Article
Environmental Sciences
Ingvild Ryde, Cleo L. Davie-Martin, Tao Li, Mads P. Naursgaard, Riikka Rinnan
Summary: This study found that mosses and lichens emit large amounts of VOCs, and these emissions are species dependent.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Geosciences, Multidisciplinary
Kimberly H. Halsey, Stephen J. Giovannoni
Summary: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a diverse range of chemicals emitted from cells, organic matter, and fossil fuels. In the ocean, VOCs play important roles in the carbon cycle, influencing plankton growth, serving as info-chemicals, and altering Earth's radiative budget. Marine phytoplankton are the primary source of VOCs, with bacterioplankton consuming these compounds. Understanding VOC production and consumption can improve models predicting VOC emissions.
EARTH-SCIENCE REVIEWS
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Yujia Chen, Cheng Liu, Wenjing Su, Qihou Hu, Chengxin Zhang, Haoran Liu, Hao Yin
Summary: In this study, we use satellite observations to assess anthropogenic VOC emission sources globally. Our findings highlight higher emissions in some Asian cities compared to Europe and America, as well as higher emissions in developing countries. We also observe a reduction in emissions during the COVID-19 pandemic in heavily polluted areas.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Meteorology & Atmospheric Sciences
Qianqian Hong, Cheng Liu, Qihou Hu, Yanli Zhang, Chengzhi Xing, Wenjing Su, Xiangguang Ji, Shaoxuan Xiao
Summary: Studies show that HCHO can serve as a proxy for VOCs, indirectly proving the reasonableness of using the HCHO/NO2 ratio to indicate ozone sensitivity.
ATMOSPHERIC RESEARCH
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Anoop Pakkattil, M. Muhsin, M. K. Ravi Varma
Summary: During the COVID-19 lockdown in Indian metropolitan cities, there was a significant decrease in BTEX concentrations, while the ozone forming potential of BTEX decreased without a corresponding decrease in ozone concentrations, indicating alternative sources contributing to ozone formation.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Daniel Gonzalez, Joan Colon, Antoni Sanchez, David Gabriel
Summary: This study conducted a characterization of gaseous emissions in a full-scale municipal wastewater treatment plant in Barcelona to identify the main sources of odour and greenhouse gas emissions. The results can be used to develop mitigation strategies and estimate the environmental impact of wastewater treatment plants.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL MANAGEMENT
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Klaas De Jonge, Janneke Ghijsels, Jelle Laverge
Summary: Current assessment methods for smart ventilation systems in most countries only focus on comfort as a criterion for indoor air quality. However, this approach neglects the harmful pollutants that can affect human health, especially when the smart ventilation system reduces ventilation flowrates to save energy. This research investigates the impact of changing family sizes on individual exposure to unhealthy pollutants in a smart ventilation system that only considers comfort-related parameters. The results highlight the influence of other household members on individual exposure to volatile organic compounds (VOCs), as well as the significant variations in energy use among different households.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Emma Ronde, Nina M. M. Frerichs, Shauni Brantenaar, Sofia El Manouni El Hassani, Alfian N. N. Wicaksono, James A. A. Covington, Nanne K. H. De Boer, Tim G. G. De Meij, Thomas Hankemeier, Irwin K. M. Reiss, Sam Schoenmakers
Summary: The study suggests that urinary volatile organic compounds may have potential as non-invasive biomarkers for predicting preterm birth and identifying intra-uterine infection and urinary tract infection. Further research in larger populations is recommended.
FRONTIERS IN PEDIATRICS
(2022)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Chunlin Zhang, Jiangyong Li, Wenlong Zhao, Qian Yao, Hao Wang, Boguang Wang
Summary: This study investigates the contribution of open biomass burning (OBB) to formaldehyde (HCHO) levels in Guangdong Province, southern China. Using satellite and model methods, the researchers estimate the emissions of HCHO and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from OBB and quantify their impact on ambient HCHO. The results show that OBB significantly influences HCHO levels in the region, especially in areas with frequent fires.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Polymer Science
Carol Lopez-de-Dicastillo, Gracia Lopez-Carballo, Pedro Vazquez, Florian Schwager, Alejandro Aragon-Gutierrez, Jose M. Alonso, Pilar Hernandez-Munoz, Rafael Gavara
Summary: Oxygen scavengers play an important role in active packaging systems as they prevent food deterioration caused by oxygen. However, the release of volatile organic compounds (VOC) during the oxygen scavenging reaction is a concern. In this study, a multilayer oxygen scavenger system was designed using appropriate adsorbents to reduce the VOC release. The selected adsorbents effectively decreased the concentration of VOCs released from the oxygen scavenger films.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaomeng Jin, Arlene M. Fiore, Ronald C. Cohen
Summary: The frequency of wildfires in the western United States has increased in recent decades, impacting ground-level ozone (O-3) precursors and the O-3-NOx-VOC chemistry. Satellite observations reveal that extensive wildfires in 2020 led to an overall increase in statewide annual average formaldehyde (HCHO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) concentrations. The increase in NO2 partially offset the reduction in anthropogenic NOx emissions due to COVID-19 lockdown, while the enhancement of HCHO extended from the source regions to downwind urban areas, contributing to more efficient O-3 production.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Kathleen Van Malderen, Nikita Hanning, Helen Lambrechts, Tine Haverhals, Silke Van Marcke, Hannah Ceuleers, Joris G. De Man, Benedicte Y. De Winter, Kevin Lamote, Heiko U. De Schepper
Summary: This study evaluates the potential of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) as diagnostic and phenotypic biomarkers for irritable bowel syndrome (IBS). The results show that VOC analysis in breath and fecal samples can differentiate IBS patients from healthy controls and differentiate different subtypes of IBS patients. Furthermore, VOC models can differentiate IBS patients based on clinical characteristics.
