Indoor Air Quality Regulation Research Articles

Associations between fine particulate matter, gene expression, and promoter methylation in human bronchial epithelial cells exposed within a classroom under air-liquid interface

Associations between indoor air pollution from fine particulate matter (PM with aerodynamic diameter dp < 2.5 μm) and human health are poorly understood. Here, we analyse the concentration-response curves for fine and ultrafine PM, the gene expression, and the methylation patterns in human bronchial epithelial cells (BEAS-2B) exposed at the air-liquid interface (ALI) within a classroom in downtown Rome.Our results document the upregulation of aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR) and genes associated with xenobiotic metabolism (CYP1A1 and CYP1B1) in response to single exposure of cells to fresh urban aerosols at low fine PM mass concentrations within the classroom. This is evidenced by concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs, dp < 0.1 μm), polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH), and ratios of black carbon (BC) to organic aerosol (OA). Additionally, an interleukin 18 (IL-18) down-regulation was found during periods of high human occupancy.Despite the observed gene expression dysregulation, no changes were detected in the methylation levels of the promoter regions of these genes, indicating that the altered gene expression is not linked to changes in DNA methylation and suggesting the involvement of another epigenetic mechanism in the gene regulation.Gene expression changes at low exposure doses have been previously reported. Here, we add the possibility that lung epithelial cells, when singly exposed to real environmental concentrations of fine PM that translate into ultra-low doses of treatment, may undergo epigenetic alteration in the expression of genes related to xenobiotic metabolism.Our findings provide a perspective for future indoor air quality regulations. We underscore the potential role of indoor UFPs as carriers of toxic molecules with low-pressure weather conditions, when rainfall and strong winds may favour low levels of fine PM.

Indoor pollution control based on surrogate model for residential buildings

Individuals typically spend most of their lives indoors, predominantly in spaces like offices and residences. Consequently, prolonged indoor exposure underscores the critical significance of maintaining optimal indoor air quality (IAQ) to safeguard one's health. The primary impediment to attaining efficient regulation of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is the challenge of monitoring the IAQ parameters, particularly within the immediate vicinity of an individual's breathing space. Current heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems lack the ability to rapidly predict and optimize the quality of indoor air. The objective of this study is to acquire the distribution features of indoor pollutants and precise indoor environment data in order to efficiently forecast and enhance the IAQ. To achieve this objective, a proposed surrogate model was developed using computational fluid dynamics (CFD). Notably, the Kriging surrogate model can rapidly predict IAQ while using a limited number of CFD runs. CFD are widely used as numerical simulation methods to obtain the accurate information. Surrogate models can rapidly forecast indoor environmental conditions using CFD simulation data simultaneously. Optimization algorithms can efficiently achieve desirable indoor ambient conditions, offering highly effective and intelligent control techniques for indoor atmospheric ventilation.

Optimizing Winter Air Quality in Pig-Fattening Houses: A Plasma Deodorization Approach.

This study aimed to evaluate the effect of two circulation modes of a plasma deodorization unit on the air environment of pig-fattening houses in winter. Two pig-fattening houses were selected, one of which was installed with a plasma deodorizing device with two modes of operation, alternating internal and external circulation on a day-by-day basis. The other house did not have any form of treatment and was used as the control house. Upon installing the system, this study revealed that in the internal circulation mode, indoor temperature and humidity were sustained at elevated levels, with the NH3 and H2S concentrations decreasing by 63.87% and 100%, respectively, in comparison to the control house. Conversely, in the external circulation mode, the indoor temperature and humidity remained subdued, accompanied by a 16.43% reduction in CO2 concentration. The adept interchange between these two operational modes facilitates the regulation of indoor air quality within a secure environment. This not only effectively diminishes deleterious gases in the pig-fattening house but also achieves the remote automation of environmental monitoring and hazardous gas management; thereby, it mitigates the likelihood of diseases and minimizes breeding risks.

