quality of internal air were analysed based on statistical data. In addition, the possibilities of ventilation solutions have been presented, leading to the improvement of air quality in indoor environment.

Investigating the Impact of Ornamental Plants Correlated with Indoor Thermal Comfort and Eco-Energy

The need of energy for residence air conditioning continues increasing along with the improvement of human life quality. Therefore, the purpose of this paper is to explore the role of specific ornamental plants to increase the comfort of human thermal and energy savings for air conditioning. The research begins with a literature study about thermal comfort, the type of ornamental plants, and energy calculation in room. Afterwards, it continues with the selection of ornamental plants Boston Ferns, English Ivy, Peace Lily and Rhoeospathacea ornamental plants to be alternatively inserted into the climate chamber alternately, to find out the impact on air quality in room. Two measurement approaches are performed to calculate the impact on the occupants of the room, technical data (heart rate, blood pressure) and the perception of comfort in scale. From the result of the experiment, it was found that the increase of heart rate in a room with ornamental plants is more controllable than in a room without plants with a difference of 6 bpm to 20, whereas the perception of the room without plants shows a thermal dissatisfaction (predicted percentage of dissatisfaction = PPD) of 59,1%,whereas the best comfort place is the room with Peace Lily plants, which is PPD = 11,1%. Boston Ferns plants saved the most with the score of 62, 66 kJ, equivalent to 0.0174 kWh.

Simulations of the impacts of building height layout on air quality in natural-ventilated rooms around street canyons.

Numerical simulations were conducted to investigate the effects of building height ratio (i.e., HR, the height ratio of the upstream building to the downstream building) on the air quality in buildings beside street canyons, and both regular and staggered canyons were considered for the simulations. The results show that the building height ratio affects not only the ventilation fluxes of the rooms in the downstream building but also the pollutant concentrations around the building. The parameter, outdoor effective source intensity of a room, is then proposed to calculate the amount of vehicular pollutants that enters into building rooms. Smaller value of this parameter indicates less pollutant enters the room. The numerical results reveal that HRs from 2/7 to 7/2 are the favorable height ratios for the regular canyons, as they obtain smaller values than the other cases. While HR values of 5/7, 7/7, and 7/5 are appropriate for staggered canyons. In addition, in terms of improving indoor air quality by natural ventilation, the staggered canyons with favorable HR are better than those of the regular canyons.

Overregulation Revisited

To the Editor The Atchabahian and Boublik1 quotes from USP 797, “Pharmaceutical Compounding – Sterile Preparations” in the United States Pharmacopeia National Formulary, only apply to compounded sterile preparations and are not applicable to simple intravenous (IV) and arterial line setups. Morey’s2 statement, “Currently, arterial line setups must be used within an hour of preparation, preventing health care providers from having a setup ready for the patient. According to the USP 797 guidelines, ‘sterile contents of commercially manufactured products’ such as an arterial line setup that are created in ‘room air quality worse than ISO [International Organization for Standardization] Class 5’ are considered ‘contaminated or at high risk to become contaminated’ if they are not used within 1 hour” is incorrect. USP 797 only refers to pharmaceutical compounding of sterile preparations. Because commercially prepared arterial line flush solutions and IV solutions are not compounded, these preparations are not subject to time limits between spiking and use. The important distinction here is that the simple spiking of a sterile, commercially prepared solution should not be confused with compounding. A personal communication from USP chief liaison officer for chapter 797, Rick Schnatz, PharmD, verified that USP 797 refers solely to compounded preparations and not the simple spiking of manufactured sterile products. If we were to accept the notion that an IV or arterial line flush bag becomes contaminated 1 hour after spiking, then we must accept that time-dependent contamination would also continue after the IV or arterial line has been attached to a patient. By that reasoning, all IV and arterial line setups should be replaced every hour. This simple, and unfortunately common misunderstanding of USP 797, may have led and could lead to unnecessary, costly, and burdensome overregulation by well-intended hospital administrators unless it is stopped. As an example at our institution, the administration proposed a more than $1 million facilities modification to create an ISO class 5 clean room in the operating area. This room was to be dedicated solely to spiking IV bags and arterial line setups. After several meetings and email exchanges, reason eventually prevailed. An overzealous and misguided administration can needlessly increase operational expense while simultaneously decreasing operational efficiency with no benefit to patient care. John G. Brock-Utne, MD, PhDDepartment of Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain MedicineStanford University School of MedicineStanford, California[email protected] Joseph Sanford, MDDepartment of AnesthesiologyUniversity of Arkansas for Medical SciencesLittle Rock, Arkansas Richard A. Jaffe, MD, PhDDepartment of Anesthesiology, Perioperative & Pain MedicineStanford University School of MedicineStanford, California

The analysis of PM2.5 Outdoor Fine Particulate Matter Impact on Air Quality in the University Libraries Reading Room in Winter of North China

The frequent occurrence of haze, does not only pollute the indoor air quality seriously, but also endanger human health. University library is one of the most high frequency and close contact college environment for students, so it should keep good indoor air quality. But with the arrival of the northern heating period, outdoor airborne particulate matter concentration would increase and permeate the room through the windows and doors gap. With the frequently movement of people, it suspends in the air for a long time, seriously affects environmental quality of the reading room. In this paper, the diffusion mechanism of outdoor PM2.5 into the indoor is studied under different levels of haze pollution of a university library in north. Through the use of aerosol detector and other related equipment on the indoor and outdoor fine particulate PM2.5 pollutant concentration measured, analysis indoor and outdoor fine particulate matter pollution correlation, and determine the relevant factors.