scholarly journals An Extensive Collection of Evaluation Indicators to Assess Occupants’ Health and Comfort in Indoor Environment

Atmosphere ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
pp. 90 ◽  
Author(s):  
Fabio Fantozzi ◽  
Michele Rocca
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Environmental Factor ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Relative Threshold ◽  
Extensive Collection ◽  
The Difference

Today, the effects of the indoor environment on occupants’ health and comfort represent a very important topic and requires a holistic approach in which the four main environmental factors (thermal comfort, air quality, acoustics, and lighting) should be simultaneously assessed. The present paper shows the results of a literature survey that aimed to collect the indicators for the evaluation of occupants’ health and comfort in indoor environmental quality evaluations. A broad number of papers that propose the indicators of a specific environmental factor is available in the scientific literature, but a review that collects the indicators of all four factors is lacking. In this review paper, the difference between indicators for the evaluation of risk for human health and for comfort evaluation is clarified. For each environmental factor, the risk for human health indicators are proposed with the relative threshold values, and the human comfort indicators are grouped into categories according to the number of parameters included, or the specific field of application for which they are proposed. Furthermore, the differences between human health and comfort indicators are highlighted.

scholarly journals Spaces in-between impacts on indoor environment and energy efficiency in dwellings

2019 ◽  
Vol 282 ◽  
pp. 02071
Author(s):  
Catarina F. T. Ribeiro ◽  
Nuno M. M. Ramos ◽  
Inês Flores-Colen
Keyword(s):  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Minimum Energy ◽  
Environmental Parameters ◽  
Holistic Approach ◽  
Energy Performance ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Climatic Regions ◽  
Minimum Energy Consumption ◽  
Acoustic Comfort

Throughout history, it has always been recognised that the spaces in-between in dwellings have the advantage of working as environmental buffer spaces. The aim of this paper is to provide a literature review of the different spaces in-between in dwellings – balconies, shaded balconies and glazed balconies - and their impacts on comfort and on energy performance. The effects of the spaces in-between depend on their design, on the characteristics of the buildings and on the surroundings. They have important impacts on the four factors that contribute to the indoor environmental quality: thermal comfort, lighting comfort, acoustic comfort and indoor air quality. These factors are interrelated and the lack of balance between them can lead to poor indoor environmental conditions and to excessive energy consumption. Based on the review, a synthesis of the key environmental parameters that can be used as indicators for those factors is established. The impacts of spaces in-between on the factors and sub-factors of indoor environment are defined, considering different climatic regions. A holistic approach that conciliates all the above-mentioned factors should be a contribution to the design of spaces in-between in both new construction and rehabilitation projects, in order to achieve better indoor environment with minimum energy consumption.

scholarly journals Identification of sensitive indicators to assess the interrelationship between soil quality, management practices and human health

SOIL ◽  
2015 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
pp. 173-185 ◽  
Author(s):  
R. Zornoza ◽  
J. A. Acosta ◽  
F. Bastida ◽  
S. G. Domínguez ◽  
D. M. Toledo ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Use ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Soil Quality ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Land Use Changes ◽  
Aggregate Stability ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Nutrient Content ◽  
Sustainable Land Use ◽  
Soil Quality Index

Abstract. Soil quality (SQ) assessment has long been a challenging issue, since soils present high variability in properties and functions. This paper aims to increase the understanding of SQ through the review of SQ assessments in different scenarios providing evidence about the interrelationship between SQ, land use and human health. There is a general consensus that there is a need to develop methods to assess and monitor SQ for assuring sustainable land use with no prejudicial effects on human health. This review points out the importance of adopting indicators of different nature (physical, chemical and biological) to achieve a holistic image of SQ. Most authors use single indicators to assess SQ and its relationship with land uses – soil organic carbon and pH being the most used indicators. The use of nitrogen and nutrient content has resulted sensitive for agricultural and forest systems, together with physical properties such as texture, bulk density, available water and aggregate stability. These physical indicators have also been widely used to assess SQ after land use changes. The use of biological indicators is less generalized, with microbial biomass and enzyme activities being the most selected indicators. Although most authors assess SQ using independent indicators, it is preferable to combine some of them into models to create a soil quality index (SQI), since it provides integrated information about soil processes and functioning. The majority of revised articles used the same methodology to establish an SQI, based on scoring and weighting of different soil indicators, selected by means of multivariate analyses. The use of multiple linear regressions has been successfully used for forest land use. Urban soil quality has been poorly assessed, with a lack of adoption of SQIs. In addition, SQ assessments where human health indicators or exposure pathways are incorporated are practically inexistent. Thus, further efforts should be carried out to establish new methodologies to assess soil quality not only in terms of sustainability, productivity and ecosystem quality but also human health. Additionally, new challenges arise with the use and integration of stable isotopic, genomic, proteomic and spectroscopic data into SQIs.