Indoor air quality control at national-level regulations: A special case in Indonesia

Introduction: While many national-level governments have worked to tighten atmospheric air quality standard, the Authors observe, Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) control as part of building-codes have remained understudied and not yet enforced in many national-level regulations. The COVID-19 pandemic seemed to trigger an immediate response worldwide for IAQ control. Indoor air pollutants need to be tightly regulated. International agencies have produced recommendations to cope with the pandemic, however, national- level IAQ standards and building codes have been slow to adapt.&#x0D; Materials and methods: IAQ regulations from various nations worldwide were studied along with the international standards: The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), and World Health Organization (WHO). A comprehensive review was conducted comparing the national-level building codes and regulations as legal implementation instruments. Focus group discussions were also conducted to complement preliminary findings and further analysis.&#x0D; Results: Except for Indonesia, bacteria and fungi have been categorized as infectious aerosols in many national-level regulations that fare up to the international standards as indoor air pollutants with their acceptable levels. However, while they set thresholds for pollutants, their effectiveness regulating IAQ in public buildings remain unknown. It also found that there is a significant lack of national building codes in Indonesia.&#x0D; Conclusion: The COVID-19 epidemic raises awareness of IAQ. The health aspect is currently being prioritized, particularly in Indonesia, where the majority of related regulations are still fragmented and prioritize energy conservation over health. This study can inform policymakers with evidence of IAQ control and practices worldwide for applicable regulatory building and implementation, as well as for health emergency and disaster risk management.

Improving Indoor Air Quality through Standardization

Human beings experience a large fraction of their exposure to air pollutants in indoor environments. Air pollution is a large environmental health risk, and exposure to ambient air pollution and indoor air pollution contribute equally to the total number of fatalities worldwide. Although legislative authorities have established limit values for ambient outdoor air and stack emissions, there are inconsistent and variable national and regional limit values for gaseous substances and airborne particulate matter in the built environment (schools, homes, healthcare facilities, offices, and other public spaces). This lack of regulation is unsurprising, because indoor spaces are characterized by complex air chemistry, and their construction materials and types of activities vary significantly. The current understanding of indoor pollutants, including short-lived oxidants, degradation of VOCs, particle formation, and particle composition, is incomplete. It is necessary to identify and assess emerging pollutants and their toxicity, and to consider new consumer products and green construction materials and their impact on indoor air quality (IAQ). Learning from IAQ surveys and audit protocols, research methodologies should be regularized for cross-research comparisons. Some indoor air quality guidance and standards have been written, and several more are in development, with the international ISO 16000 series of indoor standards leading the way for improving indoor air data quality. The WHO has established some ambient air limit values which can mostly be translated into indoor limit values. The built environment needs to harmonize energy efficiency, thermal comfort and air quality standards and guidance. In this review, we discuss the next steps for improving international, regional and national standards and guidance, leading to better and more complete indoor air quality regulations.

Implications of Indoor Air Pollution in Business Buildings in Nigeria

Globally, the majority of individuals spend 90 percent of their daily routine time indoors. Outside air pollution adds to the toxins created in interior spaces owing to heating and cooling, which has a substantial impact on person healthiness (illness that results in mortality and morbidity) and productiveness. This study investigates the implications of air pollution on interior air quality in commercial buildings such as event centres in Kogi State, Nigeria. Descriptive research approach was used with a questionnaire administered to 120 participants chosen through a random sampling procedure in business buildings. Findings indicated that inadequate window and tiny door size, including absence of mechanical cooling devices linked favourably with higher temperature in the interior but negatively with its moistness. The results show that indoor air quality has negatively impacted on the workforce performance and productivity of the customers, and also on the efficiency of their activities in the event centres. Implication for practice is that designs of apertures should be large enough to allow for cross ventilation while mechanical cooling systems should be included in the design for optimal interior air quality. The study recommends synergistic interventions from academics, policymakers, and occupational practitioners to improve national standard and its implementation for the management and regulation of indoor air quality in inside settings in Nigeria

Progress on indoor air quality regulation in India

Progress on indoor air quality regulation in India

Commuters health risk associated with particulate matter exposures in subway system – Globally

The effects of air pollution within subway systems on public health has far been overlooked. A few previous studies have warned that particulate matter (PM)-bound metals in subway air pose a serious threat to public health, but these have been limited by insufficient risk measurement and limited regional data. Present study aimed to determine the levels of human health risk associated with PM10 and PM2.5-bound trace metals in twelve city subways across North America, Asia, and Europe using the human exposure method. Human health risks were estimated via ingestion, inhalation, and dermal exposure methods. The Monte Carlo statistical method using 50,000 iterations was adopted to calculate the probable risk levels for children and adults. Significant levels of non-cancer and cancer risks (CR) were found in subway systems at all regions, regardless of age, although CR were relatively higher in adults. Inhalation and dermal absorption, in which the acceptable range of carcinogenic risk for subway systems was exceeded. Exposure through ingestion made the greatest contributions to overall CR. Among the all subways Tehran and Seoul were estimated as higher CR zone (Total CR > 10−3). Therefore, the Asian subway systems is not only polluted with respect to particulate matter but also recognized as a highly CR zone among the other continents. Cr and Pb have been identified as PM-bound carcinogenic elements that significantly influence cancer risk by inhalation/dermal absorption and ingestion, respectively. Although, the subway is a convenient transportation system for millions of city inhabitants globally, but these findings support the view that indoor air pollutant levels in subway systems can have a serious impact on the cancerous and non-cancerous risks to human health. Strengthening the regulation of indoor air quality or the application of active air purification techniques in subway systems are highly suggested to manage the worst situation.

