Comparison of the indoor air quality in an office operating with natural or mechanical ventilation using short-term intensive pollutant monitoring
Building ventilation systems are used to mitigate occupant exposure to airborne pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), carbon dioxide and total volatile organic compounds. Building rating systems such as Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design promote the use of natural ventilation to reduce building energy consumption while improving occupant satisfaction. A number of investigations have attempted to compare indoor air quality (IAQ) between spaces with natural or mechanical ventilation without reaching a consensus regarding quantitative impacts. This work provides direct quantitative comparison of the IAQ of a ...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 16, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Montgomery, J. F., Storey, S., Bartlett, K. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Airborne microfungi in Oncology Service of Medical School Hospital of Trakya University
This study was performed in six different stations – drug preparation, chemotherapy, radiotherapy and three different patient rooms – in Oncology Service of Trakya University Medical Hospital in Edirne. Indoor air samples of equal volumes of 100 L were taken twice a month during the six-month study period. The analysis of samples showed that 8540 microfungi colonies were present in a total of 7.2 m3 air sample. November and April were found to be the months during which the highest numbers of fungal spores were isolated with 2570 CFU/m3 and 2060 CFU/m3, respectively, while the lowest spore counts were isolated ...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 16, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Okten, S., Sen, B., Asan, A., Bahadir, N. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
The influence of air-conditioning managerial scheme in hybrid-ventilated classrooms on students' thermal perception
Hybrid ventilation employing both natural ventilation and air-conditioning (AC) is used in Taiwanese schools as a mechanism to maintain indoor environmental quality. A field survey was conducted in two high schools in central Taiwan, one adopting a centralized management for control of AC use and the other employing a user-controlled approach, to investigate the influence of AC management scheme on thermal perception as well as the behaviours of AC usage. As shown in the results, the AC usage was significantly affected by the managerial scheme selected for AC control. When the AC was in use, the mean operative temperature ...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 16, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Chen, C.-P., Hwang, R.-L., Liu, W., Shih, W.-M., Chang, S.-Y. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Bioclimatic chart analysis in three climate zones in Cyprus
The concept of bioclimatic design is based on the development of an architectural design adapted to environmental conditions. The utilization of the favourable climatic elements can offer to the users, indoor thermal comfort conditions and at the same time it minimizes the energy consumption which is needed for heating and cooling. This paper provides the bioclimatic analysis for three different climatic zones in Cyprus, coastal, inland and mountainous. The building bioclimatic charts of V. & A. Olgyay are used to examine whether passive strategies can provide indoor thermal comfort in the buildings in these zones. The...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 16, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Katafygiotou, M. C., Serghides, D. K. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Impact of fire on Dendrocalamus strictus - a natural green composite building material
In the face of ever increasing demand for energy and the rapid denudation of the environment, composites based on natural materials provide potentially viable alternatives to high embodied energy building materials. Scientists and grassroots organizations are exploring naturally available woody materials to ensure adequate, affordable and appropriate structural components especially for construction needs. Bamboo is one such material that has a great potential, but its behaviour when subjected to fire remains unknown. In order for bamboo (Dendrocalamus Strictus) to prove itself a viable option, bamboo constructions need to...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 16, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Sharma, N. K., Chariar, V. M., Prasad, R. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Experimental research on the indoor environment control of natural insulation materials: Carbonized rice hull and straw bales
The purpose of this research was to assess the performance of straw bales and carbonized rice hulls when used as natural insulation to regulate the indoor environment. Toward that end, specimens of straw bales and carbonized rice hulls were tested in the Korea Conformity Laboratories. Based on the results, real-scale mockup rooms insulated with these natural materials were constructed for cost analysis and performance evaluation. The cost analysis results showed that carbonized rice hulls are relatively cost effective and economically feasible. The thermal conductivity of carbonized rice hulls is lower than that of straw b...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 16, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Lee, K.-I., Yeom, D. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Chemical reactions in indoor sources
(Source: Indoor and Built Environment)
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - September 16, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Guo, Z., Hubbard, H. F. Tags: Editorial Source Type: research
Adaptation to low levels of chemical exposure in individuals with multiple chemical sensitivity in a controlled indoor environment
Environmental sensitivity or multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) is a debilitating condition and increasingly prevalent in the recent years. MCS is a multisystem disorder with lack of standardized treatment strategies and clinical practice guidelines. Consequently, there are significant costs associated with disability and treating individuals with an increasing percentage of the population experiencing challenges in indoor environments from exposure to everyday chemicals such as personal care products. MCS remains a poorly understood condition with many challenges in establishing evidence to support the reactivity to the ...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - July 22, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Fox, R. A., Sampalli, T. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Measurements of indoor environmental conditions in Italian classrooms and their impact on children's comfort
