Article
Construction & Building Technology
Antigona Ukehaxhaj, Naser Ramadani, Hanns Moshammer, Drita Zogaj
Summary: There is scientific evidence of the adverse health effects of indoor exposure to chemicals in children. Nitrogen dioxide and benzene were found to be too high in at least one school. Formaldehyde levels were higher indoors and in newer schools. Improving air circulation and temperature control, as well as identifying and eliminating sources of pollution, would benefit the health and learning of school children.
Review
Green & Sustainable Science & Technology
Nishant Raj Kapoor, Ashok Kumar, Tabish Alam, Anuj Kumar, Kishor S. Kulkarni, Paolo Blecich
Summary: Research on Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) in Indian school classrooms has been lacking organization and comprehensive methodology, hindering the assessment and improvement of IEQ parameters. Future research should focus on integrating current conditions with advancements in technology and addressing the impact of factors like the COVID-19 pandemic and Artificial Intelligence on IEQ in educational settings.
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Sonia Kacprzak, Leonard D. Tijing
Summary: This study investigates the presence, sources, types, levels, and impacts of microplastics in indoor air. The results reveal the scale and complexity of airborne microplastics pollution, as well as technological deficiencies in testing methods. Possible methods of controlling and reducing these pollutants are also explored.
JOURNAL OF ENVIRONMENTAL CHEMICAL ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Kyungmo Kang, Taeyeon Kim, Hyungkeun Kim
Summary: The study revealed that indoor air pollution from particles, mainly caused by indoor activities like cooking, leads to prolonged indoor particle concentrations. Outdoor sources were found to be the predominant sources of particle exposure, suggesting that reducing outdoor penetration is crucial in lowering indoor PN concentration by improving building airtightness through the addition of air filtration.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Brandon Bottorff, Chen Wang, Emily Reidy, Colleen Rosales, Delphine K. Farmer, Marina E. Vance, Jonathan P. D. Abbatt, Philip S. Stevens
Summary: Despite the lack of full understanding of the chemistry of nitrous acid (HONO) in the indoor environment, this study presents results from comparing measurements of HONO using different instruments. The findings indicate that HONO has a long enough lifetime to be quickly distributed indoors and mix throughout the house, contributing to the oxidative capacity indoors.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2022)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Xue Meng, Mingxin Zhang, Mohan Wang
Summary: This review examines the influence of school indoor visual environment on children's health outcomes, finding that it does have an impact. Lighting and access to nature were identified as the most significant factors, while evidence in other areas was relatively limited. The study suggests the need for interdisciplinary collaboration to develop a holistic perspective.
Article
Economics
Chon-Kit Ao, Yilin Dong, Pei-Fen Kuo
Summary: This study, based on a nationally representative longitudinal survey in China, demonstrates that exposure to both indoor and ambient air pollution has adverse effects on mental health, especially increasing the likelihood of depressive symptoms in the elderly population. Furthermore, the study shows that the impact of air pollution is more pronounced in less educated individuals and females.
CHINA ECONOMIC REVIEW
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Patrick Poulin, Axelle Marchand, Benoit Levesque, Marjolaine Dube, Daniel Aubin, Boualem Ouazia, Caroline Duchaine, Mario Brisson
Summary: A study was conducted to assess the impact of poor indoor air quality on respiratory health in children. The results showed that hospitalization rates for respiratory diseases in children under 1 year old in Nunavik were significantly higher compared to the whole province of Quebec. The study also found that optimizing ventilation systems had a positive effect on reducing respiratory infection episodes in children.
