NICE public health guidance update

2020 ◽  
Vol 42 (4) ◽  
pp. 799-800
Author(s):  
Ben Fryer ◽  
Hugh McGuire ◽  
Lise Elliott ◽  
Monica Desai ◽  
Judith Richardson
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Nice Guidance ◽  
Health Guidance

Abstract This article covers recent National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance relevant to public health, with a focus on indoor air quality. It introduces the evidence behind this guideline, and the actions that need to be taken by a wide range of stakeholders to implement the guidance and help people to achieve good air quality in their homes. It also highlights the inequalities in exposure to poor quality indoor air and identifies groups that are more vulnerable to health impacts.

Biodeterioration of buildings and public health implications caused by indoor air pollution

2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (6) ◽  
pp. 752-765 ◽  
Author(s):  
Toqeer Ahmed ◽  
Muhammad Usman ◽  
Miklas Scholz
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Community Involvement ◽  
Air Conditioning ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Public Awareness ◽  
Subject Area ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Wide Range

Biodeterioration challenges range from poor indoor air quality and exterior marble defacing to more dangerous building degradation. People often change the look of degraded walls by painting over them, removing carpets as well as replacing damaged wood and papers to improve their aesthetic value. Due to a lack of public awareness and health care infrastructure, the degradation rate is increasing in many countries. There is a need for a review of the international literature supporting practical recommendations. In this critical review paper, the role of microbes in deteriorating buildings, their health impacts in terms of mycotoxins and diverse strategies to handle them are discussed. Moreover, the forthcoming challenges associated with biodegradation and their health impacts have been addressed. Key recommendations have been made: (a) increase of awareness due to community involvement in enhancing moisture control, (b) improvement of cleaning processes and the use of air conditioning systems, (c) regular inspection and maintenance regimes for buildings and (d) cleaning of heating and air conditioning units and associated replacements of filters. The review provides a broad overview of the subject area and should be of interests to generalists working in a wide range of disciplines relevant to indoor air quality.

scholarly journals Expression of concern

2018 ◽  
Vol 28 (2) ◽  
pp. 289-289
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Intellectual Property ◽  
Built Environment ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Intellectual Property Rights ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Journal Editor ◽  
Publication Ethics ◽  
High Standards

The Journal Editor and the Publisher hereby issues an expression of concern for the following article: Abdel-Salam MM. Investigation of indoor air quality at urban schools in Qatar. Indoor Built Environ. 2019; 28: 278–288 . The ownership of the data upon which this paper is based is disputed between the author and the Qatari Ministry of Public Health. The Journal Editor and the Publisher are not in a position to determine the intellectual property rights of this case. The Journal Editor and the Publisher strive to uphold the very highest standards of publication ethics and are committed to supporting the high standards of integrity of Indoor and Built Environment.

scholarly journals Creating Clean Air Spaces During Wildland Fire Smoke Episodes: Web Summit Summary

2021 ◽  
Vol 9 ◽  
Author(s):  
Gilliane Davison ◽  
Karoline K. Barkjohn ◽  
Gayle S. W. Hagler ◽  
Amara L. Holder ◽  
Sarah Coefield ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Wildland Fire ◽  
Air Filtration ◽  
Wildfire Smoke ◽  
Fire Smoke ◽  
Clean Air ◽  
Pollution Events

Effective strategies to reduce indoor air pollutant concentrations during wildfire smoke events are critically needed. Worldwide, communities in areas prone to wildfires may suffer from annual smoke exposure events lasting from days to weeks. In addition, there are many areas of the world where high pollution events are common and where methods employed to reduce exposure to pollution may have relevance to wildfire smoke pollution episodes and vice versa. This article summarizes a recent virtual meeting held by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to share research, experiences, and other information that can inform best practices for creating clean air spaces during wildland fire smoke events. The meeting included presentations on the public health impacts of wildland fire smoke; public health agencies' experiences and resilience efforts; and methods to improve indoor air quality, including the effectiveness of air filtration methods [e.g., building heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems and portable, free-standing air filtration systems]. These presentations and related research indicate that filtration has been demonstrated to effectively improve indoor air quality during high ambient air pollution events; however, several research questions remain regarding the longevity and maintenance of filtration equipment during and after smoke events, effects on the pollution mixture, and degree to which adverse health effects are reduced.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality Campaign in an Occupied Low-Energy House with a High Level of Spatial and Temporal Discretization