FRONTIERS IN MEDICINE
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Xiaomeng Jin, Arlene M. Fiore, Ronald C. Cohen
Summary: The frequency of wildfires in the western United States has increased, and their impact on ground-level ozone (O-3) precursors and chemistry has been examined. Satellite observations show that wildfires in 2020 led to an overall increase in annual average columns of formaldehyde (HCHO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO2) in California. The increase in NO2 offsets the reduction in anthropogenic NOx emission during the COVID-19 lockdown, while the increase in HCHO extends from the source regions to urban areas due to secondary production.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Gayatri Sankaran, Sze Tat Tan, Joanna Shen, Ramona Gutierrez, Lee Ching Ng, Shuzhen Sim
Summary: This study assessed the indoor air quality (IAQ) risk in 100 air-conditioned small business units in Singapore's shophouses. The majority of the units had high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), formaldehyde, carbon dioxide (CO2), and carbon monoxide (CO), with nail salons exhibiting the highest pollution levels. Improving ventilation and using low-emission products could enhance the IAQ in these small business units.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Article
Multidisciplinary Sciences
Madhav Kharel, Surendra Chalise, Baburam Chalise, Khaga Raj Sharma, Deepak Gyawali, Hari Paudyal, Bhanu Bhakta Neupane
Summary: This study utilized a portable VOC sensor to measure TVOC and formaldehyde concentrations in potential high risk workplaces in the Katmandu Valley, finding poor indoor air quality in many of these workplaces. The findings suggest that actions should be taken to minimize exposure to VOCs and improve indoor air quality.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Parth Bansal, Steven Jige Quan
Summary: This study investigates the relationship between urban form and canopy layer urban heat island (CUHI) using a relatively large sample of microclimate sensors in Seoul, Korea. The study compares different statistical models and finds that the spatially explicit gradient boosting decision tree (GBDT) model has the highest accuracy. The study also shows that the effect of urban form on CUHI varies at different time instances during the day. These findings provide valuable insights for planners to understand the complexity of urban climate and reduce CUHI magnitude.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Miaomiao Liu, Salah Almazmumi, Pinlu Cao, Carlos Jimenez-bescos, John Kaiser Calautit
Summary: Windcatchers provide effective low-energy ventilation and summer passive cooling in temperate climates. However, their use in winter is limited due to significant ventilation heat loss and potential discomfort. This study evaluates the applicability of windcatchers in low-temperature conditions, highlighting the need for control strategies to reduce over-ventilation and the integration of heat recovery or thermal storage to enhance winter thermal conditions.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Behrouz Nourozi, Aneta Wierzbicka, Runming Yao, Sasan Sadrizadeh
Summary: This article presents a systematic review of ventilation solutions in hospital wards, aiming to enhance pathogen removal performance while maintaining patient and healthcare staff comfort using air-cleaning techniques. The study reveals the importance of proper ventilation systems in reducing infection risk and adverse effects of cross-contamination.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhen Yang, Weirong Zhang, Hongkai Liu, Weijia Zhang, Mingyuan Qin
Summary: The study examines the influence of personalized local heating on the thermal comfort of occupants in old residential buildings. The findings reveal that personalized local heating can increase the overall thermal sensation of occupants, but only a few methods are effective in enhancing thermal comfort. The chosen heating methods and background temperature affect the participants' selection of heating parts.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Hong Cheng, Dan Norback, Huilin Zhang, Liu Yang, Baizhan Li, Yinping Zhang, Zhuohui Zhao, Qihong Deng, Chen Huang, Xu Yang, Chan Lu, Hua Qian, Tingting Wang, Ling Zhang, Wei Yu, Juan Wang, Xin Zhang
Summary: The home environment and sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms in five southern Chinese cities have been studied over time. The study found a decrease in asthma prevalence and an increase in allergic rhinitis. Cockroaches, rats, mice, mosquitoes or flies were identified as consistent biological risk factors for SBS symptoms, while redecoration, buying new furniture, and traffic air pollution were identified as other risk factors.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Chaojie Xing, Zhengtao Ai, Zhiwei Liu, Cheuk Ming Mak, Hai Ming Wong
Summary: This study experimentally investigated the emission characteristics of droplets around the mouth during dental treatments. The results showed that the peak mass fraction of droplets occurs within the size range of 20 μm to 100 μm, and droplets with a diameter less than 200 μm account for over 80% of the mass fraction. The dominant emission direction of droplets is towards the dummy's head and chest, forming an approximately cone shape.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Zhijian Liu, Zhe Han, Lina Hu, Chenxing Hu, Rui Rong