This study evaluates the indoor environmental conditions and children’s comfort levels in 8 classrooms in three Italian primary schools. It is a development of a pilot study previously carried out by the authors in other educational buildings. Spot and long-term measurements were made to evaluate microclimatic conditions (i.e. air temperature, relative humidity, CO2 concentration, and illuminance). A questionnaire, distributed three times, investigated the students’ perception of thermal and lighting comfort, their satisfaction with building-related factors, and their interactions with the environment. Predicte...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - July 22, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: De Giuli, V., Zecchin, R., Corain, L., Salmaso, L. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
What are you saying? Challenges and opportunities for increasing visibility and understanding of indoor microbiological research
This study identifies challenges that microbiologists who study built environments face in their efforts to increase public understanding and visibility associated with their research. More specifically, it offers an empirical assessment of these scientists’ perceptions of what people need to understand – specific research terms and concepts are noted – and what needs to be considered when communicating with key decision-makers in agencies that fund research. The results of semi-structured interviews with 79 U.S. scientists highlight several themes, terms, and concepts that require improved understanding ...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - July 22, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Kahlor, L. A., Dudo, A., Liang, M.-C., AbiGhannam, N. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Effect of platform screen doors on the indoor air environment of an underground subway station
Contaminant concentrations in a subway station in Seoul, Korea before (March 2008) and after (March 2009) the installation of platform screen doors (PSDs) were measured to investigate the effect of the PSD system on the subway indoor environment. PM10, CO2 and NO2 concentrations were measured at the platform, concourse and tunnel areas, using an indoor air quality tele-monitoring system (IAQ-TMS) operated by the Korean Ministry of Environment. Spatial correlations of contaminant concentrations at different locations were analysed, to investigate the effect of PSD installation on the movement of contaminants through air pas...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - July 22, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Han, H., Lee, J.-Y., Jang, K.-J. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Case studies of a camera-aided imaging method for evaluation of interior luminous environments
This paper introduces a camera-aided imaging method to help lighting practitioners, especially students and beginners, to evaluate the quality of interior luminous environments. This imaging method adopts the high dynamic range photography to acquire millions of luminance values across an interior luminous environment, stores the data on a high dynamic range (HDR) image, and then uses a MatLab code (http://people.ku.edu/~h717c996/research.html) to plot two-dimensional luminance and luminance gradient maps of the luminous environment for further evaluation. Four case studies were conducted to validate this imaging method. T...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - July 22, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Cai, H., Saifan, M. I., Killeen, J. A. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Characterization of 222Rn and meteorological parameters in Uro houses at South Kordofan state
This study was carried out to assess and map indoor radon concentration and to estimate radiation dose in Uro town in Sudan's South Kordofan state. A portable radon meter (RRA-01M-03), equipped with simple sensors of meteorological parameters has been used for carrying out radon measurement. The annual absorbed dose from the corresponding measured radon concentration was calculated using dose rate conversion factors of the United Nations Scientific Committee on the Effects of Atomic Radiation (UNSCEAR). The corresponding annual effective dose and equivalent dose to the lungs were estimated. Measured activity concentrations...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - July 22, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Idriss, H., Salih, I., Alaamer, A. S., Abdelgali, M. Y., Salih, S. A., Hasan, A. M., ELtahir, M. A., Ahamed, M. M. O. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
The building performance model for evaluating bioaerosol data from suspect indoor environments
The lack of numerical health based standards for airborne fungi has resulted in a variety of heuristically determined criteria to subjectively interpret data. Bioaerosol sampling utilizing spore trap methodology (direct microscopy of total non culturable spores) at three different facilities in September through October 2011 provided a bank of data to mathematically evaluate a standard mean-based numerical criterion and a widely utilized test of medians relative to a direct calculation of probability of population differences. Thirteen to 20 Air-o-Cell™ spore trap samples of 4 min duration were collected in each cont...
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - July 22, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Spicer, R. C., Gangloff, H. J. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
Neighbourhood parks and reduction in stress among adolescents: Results from Buffalo, New York
This study is the first to examine this association using objective measures of park area and adolescents’ physical activity. A multivariate regression model indicated that percentage of park area (β = –62.573, p < 0.03) predicts perceived stress among adolescents. Access to neighbourhood parks buffers adolescents against perceived stress after controlling for socio-economic status and physical activity. Policy recommendations for incorporating parks into neighbourhood design are given. (Source: Indoor and Built Environment)
Source: Indoor and Built Environment - July 22, 2015 Category: Occupational Health Authors: Feda, D. M., Seelbinder, A., Baek, S., Raja, S., Yin, L., Roemmich, J. N. Tags: Original Papers Source Type: research
