scholarly journals Measurement of Surface Area Concentration of Fine Particulate Matter in Indoor Environments

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 (1) ◽  
pp. p1
Author(s):  
Pramod Pai

Indoor exposure to fine particles (0.01-2.5 µm) is measured in the present study using Surface Area Concentration (SAC) metric for two indoor environment categories based on the cooking fuel used—kerosene and Liquid Petroleum Gas LPG. Study of SAC is very important from the point of view of health aspects. From the collected data, Arithmetic Means, Geometric Means, peak concentration values were determined to compare between the two categories of Indoor environment. The results show the two environments to be significantly different. Also, the results indicate remarkable high indoor surface area concentrations during the cooking and other combustion processes.

Atmosphere ◽  
2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Tareq Hussein ◽  
Ali Alameer ◽  
Omar Jaghbeir ◽  
Kolthoum Albeitshaweesh ◽  
Mazen Malkawi ◽  
...  

There is limited research on indoor air quality in the Middle East. In this study, concentrations and size distributions of indoor particles were measured in eight Jordanian dwellings during the winter and summer. Supplemental measurements of selected gaseous pollutants were also conducted. Indoor cooking, heating via the combustion of natural gas and kerosene, and tobacco/shisha smoking were associated with significant increases in the concentrations of ultrafine, fine, and coarse particles. Particle number (PN) and particle mass (PM) size distributions varied with the different indoor emission sources and among the eight dwellings. Natural gas cooking and natural gas or kerosene heaters were associated with PN concentrations on the order of 100,000 to 400,000 cm−3 and PM2.5 concentrations often in the range of 10 to 150 µg/m3. Tobacco and shisha (waterpipe or hookah) smoking, the latter of which is common in Jordan, were found to be strong emitters of indoor ultrafine and fine particles in the dwellings. Non-combustion cooking activities emitted comparably less PN and PM2.5. Indoor cooking and combustion processes were also found to increase concentrations of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and volatile organic compounds. In general, concentrations of indoor particles were lower during the summer compared to the winter. In the absence of indoor activities, indoor PN and PM2.5 concentrations were generally below 10,000 cm−3 and 30 µg/m3, respectively. Collectively, the results suggest that Jordanian indoor environments can be heavily polluted when compared to the surrounding outdoor atmosphere primarily due to the ubiquity of indoor combustion associated with cooking, heating, and smoking.


Author(s):  
Laurentiu Predescu ◽  
Daniel Dunea

Optical monitors have proven their versatility into the studies of air quality in the workplace and indoor environments. The current study aimed to perform a screening of the indoor environment regarding the presence of various fractions of particulate matter (PM) and the specific thermal microclimate in a classroom occupied with students in March 2019 (before COVID-19 pandemic) and in March 2021 (during pandemic) at Valahia University Campus, Targoviste, Romania. The objectives were to assess the potential exposure of students and academic personnel to PM and to observe the performances of various sensors and monitors (particle counter, PM monitors, and indoor microclimate sensors). PM1 ranged between 29 and 41 μg m−3 and PM10 ranged between 30 and 42 μg m−3. It was observed that the particles belonged mostly to fine and submicrometric fractions in acceptable thermal environments according to the PPD and PMV indices. The particle counter recorded preponderantly 0.3, 0.5, and 1.0 micron categories. The average acute dose rate was estimated as 6.58 × 10−4 mg/kg-day (CV = 14.3%) for the 20–40 years range. Wearing masks may influence the indoor microclimate and PM levels but additional experiments should be performed at a finer scale.


2014 ◽  
Vol 2014 ◽  
pp. 1-14 ◽  
Author(s):  
Wen-cai Zhang ◽  
Yan-ge Wang ◽  
Zheng-feng Zhu ◽  
Fang-qin Wu ◽  
Yu-dong Peng ◽  
...  

Objective. To investigate the role of CD4+CD25+T cells (Tregs) in protecting fine particulate matter (PM-) induced inflammatory responses, and its potential mechanisms.Methods. Human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVECs) were treated with graded concentrations (2, 5, 10, 20, and 40 µg/cm2) of suspension of fine particles for 24h. For coculture experiment, HUVECs were incubated alone, with CD4+CD25−T cells (Teff), or with Tregs in the presence of anti-CD3 monoclonal antibodies for 48 hours, and then were stimulated with or without suspension of fine particles for 24 hours. The expression of adhesion molecules and inflammatory cytokines was examined.Results. Adhesion molecules, including vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 (VCAM-1) and intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1), and inflammatory cytokines, such as interleukin (IL-) 6 and IL-8, were increased in a concentration-dependent manner. Moreover, the adhesion of human acute monocytic leukemia cells (THP-1) to endothelial cells was increased and NF-κB activity was upregulated in HUVECs after treatment with fine particles. However, after Tregs treatment, fine particles-induced inflammatory responses and NF-κB activation were significantly alleviated. Transwell experiments showed that Treg-mediated suppression of HUVECs inflammatory responses impaired by fine particles required cell contact and soluble factors.Conclusions. Tregs could attenuate fine particles-induced inflammatory responses and NF-κB activation in HUVECs.