Summary: This study compared the effects of different respiratory behaviors on the distribution of aerosols in a ward and the risk of infection for healthcare workers using numerical simulation. It was found that talking in the ward significantly increased aerosol concentrations, particularly short periods of talking. Wards designed with side-supply ventilation had lower overall infection risk. Talking alternately between healthcare workers and patients slightly extended the impact time of aerosols.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yan Yan, Mengyuan Kang, Haodong Zhang, Zhiwei Lian, Xiaojun Fan, Chandra Sekhar, Pawel Wargocki, Li Lan
Summary: In a high-density city, opening windows for sleep may lead to increased indoor temperature, higher PM2.5 concentration, and noise disturbance, which can negatively impact sleep quality.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yan Bai, Liang Liu, Kai Liu, Shuai Yu, Yifan Shen, Di Sun
Summary: This study developed a non-intrusive personal thermal comfort model using machine learning techniques combined with infrared facial recognition. The results showed that the ensemble learning models perform better than traditional models, and the broad learning model has a higher prediction precision with lower computational complexity and faster training speed compared to deep neural networks. The findings provide a reference for optimizing building thermal environments.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Yue Lei, Zeynep Duygu Tekler, Sicheng Zhan, Clayton Miller, Adrian Chong
Summary: Mixed-mode ventilation is a promising solution for achieving energy-efficient and comfortable indoor environments. This study found that occupants can thermally adapt when switching between natural ventilation (NV) and air-conditioning (AC) modes within the same day, with the adaptation process stabilizing between 35 to 45 minutes after the mode switch. These findings are important for optimizing thermal comfort in mixed-mode controls, considering the dynamic nature of thermal adaptation.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Nan Mo, Jie Han, Yingde Yin, Yelin Zhang
Summary: This study develops a method based on the LCZ framework for a comprehensive evaluation of urban-scale heat island effects, considering the impact of geographic factors on LST. The results show that Guilin's geomorphological conditions lead to abnormal heat island effects during winter, and the cooling effects of mountains and water bodies vary seasonally in different built areas, with LCZ 2 exhibiting the strongest cooling effect.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Tunga Salthammer
Summary: Monitoring the potential formaldehyde emission of wood-based materials through test chamber investigations has significantly contributed to reducing indoor formaldehyde concentrations. However, the different methodologies used in these procedures prevent direct result comparison. Empirical models for converting formaldehyde steady-state concentrations based on temperature, humidity, air change rate, and loading were developed in the 1970s and have been modified to accommodate the development of lower-emitting materials. Formaldehyde emissions from wood-based materials are complex and require nonlinear regression tools for mathematical analysis.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Katarina Stebelova, Katarina Kovacova, Zuzana Dzirbikova, Peter Hanuliak, Tomas Bacigal, Peter Hartman, Andrea Vargova, Jozef Hraska
Summary: This study investigated the impact of reduced short-wavelength light on the hormone melatonin metabolite 6-sulfatoxymelatonin (u-sMEL) and examined the association between previous day's light exposure and u-sMEL. It was found that reducing short-wavelength light during the day did not change the concentration of u-sMEL. Personal photopic illuminance was positively correlated with u-sMEL in the reference week. The illuminance had a significant impact on u-sMEL, as shown by the evaluation of the mean of all three urine samples. However, this correlation was not found in the experimental week.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ruoxin Xiong, Ying Shi, Haoming Jing, Wei Liang, Yorie Nakahira, Pingbo Tang
Summary: This study proposes a data-model integration method to identify and calibrate uncertainties in machine learning models, leading to improved thermal perception predictions. The method utilizes the Multidimensional Association Rule Mining algorithm to identify biased human responses and enhances prediction accuracy and reliability. The study also evaluates different calibration techniques and discovers their potential in enhancing prediction reliability.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Beichao Hu, Zeda Yin, Abderrachid Hamrani, Arturo Leon, Dwayne McDaniel
Summary: This paper introduces an innovative super-resolution approach to model the air flow and temperature field in the cold aisle of a data center. The proposed method reconstructs a high-fidelity flow field by using a low-fidelity flow field, significantly reducing the computational time and enabling real-time prediction.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2024)