Measuring the exposure of infants and children to indoor air pollution from biomass fuels in The Gambia

Indoor air pollution (IAP) from biomass fuels contains high concentrations of health damaging pollutants and is associated with an increased risk of childhood pneumonia. We aimed to design an exposure measurement component for a matched case-control study of IAP as a risk factor for pneumonia and severe pneumonia in infants and children in The Gambia. We conducted co-located simultaneous area measurement of carbon monoxide (CO) and particles with aerodynamic diameter <2.5 microm (PM(2.5)) in 13 households for 48 h each. CO was measured using a passive integrated monitor and PM(2.5) using a continuous monitor. In three of the 13 households, we also measured continuous PM(2.5) concentration for 2 weeks in the cooking, sleeping, and playing areas. We used gravimetric PM(2.5) samples as the reference to correct the continuous PM(2.5) for instrument measurement error. Forty-eight hour CO and PM(2.5) concentrations in the cooking area had a correlation coefficient of 0.80. Average 48-h CO and PM(2.5) concentrations in the cooking area were 3.8 +/- 3.9 ppm and 361 +/- 312 microg/m3, respectively. The average 48-h CO exposure was 1.5 +/- 1.6 ppm for children and 2.4 +/- 1.9 ppm for mothers. PM(2.5) exposure was an estimated 219 microg/m3 for children and 275 microg/m3 for their mothers. The continuous PM(2.5) concentration had peaks in all households representing the morning, midday, and evening cooking periods, with the largest peak corresponding to midday. The results are used to provide specific recommendations for measuring the exposure of infants and children in an epidemiological study. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Measuring personal particulate matter (PM) exposure of young children in epidemiological studies is hindered by the absence of small personal monitors. Simultaneous measurement of PM and carbon monoxide suggests that a combination of methods may be needed for measuring children's PM exposure in areas where household biomass combustion is the primary source of indoor air pollution. Children's PM exposure in biomass burning homes in The Gambia is substantially higher than concentrations in the world's most polluted cities.     

改善室内空气环境的重要性

介绍了室内空气环境的定义，阐述了影响室内空气环境的主要因素，及其对人体健康和室内其它设备的危害，提出一些改善室内空气环境的策略。     

Comparison of mold concentrations quantified by MSQPCR in indoor and outdoor air sampled simultaneously

Mold specific quantitative PCR (MSQPCR) was used to measure the concentrations of the 36 mold species in indoor and outdoor air samples that were taken simultaneously for 48 h in and around 17 homes in Cincinnati, Ohio. The total spore concentrations of 353 per m(3) of indoor air and 827 per m(3) of outdoor air samples were significantly different (por=0.5). These results suggest that interpretation of the meaning of short-term (<48 h) mold measurements in indoor and outdoor air samples must be made with caution.     

Long-term exposure to indoor air pollution and risk of tuberculosis

Indoor air pollution (IAP) is a recognized risk factor for various diseases. This paper examines the role of indoor solid fuel exposure in the risk of mycobacterium tuberculosis (TB) in Delhi Metropolitan, India. Using a cross-sectional design, subjects were screened for a history of active TB and lifelong exposure to IAP sources, such as solid fuel burning and kerosene. The TB prevalence rate in the study area was 1117 per 100 000 population. Every year, increase in solid fuel exposure was associated with a three percent higher likelihood of a history of active TB. Subjects exposed to solid fuel and kerosene use for both heating home and cooking showed significant associations with TB. Age, household expenditure (a proxy of income), lung function, and smoking also showed significant associations with TB. Smokers and solid fuel–exposed subjects were four times more likely to have a history of active TB than non-smoker and unexposed subjects. These finding calls strategies to mitigate solid fuel exposure, such as use of clean cookstove and ventilation, to mitigate the risk of TB which aligns with the United Nations’ goal of “End TB by 2030.”     

