Analysis of indoor air quality data from East Tennessee field studies

Humans were often unaware of the risk of contaminated indoor air quality. Based on this, the researcher designs an Indoor Air Quality Monitoring System based on Arduino which could help to raise the human awareness of air quality. This research is based on the Prototyping method. The system hardware built with Arduino Uno which connected to MQ135 sensor to monitor the air quality and Sound Buzzer to sound an alarm whenever the sensor sensed the air quality in a risky value. The Ethernet Shield is used to connect the Arduino Uno to the internet, which enables the process to upload the data which has been read by the sensor to an IoT platform called ThingSpeak. The air quality data which uploaded to ThingSpeak, then retrieved by AirQmon, a customized Android application developed by the researcher to monitor the air quality which is installed on the smartphone. The data is presented graphically to the user through AirQmon apps. This system results in a form of a device and application which could potentially be used as a monitoring system and raise human awareness of indoor air quality.

Download Full-text

Use of Multi-Agent Theory to Resolve Complex Indoor Air Quality Control Problems

Sensors ◽

10.3390/s19051206 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 19 (5) ◽

pp. 1206

Author(s):

Shang-Yuan Chen ◽

Cheng-Yen Chen

Keyword(s):

Quality Control ◽

Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Control Program ◽

Quality Data ◽

Agent Theory ◽

Air Quality Control ◽

Multi Agent ◽

Basic Ability

Taiwan has suffered from widespread haze and poor air quality during recent years, and the control of indoor air quality has become an important topic. This study relies on Multi-Agent theory in which collected air quality was used in calculations and after agents make decisions in accordance with pre-written rules to construct and indoor air quality control system and conflict resolution mechanism, which will serve to maintain a healthy and comfortable indoor environment. As for implementation, the simulated system used the Arduino open source microcontroller system to collect air quality data and turn on building equipment in order to improve indoor air quality. This study also used the graphic control program LabVIEW to write a control program and user interface. The implementation verifies the feasibility of applying multi-agent theory to air quality control systems, and an Individual intelligent agent has the basic ability to resolve their own conflicts autonomously. However, when there are multiple factors and user status are simultaneously involved in the decision-making, it is difficult for the system to exhaust all conflict conditions, and when context control surpassing the restrictions of binary logic rule-based reasoning, it is necessary to change the algorithm and redesign the system.

Download Full-text

Assessment of Indoor Air Quality in Residential Buildings of New England through Actual Data

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su14020739 ◽

2022 ◽

Vol 14 (2) ◽

pp. 739

Author(s):

Fernando del Ama Gonzalo ◽

Matthew Griffin ◽

Jacob Laskosky ◽

Peter Yost ◽

Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

New England ◽

Indoor Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Natural Ventilation ◽

Residential Buildings ◽

Quality Data ◽

Improve Energy Efficiency ◽

Sick Building ◽

Concentration Levels

Several studies on indoor air quality (IAQ) and sick building syndromes have been completed over the last decade, especially in cold countries. Efforts to make homes airtight to improve energy efficiency have created buildings with low ventilation rates, resulting in the build-up of indoor pollutants to harmful levels that would be otherwise unacceptable outdoors. This paper analyzed the infiltration rates, indoor temperatures, and variations in CO2, 2.5 μm particulate matter (PM2.5), and total volatile organic compound (TVOC) concentrations over the fall of 2021 in several homes in New England, USA. A relationship between outdoor and indoor conditions and ventilation strategies has been set using the results from blower door tests and actual indoor air quality data. Although all case studies lacked mechanical ventilation devices, such as those required by ASHRAE Standard 62.2, natural ventilation and air leakage have been enough to keep VOCs and PM2.5 concentration levels at acceptable values most of the studied time. However, results revealed that 25% of a specific timeframe, the occupants have been exposed to concentration levels of CO2 above 1000 parts per million (ppm), which are considered potentially hazardous conditions.