scholarly journals Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons in Indoor Dust Collected during the COVID-19 Pandemic Lockdown in Saudi Arabia: Status, Sources and Human Health Risks

2021 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 2743
Author(s):  
Sultan Hassan Alamri ◽  
Nadeem Ali ◽  
Hussain Mohammed Salem Ali Albar ◽  
Muhammad Imtiaz Rashid ◽  
Nisreen Rajeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Molecular Weight ◽  
Saudi Arabia ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Aromatic Hydrocarbons ◽  
Indoor Environment ◽  
Indoor Dust ◽  
Environment Quality ◽  
Indoor Environment Quality ◽  
Polycyclic Aromatic

To control the spread of coronavirus disease (COVID-19), Saudi Arabia’s government imposed a strict lockdown during March–July 2020. As a result, the public was confined to indoors, and most of their daily activities were happening in their indoor places, which might have resulted in lower indoor environment quality. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) were analyzed in household dust (n = 40) collected from different residential districts of Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, during the lockdown period. PAHs’ levels were two folds higher than the previously reported PAHs in indoor dust from this region. We detected low molecular weight (LMW) with two to four aromatic ring PAHs in all the samples with a significant contribution from Phenanthrene (Phe), present at an average concentration of 1590 ng/g of dust. Although high molecular weight (HMW) (5–6 aromatic ring) PAHs were detected at lower concentrations than LMW PAHs, however, they contributed >90% in the carcinogenic index of PAHs. The estimated daily intake (EDI) of specific PAHs was above the reference dose (RfD) for young children in high-end exposure and the calculated Incremental Lifetime Cancer Risk (ILCR) was >1.00 × 10−4 for both Saudi adults and young children. The study highlighted that indoor pollution has increased significantly during lockdown due to the increased indoor activities and inversely affect human health. This study also warrants to conduct more studies involving different chemicals to understand the indoor environment quality during strict lockdown conditions.

ASSESSMENT OF INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND OCCURRENCE OF SICK BUILDING SYNDROME IN SMALL OFFICES IN PENANG, MALAYSIA

2015 ◽  
Vol 75 (5) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ang Qiu Mei ◽  
Md Azree Othuman Mydin
Keyword(s):  
Environmental Quality ◽  
Sick Building Syndrome ◽  
Quality Measurement ◽  
Comfort Level ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Sick Building ◽  
The Difference

This study was done to investigate the relationship between indoor environmental quality and prevalence of Sick Building Syndrome in six small offices inPenangIsland. Indoor environmental quality measurement was conducted according to relevant standards. There are totally Sixty workers were selected to participate in an electronic questionnaire survey. Questionnaire was used to record the comfort level of respondents in the case studies and level of sick building syndrome faced by respondents. Through indoor environmental quality measurement, it is found that most of the offices facing the lighting and noise problem. The result from the questionnaire shows that in overall, the occupants satisfy with their working environment in term of indoor environmental quality although the result also shows the opinions of occupants on dissatisfaction on certain indoor environmental parameter according to case study. The study also found that most of the occupants feel drowsy and fatigue when they work within the offices. Besides, due to the difference of the indoor environmental quality of the buildings, the occupants are suffered from different symptoms of the sick building syndrome.

scholarly journals Association between Human Health and Indoor Air Pollution in Saudi Arabia: Indoor Environmental Quality Survey

2020 ◽  
pp. 57-66
Author(s):  
Mohd Saleem ◽  
Mohd Adnan Kausar ◽  
Fahmida Khatoon ◽  
Sadaf Anwar ◽  
Syed Monowar Alam Shahid ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Indoor Air Pollution ◽  
Negative Impact ◽  
Natural Light ◽  
Common Symptom ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality

In many aspects of life quality, bio-contaminants and indoor air quality have had catastrophic consequences, including a negative impact on human health with an increased prevalence of allergic respiratory reactions, asthma, and infectious diseases. We aimed to evaluate the quality of indoor air environment and find out the association between human health and indoor air pollution and also to assess the physical health status of a group of Saudi and non-Saudi populations during this pandemic. Also, we aimed to assess the most common health condition or symptoms associated with ventilation. A questionnaire was distributed online to test indoor air quality, ventilation status, common signs and symptoms of any allergy or mental status and their relationship to certain variables. A total of 362 respondents were included. Before living in the current home, flu or Influenza and chapped lips were more prevalent than allergies and chapped lips signs while living in the current home. (12.2% , 10.8% vs. 18.5% , 13.55% before and after respectively) Multiple colds were the second most common symptom (10.2%). Hoarse voice and headaches were the least common symptoms experienced; each constituted 4.4%. During the COVID-19 Pandemic, most respondents wore a facemask, approximately 76.5%; and almost one-third of respondents had bright natural light inside the current home (43.1%). The presence of natural light within the current home was significantly associated with symptoms experienced during living in the current house (p<0.05). Natural sunlight exposure could decrease allergic symptoms and minor health problems associated with poor ventilation and air quality indoors. In current living homes, the majority of respondents never used air purifiers (72.9 percent). In order to get attention from people to enhance the quality and ventilation mechanism of indoor air, special care and awareness of the effects of the use of air purifiers on human health is needed.

scholarly journals Situação dos Indicadores de Morbidade, Cobertura Vacinal e Demográfico no Município de Jataí – GO: Análise Comparativa entre os anos 2000 e 2009.

2012 ◽  
Vol 1 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
João Paulo Pessoa ◽  
Flavio Henrique Lima ◽  
Cácia Paula ◽  
Lucila Ferri
Keyword(s):  
Secondary Data ◽  
Health Indicators ◽  
Relevant Information ◽  
Health Status Indicators ◽  
Microsoft Excel ◽  
Male Predominance ◽  
Concept Of Health ◽  
Health And Illness ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Evaluation Of Data

Relato de experiência sobre análise dos indicadores de morbidade, cobertura vacinal e demográfico no municípiode Jataí – GO entre os anos 2000 e 2009. Ao longo dos anos, o conceito saúde-doença em se modificando einserindo novos conceitos para melhor avaliação dos dados dos usuários do SUS, como por exemplo, a utilizaçãode indicadores de saúde, que são medidas sumárias que capturam informações relevantes de diferentes atributose dimensões de saúde e desempenho dos Sistemas de Saúde. Diante disso, este trabalho propôs realizar a análisedos indicadores citados acima no município de Jataí. Foram retirados dados secundários do DATASUS, RIPSAe IBGE e processados no programa Microsoft Excel®. Verificou-se que houve um aumento da expectativa devida acompanhada por uma redução no número de nascimentos, a população apresentou um aumento de 10.996habitantes com predomínio do sexo feminino. Vacinas foram incorporadas no SUS, com aumento na coberturada maioria das vacinas com redução apenas na oral poliomielite (2ª etapa). A diferença entre a morbidade entrehomens e mulheres foi de 34,98% com predominância do sexo masculino. As análises se mostraram relevantes,porém novas investigações permitiriam conhecer outros indicadores que influenciam o desempenho dosprogramas de saúde municipais.Descritores: Indicadores básicos de saúde, dados demográficosABSTRACTExperience report on the analysis of indicators of morbidity, and demographic coverage in the municipality ofJataí - GO between 2000 and 2009. Over the years, the concept of health and illness in changing and insertingnew concepts for better evaluation of data from SUS users, such as the use of health indicators, which aresummary measures that capture relevant information from different attributes and dimensions and performanceof health systems health Therefore, this paper proposed to perform the analysis of the indicators mentionedabove in the municipality of Jataí. Secondary data were taken from DATASUS RIPSA and IBGE and processedin Microsoft Excel ®. It was found that there was an increase in life expectancy accompanied by a reduction inthe number of births, the population increased by 10,996 people, predominantly women. Vaccines have beenincorporated into the SUS, with increased coverage of most vaccines with reduced only in the oral polio (2ndstage). The difference in morbidity between men and women was 34.98% with male predominance. The analysisto be relevant, but further investigations would meet other indicators that influence the performance of localhealth programs.Keywords: Health status indicators, demographics

scholarly journals HUMAN BODY’S HEALTH FUNCTION IMPROVEMENT BY VARIOUS WHOLE-BODY SPORTS EXERCISES