Evaluating the Indoor Air Quality after Renovation at the Greens in Dubai, United Arab Emirates

The Public Health and Safety Department of Dubai Municipality had evaluated the indoor air quality in public buildings in 2013, then established the IAQ (Indoor Air Quality) regulation. Even though IAQ in public building is in control, indoor air pollution in new and renovated housing is still very problematic. The objective of this paper is to measure the indoor air quality of the residential unit in an apartment after renovation to evaluate the actual condition and to analyze the influential factors. As a methodology, field measurements, resident interviews, and observations were conducted for 20 residential units to investigate basic information, renovation contents, ventilation characteristics, and SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) symptoms. The results showed that renovation related to the indoor air quality was the replacement of finishing materials. It was statistically proven that the average CO2 for each house was 683–2309.4 ppm, and 15 houses exceeded the WHO IAQ standards. TVOC had an average concentration of 0–3.0 ppm per house, exceeding the standard in 10 houses. Formaldehyde (CH2O) had an average concentration of 0–1.02 ppm per house, exceeding the WHO IAQ standard (0.1 ppm) in 12 houses. However, even though the indoor air quality was polluted, the residents were hardly aware of it based on subjective response survey. As the amount of renovation increases, the concentration of formaldehyde (CH2O) increases significantly, and excessive renovation should be avoided. This study will serve as a basic dataset to suggest that the new IAQ regulation not be compulsory for residents; rather, they must induce contractors with stipulation to maintain IAQ during and after renovation.

제주국제공항 여객터미널의 실내 미세먼지 분석에 관한 연구

This study was conducted to analyse indoor air quality of the Juju International Airport such as fine dust. Density of fine dust, one of major component to figure out a indoor air quality, was measured from 2014 to 2018. The test was performed based on maintenance standards and recommended standards for air quality in the regulation on the “Regulation of Indoor Air Quality” and “Standard for Indoor Air Quality Test” from the Institute of National Environment Science. The test was performed every quarterly of the year based on the “Airport Environment Condition Standards” of the notification from the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. As results, the PM-10 and PM-2.5 particles are measured and it is found out that the indoor air quality in the passenger terminal of the Jeju International Airport is controled less than the standard level of the Indoor Air Quality Control Law of the government.

Overview of Green Building Material (GBM) Policies and Guidelines with Relevance to Indoor Air Quality Management in Taiwan

The objective of this paper was to offer a preliminary overview of Taiwan’s success in green building material (GBM) efforts through legal systems and promotion measures, which are relevant to the contribution to indoor air quality (IAQ) due to sustainability and health issues. In the first part of the paper, the IAQ regulations are summarized to highlight the second nation (i.e., Taiwan) around the world in IAQ management by the law. In addition, the permissible exposure limits (PEL) in Taiwan for airborne hazardous substances were first promulgated in 1974 to deal with occupational health issues in the workplace environment. In the second part of the paper, the developing status of the GBM in Taiwan is analyzed to unravel its connection with the Indoor Air Quality Management Act (IAQMA), promulgated on 23 November 2011. By the end of September 2017, a total of 645 GBM labels have been conferred, covering over 5000 green products. Due to the effectiveness of source control, the healthy GBM occupies most of the market, accounting for about 75%. The IAQMA, which took force in November 2012, is expected to significantly increase the use of healthy GBM in new building construction and remodeling, especially in low formaldehyde (HCHO)/volatile organic compound (VOC)-emitting products.

A pilot study of indoor air quality in screen golf courses.

The aims of this study were to provide basic data for determining policies on air quality for multi-user facilities, including the legal enrollment of the indoor air quality regulation as designated by the Ministry of Environment, and to establish control plans. To this end, concentrations of ten pollutants (PM10, carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), formaldehyde (HCHO), total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs), radon (Rn), oxone (O3), total bacteria counts (TBC), and asbestos) in addition to nicotine, a smoking index material used to determine the impact of smoking on the air quality, were investigated in indoor game rooms and lobbies of 64 screen golf courses. The average concentration of none of the ten pollutants in the game rooms and lobbies of screen golf courses was found to exceed the limit set by the law. There were, however, pollutant concentrations exceeding limits in some screen golf courses, in order to establish a control plan for the indoor air quality of screen golf courses, a study on the emission sources of each pollutant was conducted. The major emission sources were found to be facility users' activities such as smoking and the use of combustion appliances, building materials, and finishing materials.