Characterization of indoor sources of fine and ultrafine particles: a study conducted in a full-scale chamber

Humans and their activities are known to generate considerable amounts of particulate matter indoors. Some of the activities are cooking, smoking and cleaning. In this study 13 different particle sources were for the first time examined in a 32 m3 full-scale chamber with an air change rate of 1.7 +/- 0.1/h. Two different instruments, a condensation particle counter (CPC) and an optical particle counter (OPC) were used to quantitatively determine ultrafine and fine particle emissions, respectively. The CPC measures particles from 0.02 microm to larger than 1.0 microm. The OPC was adjusted to measure particle concentrations in eight fractions between 0.3 and 1.0 microm. The sources were cigarette side-stream smoke, pure wax candles, scented candles, a vacuum cleaner, an air-freshener spray, a flat iron (with and without steam) on a cotton sheet, electric radiators, an electric stove, a gas stove, and frying meat. The cigarette burning, frying meat, air freshener spray and gas stove showed a particle size distribution that changed over time towards larger particles. In most of the experiments the maximum concentration was reached within a few minutes. Typically, the increase of the particle concentration immediately after activation of the source was more rapid than the decay of the concentration observed after deactivation of the source. The highest observed concentration of ultrafine particles was approximately 241,000 particles/cm3 and originated from the combustion of pure wax candles. The weakest generation of ultrafine particles (1.17 x 10(7) particles per second) was observed when ironing without steam on a cotton sheet, which resulted in a concentration of 550 particles/cm3 in the chamber air. The highest generation rate (1.47 x 10(10) particles per second) was observed in the radiator test. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: Humans and their activities are known to generate substantial amounts of particulate matter indoors and potentially they can have a strong influence on short-term exposure. In this study a quantitative determination of the emissions of fine and ultrafine particles from different indoor sources was performed. The aim is a better understanding of the origin and fate of indoor particles. The results may be useful for Indoor Air Quality models.     

非平衡等离子体在室内空气净化中的应用

概括了室内污染来源,列举了室内空气主要污染物及其危害,介绍了非平衡等离子体的概念及去污原理,并综述了国内外在有机污染物去除、反应机理和反应装置等方面的研究成果,最后提出了该技术的发展方向。     

Hospital indoor respirable particles and carbonaceous composition

Indoor air PM2.5 and PM10 samples were collected at the different types of indoor enviornment in the four hospitals and their adjacent outdoor environments in Guangzhou, China, during the summertime. The objectives of this study were (1) to characterize the indoor PM concentrations and associated carbonaceous species in hospitals, (2) to investigate the potential indoor sources and (3) to reconstruct carbonaceous composition in PM. Additionally, regression analysis was made to evaluate effect of outdoor sources to indoor PM levels and comparison was made between I/O levels in different types of indoor environment to evaluate effects of human activities and ventilation types to indoor PM levels.     

浅谈室内空气的污染与危害

近年来，家庭装修已成为一种时尚，人们在享受家家庭装饰带来的美观、漂亮的同时，不同程度地受到家庭建筑材料、装饰材料等发出有害气体的污染，甚至危害人类的生命健康，应引起我们的高度警惕。同时就室内建筑材料、装饰材料产生的污染、危害和防治措施进行初步探讨。     

民用建筑室内空气污染及检测方法评价

室内空气质量好坏直接影响着人们的健康,文章深入剖析了造成室内污染的原因。污染物的类型以及室内污染物的特征。根据我国现状,造成我国民用建筑室内空气污染主要是人为污染,并以化学污染为     

室内环境污染问题的研究分析

文章通过分析室内空气质量评价指标的构成要素,对造成室内空气污染源进行深入研究,并且对如何科学预防与治理室内主要污染物质甲醛、苯及苯化物、氨和氡的方法进行比较分析,提出室内生态设计的理念.     