Article
Environmental Sciences
R. San Jose, J. L. Perez, R. M. Gonzalez-Barras
Summary: The health impact assessment was conducted on indoor pollution sources, with a focus on the impact of emissions during cooking in different seasons. The results showed a significant correlation between indoor and outdoor concentrations when indoor emissions were not taken into account.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Shaoning Pang, Lei Song, Abdolhossein Sarrafzadeh, Guy Coulson, Ian Longley, Gustavo Olivares
Summary: This study uses correlation coefficients technique to detect emission sources in indoor environments, considering secondary pollution and calculating intra pollutants correlation coefficients. Experiments successfully identify seven major indoor emission sources and improve detection accuracy compared to traditional methods.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2021)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Ming-Lun Zou, Hsiao-Chun Huang, Yi-Hua Chen, Chuen-Bin Jiang, Chih-Da Wu, Shih-Chun Candice Lung, Ling -Chu Chien, Yu-Chun Lo, Hsing Jasmine Chao
Summary: Air pollution, outdoor residential environment, indoor household characteristics, and parental mental health are potential factors associated with child development. This study found that the indoor total volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) level was significantly associated with poor child cognitive development, particularly in girls. Additionally, the study also observed that the residential environment and parental anxiety interfered with child development. Therefore, caution should be taken when using TVOCs at home, and a low-pollution living environment should be provided to ensure children's healthy development.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Review
Public, Environmental & Occupational Health
Hitikk Chawla, Purnima Anand, Kritika Garg, Neeru Bhagat, Shivani G. Varmani, Tanu Bansal, Andrew J. Mcbain, Ruchi Gulati Marwah
Summary: The quality of the indoor environment significantly affects human health and productivity. This review provides a comprehensive overview of microbial contamination in built environments, including sources, sampling strategies, and analysis methods. It discusses the health risks associated with microbial contaminants and emphasizes the importance of indoor air quality during the COVID-19 pandemic.
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTH
(2023)
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Sasan Sadrizadeh, Runming Yao, Feng Yuan, Hazim Awbi, William Bahnfleth, Yang Bi, Guangyu Cao, Cristiana Croitoru, Richard de Dear, Fariborz Haghighat, Prashant Kumar, Mojtaba Malayeri, Fuzhan Nasiri, Mathilde Ruud, Parastoo Sadeghian, Pawel Wargocki, Jing Xiong, Wei Yu, Baizhan Li
Summary: Indoor pollution has been ranked as one of the top environmental risks to public health, particularly affecting the health and development of students. Previous studies have focused on indoor air quality, ventilation, thermal comfort, etc., providing suggestions for improving school environments. However, future research is needed to further understand contaminant characteristics, regional differences, and the impact of indoor satisfaction on student performance and health.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2022)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Najwa Kanama, Michel Ondarts, Gaelle Guyot, Jonathan Outin, Benjamin Golly, Evelyne Gonze
Summary: This study aims to assess the impact of energy renovation on indoor air quality (IAQ) in a school building located in a polluted outdoor environment. The results showed that the installation of a balanced ventilation system significantly increased the air change rate and improved IAQ. However, it also resulted in a significant increase in indoor/outdoor particle concentration.
JOURNAL OF BUILDING ENGINEERING
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Grace Kuiper, Ada Wilmer, Hannah Carter, Caroline Shannon, Hannah Curcio, Elicia Ratajczyk, Brian Dunbar, Ellison Carter, Anisa Heming, Sheryl Magzamen
Summary: School closures during the COVID-19 pandemic have emphasized the importance of in-person learning for child health. Improving indoor air quality is crucial for keeping schools open during outbreaks. This study evaluated the impact of Enhanced IAQ credit achievement in LEED-certified schools on their ability to remain open during the pandemic, and found that although the treatment effect was not significant, there was a secondary finding of decreased COVID-related closure days associated with increased mask usage in the community.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2023)
Letter
Allergy
Diogo Mota, Tiago Azenha Rama, Andre Moreira
Article
Pediatrics
Monica Rodrigues, Francisca de Castro Mendes, Ines Paciencia, Joao Cavaleiro Rufo, Diana Silva, Luis Delgado, Andre Moreira, Pedro Moreira
Summary: Exhaled breath condensate (EBC) analysis is a non-invasive method that can identify and quantify biomarkers from the lower respiratory tract. This study aimed to assess the association between diet quality and markers in EBC among school-aged children. Higher diet quality was found to be associated with higher conductivity levels of the EBC.