2021 ◽  
Vol 11 (24) ◽  
pp. 11789
Author(s):  
Najwa Kanama ◽  
Michel Ondarts ◽  
Gaëlle Guyot ◽  
Jonathan Outin ◽  
Evelyne Gonze
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Low Energy ◽  
Health Impacts ◽  
Cumulative Exposure ◽  
Temporal Discretization ◽  
Low Energy Buildings

Background and gaps. The topic of indoor air quality (IAQ) in low-energy buildings has received increasing interest over the past few years. Often based on two measurement points and on passive measurements over one week, IAQ studies are struggling to allow the calculation of pollutants exposure. Objectives. We would like to improve the evaluation of the health impacts, through measurements able to estimate the exposure of the occupants. Methodology. This article presents detailed IAQ measurements taken in an energy-efficient occupied house in France. Two campaigns were conducted in winter and spring. Total volatile organic compounds (TVOC), formaldehyde, the particle numbers and PM2.5, carbon dioxide (CO2), relative humidity (RH), temperature (T), ventilation airflows, and weather conditions were dynamically measured in several points. Laboratory and low-cost devices were used, and an inter-comparison was carried out for them. A survey was conducted to record all the daily activities of the inhabitants. IAQ performance indicators based on the different pollutants were calculated. Results. PM2.5 cumulative exposure did not exceed the threshold available in the literature. Formaldehyde concentrations were high, in the kitchen, where the average concentrations exceeded the threshold. However, the formaldehyde cumulative exposure of the occupants did not exceed the threshold. TVOC concentrations were found to reach the threshold. With these measurements performed with high spatial and temporal discretization, we showed that such detailed data allow for a better-quality health impacts assessment and for a better understanding of the transport of pollutants between rooms.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality in Benghazi’s Hospitals and Its Impact among Patients

2021 ◽  
pp. 39-52
Author(s):  
Hadir Gawili ◽  
Hawa A. Bodabos ◽  
Wafa A. Al-Awami ◽  
Ahmed O. Al-Gargouri ◽  
Yahia F. Alhegazi
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Sick Building Syndrome ◽  
Noise Pollution ◽  
Poor Quality ◽  
Education Level ◽  
University Education ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Sick Building

Background: Indoor air quality (IAQ) is a very important topic; it contains a variety of factors: temperature, humidity, the presence of chemicals and the quality of outdoor air brought inside are typical metrics used to define IAQ. However, with poor quality usually lead to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and other serious symptoms. Aims: This study aimed to investigate Indoor air diseases and their symptoms of SBS among patients in ten hospitals in Benghazi, Libya and focusing on awareness/knowledge of patients and their education level regarding some pollutants and noise pollution. Study Design: This paper is a cross sectional descriptive study. Place and Duration of the Study: The study was conducted in December 2019 to September 2020 in Benghazi, Libya. Methodology: Performed sub analysis statistics have chosen 150 patients randomly in 10 hospitals (polyclinics/health centers) to fill out questionnaire about the most common symptoms are related to indoor air value in hospitals by also using the observational checklist. Results: Mostly females 54% were of age above 46 years, 31.3% of the participants were university education level, 69.3% have suffered from different type of diseases, which are hypertension, diabetes, and asthma, and most pollutants were inducted from vehicle traffic 63.3%. Conclusion: the study indicated the highest contaminates impact and the health criteria in all ten hospitals were under the study, which are; temperature and humidity, PM, other chemical pollutants and noise effect.

scholarly journals Risk Management Indoor Air Quality in schools: an integrated public health approach applied to the radon assessment

2013 ◽  
Vol 23 (suppl_1) ◽  
Author(s):  
P Gallucci ◽  
M Wachocka ◽  
A Poscia ◽  
DI La Milia ◽  
V Cerabona ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Risk Management ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Public Health Approach

scholarly journals Improving Boston Nail Salon Indoor Air Quality Through Local Public Health Regulation, 2007–2019