Physical mixtures of CeO2and zeolites as regenerable indoor air purifiers: adsorption and temperature dependent oxidation of VOC

Removal of volatile organic compounds (VOC) and indoor air quality regulation through adsorbers required exchange or maintenance of active materials. In this work, we combine well known VOC adsorbers with oxidation catalysts as intimate particulate mixtures. We demonstrate how typical VOC can subsequently adsorb on such mixed material fixed beds (usually days to weeks; the common state of the system, adsorption phase) using small organic compounds (diethyl ether, triethylamine), monoterpenes such as linalool and limonene, and hexanoic acid. Occasional regeneration runs through heat up of the fixed bed results in simultaneous desorption and oxidation of the accumulated VOC, thus regenerating full adsorption capacity for a next adsorption phase. We investigated both small pore zeolites (H-ZSM-5) and larger pore zeolites (13X) and found a distinct interplay between the pore size and the type of VOC. Thermogravimetry coupled with mass spectroscopy was used to quantitatively study the effects of mixing composition and temperature on adsorber performance and regeneration. The here investigated bi-functional systems combine very low maintenance costs and materials requirement with low air flow and exchange costs, thus suggesting mixed (two-functional) bed adsorbers with catalytic function as sustainable alternatives to currently used single use systems based on granulated zeolites or activated carbon. In this work we show the ability of zeolite/cerium oxide physical mixtures to adsorb and capture different classes of VOC at room temperature and release them for oxidation at higher temperatures in a regenerative and sustainable process.

A methodological frame for assessing benzene induced leukemia risk mitigation due to policy measures

The study relies on the development of a methodology for assessing the determinants that comprise the overall leukemia risk due to benzene exposure and how these are affected by outdoor and indoor air quality regulation. An integrated modeling environment was constructed comprising traffic emissions, dispersion models, human exposure models and a coupled internal dose/biology-based dose–response risk assessment model, in order to assess the benzene imposed leukemia risk, as much as the impact of traffic fleet renewal and smoking banning to these levels. Regarding traffic fleet renewal, several “what if” scenarios were tested. The detailed full-chain methodology was applied in a South-Eastern European urban setting in Greece and a limited version of the methodology in Helsinki.Non-smoking population runs an average risk equal to 4.1·10−5 compared to 23.4·10−5 for smokers. The estimated lifetime risk for the examined occupational groups was higher than the one estimated for the general public by 10–20%. Active smoking constitutes a dominant parameter for benzene-attributable leukemia risk, much stronger than any related activity, occupational or not.From the assessment of mitigation policies it was found that the associated leukemia risk in the optimum traffic fleet scenario could be reduced by up to 85% for non-smokers and up to 8% for smokers. On the contrary, smoking banning provided smaller gains for (7% for non-smokers, 1% for smokers), while for Helsinki, smoking policies were found to be more efficient than traffic fleet renewal.The methodology proposed above provides a general framework for assessing aggregated exposure and the consequent leukemia risk from benzene (incorporating mechanistic data), capturing exposure and internal dosimetry dynamics, translating changes in exposure determinants to actual changes in population risk, providing a valuable tool for risk management evaluation and consequently to policy support.

유비쿼터스기반의 환경 관제 시스템 구축

본 논문에서는 유비쿼터스 컴퓨팅 환경에서 환경 관제 서비스를 제공하는 효과적인 실내 환경 관제를 위한 시스템을 제안한다. 환경 관제 시스템은 사용자 환경에 대한 정보를 수집하여 실내 공기질 유지 관리 규정에 따라 쾌적한 환경을 유지하고 실내 환경을 건강하게 유지하기 위한 시스템이다. 환경 관제 서비스를 제공하기 위해서 유비쿼터스 컴퓨팅 환경에서 서비스의 개발과 지원을 위한 액티브 모델 기반의 분산 프레임워크와 서비스 지향 아키텍처를 사용하였다. 본 논문에서 제안한 환경 관제 시스템의 수행성을 검증하기 위해 컴포넌트의 동작을 보이고 환경관제 서비스의 GUI화면을 통해 결과 화면을 보였다. In this paper, we propose an efficient indoor environment management system which provides the environment management service in ubiquitous computing environment. It is designed to gather data from the user's environment and keep it pleasant with respect to indoor air quality regulation. In order to offer such service Ubiquitous Computing Environment used distributed framework based on the active model for its development and support, while supporting service integration and also we used service oriented architecture. In order to verify the performance of the environment management system, components showed operation while environment management service showed the result through GUI screen.