2019 ◽  
Vol 1 ◽  
pp. 1-2
Author(s):  
Jiafeng Shi ◽  
Jie Shen ◽  
Zdeněk Stachoň ◽  
Yawei Chen

<p><strong>Abstract.</strong> With the increasing number of large buildings and more frequent indoor activities, indoor location-based service has expanded. Due to the complicated internal passages of large public buildings and the three-dimensional interlacing, it is difficult for users to quickly reach the destination, the demand of indoor paths visualization increases. Isikdag (2013), Zhang Shaoping (2017), Huang Kejia (2018) provided navigation services for users based on path planning algorithm. In terms of indoor path visualization, Nossum (2011) proposed a “Tubes” map design method, which superimposed the channel information of different floors on the same plane by simplifying the indoor corridor and the room. Lorenz et al (2013) focused on map perspective (2D/3D) and landmarks, developed and investigated cartographic methods for effective route guidance in indoor environments. Holscher et al (2007) emphasized using the landmark objects at the important decision points of the route in indoor map design. The existing studies mainly focused on two-dimensional plane to visualize the indoor path, lacking the analysis of three-dimensional connectivity in indoor space, which makes the intuitiveness and interactivity of path visualization greatly compromised. Therefore, it is difficult to satisfy the wayfinding requirements of the indoor multi-layer continuous space. In order to solve this problem, this paper aims to study the characteristics of the indoor environment and propose a path visualization method. The following questions are addressed in this study: 1) What are the key characteristics of the indoor environment compared to the outdoor space? 2) How to visualize the indoor paths to satisfy the users’ wayfinding needs?</p>


Author(s):  
Tomoya Ishikawa ◽  
Masakatsu Kourogi ◽  
Takeshi Kurata

This paper describes an indoor pedestrian tracking system that can economically improve the tracking performance and the quality and value of services by incorporating other services synergistically. The tracking system obtains position, orientation, and action of pedestrians continuously and accurately in large indoor environments by utilizing surveillance cameras and active RFID tags for security services and 3-D environment models for navigation services. Considering service cooperation and co-creative intelligence cycles, this system can improve both the tracking performance and the quality of services without significant increase of costs by sharing the existing infrastructures and the 3-D models among services. The authors conducted an evaluation of the tracking system in a large indoor environment and confirmed that the accuracy of the system can be improved by utilizing the infrastructures and the 3-D models. Synergistic services utilizing the tracking system and service cooperation can also enhance the quality and value of services.


Author(s):  
Busisiwe Shezi ◽  
Angela Mathee ◽  
Nokulunga Cele ◽  
Sipho Ndabandaba ◽  
Renee A. Street

(1) Exposure of informal artisanal cookware makers to fine particles has not yet been characterized. The aim of this study was to characterize occupational exposure to fine particulate matter (PM4 and PM2.5) levels and fine particulate matter (PM2.5) elemental components; (2) Artisanal cookware makers were recruited from five cookware making sites. Exposure to fine particulate matter was measured for 17 male participants. SidePak personal aerosol monitors (AM520) were used to measure personal exposure to PM4, while a DustTrak monitor and an E-sampler were used to assess indoor and outdoor PM2.5 levels, respectively. A questionnaire was administered to capture information on demographic characteristics. The chemical characterization of indoor and outdoor PM2.5 filter mass was conducted using Wavelength Dispersive X-ray Fluorescence. Time series record of 15-min averages for indoor and outdoor PM2.5 levels were assessed; (3) The median (range) was 124 µg/m3 (23−100,000), 64 µg/m3 (1−6097) and 12 µg/m3 (4−1178), respectively, for personal PM4, indoor and outdoor PM2.5. The highest levels for many of the elemental components of PM2.5 were found in the outdoor PM2.5 filter mass and (4). The information generated during this study may assist in extending occupational health and safety strategies to artisanal cookware makers and developing targeted prevention initiatives.


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