2019 ◽  
Vol 109 (12) ◽  
pp. 1711-1713 ◽  
Author(s):  
Stephanie L. Seller ◽  
Cora Roelofs ◽  
Paul A. Shoemaker ◽  
Nancie N. Nguyen ◽  
Tuan D. Nguyen
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Local Public Health ◽  
Nail Salon ◽  
Public Health Regulation

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality in Healthcare and Care Facilities: Chemical Pollutants and Microbiological Contaminants

Atmosphere ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 12 (10) ◽  
pp. 1337
Author(s):  
Alexandre Baudet ◽  
Estelle Baurès ◽  
Hélène Guegan ◽  
Olivier Blanchard ◽  
Monique Guillaso ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Fine Particulate Matter ◽  
Complex Mixture ◽  
Chemical Compounds ◽  
Chemical Pollution ◽  
Indoor Environments ◽  
Wide Range ◽  
Care Facilities

The indoor air quality of healthcare and care facilities is poorly studied. The aim of this study was to qualitatively and quantitatively describe the chemical pollution and the microbiological contaminations of the indoor environment of these facilities. Methods: A wide range of chemical compounds (39 volatile and 13 semi-volatile organic compounds, carbon dioxide, fine particulate matter) and microorganisms (fungi and bacteria) were studied. Sampling campaigns were conducted in two French cities in summer 2018 and winter 2019 in six private healthcare facilities (general practitioner’s offices, dental offices, pharmacies) and four care facilities (nursing homes). Results: The highest median concentrations of chemical compounds (μg/m3) were measured for alcohols (ethanol: 378.9 and isopropanol: 23.6), ketones (acetone: 18.8), aldehydes (formaldehyde: 11.4 and acetaldehyde: 6.5) and terpenes (limonene: 4.3). The median concentration of PM2.5 was 9.0 µg/m3. The main bacteria of these indoor environments were Staphylococcus, Micrococcus and Bacillus genera, with median bacterial concentrations in the indoor air of 14 cfu/m3. The two major fungal genera were Cladosporium and Penicillium, with median fungal concentrations of 7 cfu/m3. Conclusions: Indoor air in healthcare and care facilities contains a complex mixture of many pollutants found in higher concentrations compared to the indoor air in French hospitals in a previous study.

scholarly journals Understanding “Atmosome”, the Personal Atmospheric Exposome: Comprehensive Approach

10.2196/28920 ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 6 (4) ◽  
pp. e28920
Author(s):  
Hari Bhimaraju ◽  
Nitish Nag ◽  
Vaibhav Pandey ◽  
Ramesh Jain
Keyword(s):  
Public Health ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Health Research ◽  
Air Pollutants ◽  
Low Cost ◽  
Public Health Research ◽  
Quality Data ◽  
The Impact

Background Modern environmental health research extensively focuses on outdoor air pollutants and their effects on public health. However, research on monitoring and enhancing individual indoor air quality is lacking. The field of exposomics encompasses the totality of human environmental exposures and its effects on health. A subset of this exposome deals with atmospheric exposure, termed the “atmosome.” The atmosome plays a pivotal role in health and has significant effects on DNA, metabolism, skin integrity, and lung health. Objective The aim of this work is to develop a low-cost, comprehensive measurement system for collecting and analyzing atmosomic factors. The research explores the significance of the atmosome in personalized and preventive care for public health. Methods An internet of things microcontroller-based system is introduced and demonstrated. The system collects real-time indoor air quality data and posts it to the cloud for immediate access. Results The experimental results yield air quality measurements with an accuracy of 90% when compared with precalibrated commercial devices and demonstrate a direct correlation between lifestyle and air quality. Conclusions Quantifying the individual atmosome is a monumental step in advancing personalized health, medical research, and epidemiological research. The 2 main goals in this work are to present the atmosome as a measurable concept and to demonstrate how to implement it using low-cost electronics. By enabling atmosome measurements at a communal scale, this work also opens up potential new directions for public health research. Researchers will now have the data to model the impact of indoor air pollutants on the health of individuals, communities, and specific demographics, leading to novel approaches for predicting and preventing diseases.

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