Download Full-text

Seasonal variations in indoor air quality parameters and occupants self-reported physical health within a warm humid climatic environment

Sustainable buildings ◽

10.1051/sbuild/2020001 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 5 ◽

pp. 2 ◽

Cited By ~ 1

Author(s):

Bode Abiodun Orola

Keyword(s):

Carbon Dioxide ◽

Air Quality ◽

Physical Health ◽

Indoor Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Seasonal Variations ◽

Quality Parameters ◽

Quality Data ◽

Particulate Matters ◽

Health Symptoms

This study examines seasonal variations in Indoor Air Quality in occupied spaces within student hostels of Obafemi Awolowo University, Nigeria, and the associated physical health effects reported by occupants. Indoor Air Quality data were obtained from 22 selected rooms, with at least two rooms selected from the nine different spatial design layouts identified in the hostel buildings. Indoor Air Quality parameters obtained were 15-minute interval data of relative humidity, as well as concentrations of carbon dioxide, total volatile organic compounds, and particulate matters. These were measured with data loggers placed at 1.0 m from the floor level in the centre of selected rooms. Measurements were taken in selected rooms through a period of four consecutive weeks each during the peaks of dry and wet seasons. A questionnaire, which was administered immediately at the end of the measurement period to 696 respondents, was used to capture the significant physical health symptoms as reported by the occupants, as well as information regarding their activities and use of the rooms. Significant health symptoms reported by occupants were the same across seasons. These were cold, fatigue, and headache. Indoor concentrations of carbon dioxide and particulate matters have most significant relationship with reported health symptoms.

Download Full-text

Investigation of Air Circulation For Indoor Air Quality Of Middle-Class Apartment in Jakarta, Indonesia

Applied Research on Civil Engineering and Environment (ARCEE) ◽

10.32722/arcee.v1i02.2679 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 1 (02) ◽

pp. 16-21

Author(s):

Dyah Nurwidyaningrum ◽

Miftahul Ulum ◽

Billy Septanto Syamsumarno

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Relative Humidity ◽

Middle Class ◽

Indoor Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Quality Data ◽

Circulation System ◽

Air Movement ◽

Quality Aspects ◽

Air Circulation

The most significant energy used in middle-class apartments is the air circulation unit. The use of energy from the air circulation system is related to the comfort of the user in the housing unit, so it adjusts to the applicable standard. The objection of this study is to investigate the optimization of the air circulation system in middle-class apartments in an urban area. The method is a comparative study of the government standard. The stages of the research did site observation, take air quality measurement, and interview with the questionnaire. Indoor air quality data collected are temperature, relative humidity, CO, and CO2. The data measurement compared to SNI 03-6572-2001 on Procedures for Designing Air Conditioning and Ventilation Systems in Buildings, Indonesian National Standardization. The questionnaire was to find out the comfort of residents on indoor air quality (IAQ). This study reveals that almost all air quality aspects are consistent to standard, except the temperature. The results of this study that meet the criteria related to air circulation are air movement 40%, relative humidity 65.5%, air movement 40%, CO 78%, and CO2 95%. The result of the questionnaires states that 72.4% of residents feel comfortable with the air quality in the dwelling unit. The size of the room and the adequacy of ventilation in the place influences the value of the air circulation system besides air movement.

Download Full-text

An indoor air quality study of 40 east Tennessee homes

Environment International ◽

10.1016/0160-4120(86)90034-6 ◽

1986 ◽

Vol 12 (1-4) ◽

pp. 221-239 ◽

Cited By ~ 18

Author(s):

A.R. Hawthorne ◽

R.B. Gammage ◽

C.S. Dudney

Keyword(s):

Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air Quality ◽

Indoor Air ◽

Quality Study ◽

East Tennessee

Download Full-text

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

JMIR Biomedical Engineering ◽

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.

Download Full-text

Understanding “Atmosome”, the Personal Atmospheric Exposome: Comprehensive Approach (Preprint)

10.2196/preprints.28920 ◽

2021 ◽

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.

Download Full-text