室内装修空气污染现状与防治措施

对室内装修中甲醛、苯、氨、TVOCs、氡五种常见的污染物进行了介绍,分别研究了各种污染物的来源及危害,提出了树立绿色装修理念、保持通风、控制新家具数量、绿色植物净化处理等防治措施,以期从源头上削减和控制室内空气污染。     

建筑材料与室内空气污染

目前，民用建筑室内空气质量越来越受到人们的关注，是因为建筑材料和建筑装饰材料的放射性及有机物的释放直接影响着人体健康。就此对室内空气污染物进行了详细的分析，并划分其种类。同时指出，控制室内环境污染的关键是控制材料，限制或禁用污染材料，提倡使用绿色建材。     

室内空气污染主要来源与防治对策分析

室内环境质量的优劣直接影响到人们身体的健康。随着人们物质生活水平的提高,对室内空气质量的要求也在逐步提高。在分析现阶段室内空气污染状况的基础上,对室内空气污染中甲醛、氨、氡、苯和TVOC的成因及对人体健康的危害进行了分析,从装修、施工、入住等方面提出了相应的防治措施,并通过检测工作来进行室内空气污染评估与控制。     

Association between indoor mold and asthma among children in Buffalo, New York

Asthma is a leading chronic disease among children and places a significant burden on public health. Exposure to indoor mold has been associated with asthma symptoms. However, many mold assessments have relied on visual or other identification of damp conditions and mold presence, thus have not examined associations with specific fungal genera. The objective of this case-control study was to examine the relationship between airborne mold concentrations and asthma status among children and to identify the contribution from specific mold genera in air. Participants completed a questionnaire of home environmental conditions and underwent indoor air sampling in the home, from which viable and total-count fungal spores were quantified. The most prevalent fungi in the homes were the allergenic molds Cladosporium (98% and 87% of homes from viable and total count samples, respectively) and Penicillium (91% and 73%). There were no significant differences in mean fungal concentrations between the homes of cases and controls, although the observed rate of exposure to several molds was higher among the cases. Among children who lacked a family history of asthma, cases had significantly higher exposures to viable Aspergillus. Measured humidity levels in the home corresponded with some self-reported indicators of mold and dampness. PRACTICAL IMPLICATIONS: The results of this study support existing literature that indoor fungal exposures play a role in current asthma status and that some qualitative assessments of mold exposure correspond to fungi present in indoor air.     

Natural ventilation of indoor spaces while minimizing heat losses: Theoretical and experimental investigation

Limiting heat losses during ventilation of indoor building spaces has become a basic aim for architects, particularly since the oil crisis of 1970. Much experience has been gained in terms of ventilation of indoor spaces. Nevertheless, due to the complex applications, attempts to create a theoretical base for solving the problems related to the issue are limited, especially determining the minimum ventilation period required within a designated space. In this paper we have approached this matter, both theoretically and experimentally. The conclusion we reached was that controlled ventilation of spaces through vent holes that successively open and close at regular time intervals can limit the excessive circulation of air masses, which in turn limits heat losses.     

室内环境监测与治理前景分析

分析了室内空气污染的现状及污染物的来源情况,阐述了室内环境监测的管理现状,并对环境监测与治理的发展进行了展望,以期营造适宜人类健康生活的居住环境。     

国外非工业建筑室内空气品质研究动态

以１９７年健康建筑和室内空气品质国际会议文献为基础,概略介绍了国际上的有关研究近况,涉及病态建筑综合症和室内空气污染问题以及减少污染的办法和手段,阐述了作者对我国室内空气品质问题的看法。     

论室内空气污染及其防治

就室内空气的污染，分析了建材所释放的污染物质对人体的危害。从材料中有害物质的限制，新型绿色建材的应用，选择合理的自然通风方式等方面阐明了室内空气污染的防治，使室内成为一个无污染、低污染的空间。     

室内氡污染的危害及防治

简要介绍了氡的产生和氡污染的来源以及室内氡浓度的影响因素,结合氡的物理化学性质分析了室内氡污染对人体健康的危害,并针对室内氡污染的来源具体阐述了室内氡污染的控制措施和治理方法,以期创造健康的室内环境。