The European Union: Its Compliance and Activities within the Fields of Outdoor and Indoor Air Quality

For historic reasons, outdoor and indoor air quality have been regulated with a different intensity at the European level. This paper seeks to look at the overall issues of air quality regulation and to provide a contrast for the analysis of indoor air regulation. When the Community was founded, it did not even mention the environment among its goals, these were mainly economic and political. Only in the 1970s did the situation begin to change. There was a new awareness about environmental problems such as pollution and concern about air quality in general. The Single European Act and later the Treaty of Maas tricht gave specific legal bases to the Commission to enable it to legislate in this area, and its activity has increased over the years. A large number of direc tives have been issued proposing limits for certain compounds such as lead and nitrogen dioxide. Legislation at the European level has also dealt with the problem of pollution caused by exhaust fumes from cars and by industrial plants. Under its environmental policy the Commission has not directly tack led the problem of indoor air quality, with one exception which is the work place. In order to protect workers and their health, various directives have been issued by the Commission, referring to the social provisions of the Trea ty. Overall, however, indoor air quality regulation is still left to national Mem ber States. This paper analyses this development in terms of the historical coverage of outdoor air regulation and tries to predict the developments that might occur in indoor air regulation. The view is taken that while some general aspects of air quality should be regulated by the European Union, it is still felt that the detailed regulation of this area should be left to Member States.

The Future of Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a topic of increasing concern for facility managers in the hospitality industry. Present IAQ regulations, as exemplified by most municipal, county, and state codes, are grossly inadequate according to recent pronouncements from the Environmental Protection Agency and the Occupational Safety and Health Administration. For hospitality firms to avoid potential legal jeopardy, they must evaluate their facilities' IAQ, mitigate air-borne contaminants, and ensure that their ventilation practices meet the highest current standards. Fortunately, the long-term savings arising from clean air and accommodations for smokers outweigh the costs of following OSHA guidelines. The implementation of a written indoor-air-quality maintenance program will also help to prepare a facility to meet OSHA's proposed IAQ compliance plan.

Problems in Regulating Office Air Quality: A Critique of One State's Attemp

Editor's note: This article offers an opinion regarding regulatory efforts to control the quality of indoor air, sharing some thoughts on both the technical merits and legal ramifications of one state's proposed regulations. Since the article went to press, the state of Washington has withdrawn the indoor air quality regulations about which Mr. Paskal here offers his view. Although passage of these regulations is no longer imminent, this is an area that will likely receive federal and state regulatory attention in the future. The Journal welcomes letters to the editor commenting on this or similar regulation.

Control and Regulation of Indoor Air: An Australian Perspective

There are few standards and guidelines on indoor air in Australia, and little information is available on indoor air quality in Australian buildings. The development of existing controls has relied heavily on overseas data and often lags behind the implementation of controls elsewhere. Indoor air standards have been developed for ventilation in public buildings commensurate with U.S. standards. A recommended goal for formaldehyde exposure levels has been set at 0.1 ppm and a remedial action level for radon at 200 Bq/m3. Nitro gen dioxide, particulates and volatile organic compounds are currently under review. Other indoor issues are not yet being considered at a formal level. This paper discusses the current status of the control and regulation of indoor air quality and provides an overview of indoor air research in Australia.

Control and Regulation of Indoor Air Quality in Canada

Canadians spend over 80% of their time within the indoor environment. There has been growing concern regarding the quality of indoor air due to commonly attributed adverse effects on comfort, health and productivity. Thus several organizations have been working to develop and establish indoor air quality (IAQ) standards and/or guidelines. Two approaches have been observed for controlling IAQ: (1) set permissible levels for indoor air contami nants or (2) set minimum ventilation rates. In the residential sector, Health and Welfare Canada has published permissible levels for indoor air contami nants, while building codes, at the national and provincial levels, specify mini mum ventilation rates. Federal and provincial labor authorities, along with several other government agencies, have published standards and guidelines for nonindustrial buildings. These publications suggest maximum exposure levels for air contaminants, as well as the necessary ventilation requirements. The findings and recommendations mad...