2021 ◽  
Vol 27 (3) ◽  
pp. 270-273
Author(s):  
Ji Hu ◽  
Jicheng Yang
Keyword(s):  
Physical Exercise ◽  
Human Health ◽  
Tai Chi ◽  
Exercise Group ◽  
Whole Body ◽  
Group Health ◽  
Traditional Health ◽  
Physical Exercises ◽  
The Difference ◽  
Health Function

ABSTRACT Introduction Studies have shown that physical exercise is beneficial to people’s overall physical and mental health, but few research reports on the effects of different physical exercises on people’s human health. Object The paper explores the difference in human health function between people who adhere to traditional health sports and those who rarely exercise and provide a scientific basis for applying and promoting traditional health sports in TCM “prevention of disease”. Methods The paper surveyed 526 people who regularly participate in physical exercises and rarely exercise. The exercise items are divided into Tai Chi/Tai Chi sword group, Health Qigong Baduanjin group, Health Qigong Wuqinxi group, and Health Qigong Yijin group. Warp group, walking/jogging group. Results There are differences in the mental indicators of the people in different exercise groups. The overall average percentage levels of and NK cells in each exercise group and the tiny exercise group are different, and the difference is statistically significant (P<0.05). Conclusions Persisting in physical exercise is beneficial to the balance of health and function of the population. Level of evidence II; Therapeutic studies - investigation of treatment results.

Relationship between the Differences of Odor Detection Threshold Values Measured by Different Methods and some of the Physicochemical Properties

2013 ◽  
Vol 807-809 ◽  
pp. 451-455 ◽  
Author(s):  
Di Fang ◽  
Jie Min Liu ◽  
Qin Yi
Keyword(s):  
Physicochemical Properties ◽  
Functional Group ◽  
Saturated Vapor ◽  
Detection Threshold ◽  
Threshold Values ◽  
Odor Detection ◽  
Linear Relationships ◽  
Odor Detection Threshold ◽  
The Difference ◽  
The Relationship

The amount of sample can enter the nasal cavity depends on the physiochemical characteristics such as distribution, volatility and solubility. It can be suspected that the difference of odor detection threshold (ODT) measured by different methods is related to the physicochemical properties of compounds. To investigate the relationship between ODT differences and the physicochemical properties of compounds, ODT values of four series of organic compounds were measured by triangle odor bag method and gas chromatography and olfactometry method; the results were compared and the absolute differences were calculated. Relationship between ODT differences and the type of functional group and some of the physicochemical properties of compounds was analyzed. The results showed the type of functional group had significant effect on the differences. Certain linear relationships between the logarithmic value of differences and the logarithmic values of saturated vapor pressure and molecular weight were observed.

Fungi and the Indoor Environment: Their Impact on Human Health

2004 ◽  
pp. 1-30 ◽  
Author(s):  
J.D. Cooley ◽  
W.C. Wong ◽  
C.A. Jumper ◽  
D.C. Straus
Keyword(s):  
Human Health ◽  
Indoor Environment

THE LEED-COMMERCIAL INTERIORS (V4) PROJECTS IN CALIFORNIA

2021 ◽  
Vol 16 (3) ◽  
pp. 57-72
Author(s):  
Svetlana Pushkar
Keyword(s):  
Green Building ◽  
Nonparametric Tests ◽  
Indoor Environmental Quality ◽  
Positive Correlation ◽  
Low Level ◽  
Impact Reduction ◽  
Environmental Product Declarations ◽  
The Difference ◽  
High Level ◽  
Building Standards

ABSTRACT This study analyzed the Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design for Commercial Interior Certified, Silver, and Gold projects version 4.0 (LEED-CIv4) in California for the period 2015‒2020. Nonparametric tests were used to assess category and credit achievement, i.e., the difference between possible and achieved points and the correlation between associated credits. The results show that most of the credits in the location and transportation category and the indoor environmental quality categories had a high level of achievement, a few credits in the energy and atmosphere and materials and resources categories had a high level of achievement, and all of the credits in the water efficiency category had a low level of achievement. Some associated credits, such as surrounding density and quality transit, had a high level of achievement and a positive correlation, whereas other associated credits, such as life-cycle impact reduction and environmental product declarations, had a low level of achievement and a positive correlation. If LEED-CIv4 credits meet the requirements of the California Green Building Standards Code 2016 (CGBSC 2016), then these credits typically have a medium/high level of achievement. If LEED-CIv4 credits exceed the requirements of CGBSC 2016, then these credits have a low level of achievement. Therefore, to improve the next version of LEED-CI, it is necessary to improve the local green codes.

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