Article
Medicine, General & Internal
Beatriz Goncalves Teixeira, Ines Paciencia, Joao Cavaleiro Rufo, Francisca Mendes, Mariana Farraia, Patricia Padrao, Pedro Moreira, Andre Moreira
Summary: This study investigates the impact of overweight and obesity on the autonomic nervous system activity in children. The findings suggest an association between body mass and changes in the autonomic activity. This study provides evidence for interventions targeting the prevention/treatment of obesity in children.
ACTA MEDICA PORTUGUESA
(2023)
Article
Energy & Fuels
Marta Fonseca Gabriel, Joao Pedro Cardoso, Fatima Felgueiras, Joana Azeredo, David Filipe, Peter Conradie, Stephanie Van Hove, Zenaida Mourao, Filippos Anagnostopoulos, Isabel Azevedo
Summary: Energy poverty vulnerability is a significant concern in Portugal, with a high percentage of the population unable to adequately heat their homes. This study aims to characterize 101 Portuguese families and their homes to identify opportunities for promoting energy efficiency and environmental health. The results suggest that improving energy-efficient technologies, providing information on energy use and indoor air quality, and educating the population on best practices for improving thermal comfort and saving energy are key areas for improvement.
Review
Health Care Sciences & Services
Sara Alves, Joao Cavaleiro Rufo, Jose Crispim
Summary: This study systematically reviews economic evaluations of biological therapies for severe asthma published until December 2022. The findings suggest that the cost-effectiveness of biological treatments compared to standard of care or standard of care plus steroids is controversial, but it can be concluded that biological treatments improve health outcomes, albeit at a high cost.
EXPERT REVIEW OF PHARMACOECONOMICS & OUTCOMES RESEARCH
(2023)
Review
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Monica Rodrigues, Francisca de Castro Mendes, Luis Delgado, Patricia Padrao, Ines Paciencia, Renata Barros, Joao Cavaleiro Rufo, Diana Silva, Andre Moreira, Pedro Moreira
Summary: Asthma, a chronic respiratory disease, is influenced by diet. Certain dietary factors have been identified as potential contributors to asthma development and severity due to their inflammatory and oxidative effects. Consumption of fruits and vegetables, whole grains, and healthy fats has been associated with a positive impact on asthma, while high intake of salt, saturated fats, and trans-fat has a negative effect. However, further research is needed on dietary patterns and their mechanisms of action.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Pediatrics
Monica Rodrigues, Francisca de Castro Mendes, Patricia Padrao, Luis Delgado, Ines Paciencia, Renata Barros, Joao Cavaleiro Rufo, Diana Silva, Andre Moreira, Pedro Moreira
Summary: This cross-sectional study explores the association between adherence to the Mediterranean diet and levels of airway inflammation in school-aged children. The findings suggest that adherence to the Mediterranean diet is associated with lower levels of airway inflammation among non-overweight/non-obese children.
Review
Engineering, Environmental
Fatima Felgueiras, Zenaida Mourao, Andre Moreira, Marta Fonseca Gabriel
Summary: Many service jobs are now conducted in open-plan settings instead of individual offices in modern offices. The importance of providing appropriate guidance to ensure the quality of office environments is emphasized due to the large number of adults working in office buildings and sharing workspaces with others.
JOURNAL OF HAZARDOUS MATERIALS ADVANCES
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Mariana Farraia, Francisca Castro Mendes, Oksana Sokhatska, Milton Severo, Joao Cavaleiro Rufo, Henrique Barros, Andre Moreira
Summary: This study used data from a Portuguese birth cohort to identify trajectories of allergic sensitization profiles during childhood and evaluate their association with allergic outcomes. Five different trajectories were proposed, and their associations with asthma, rhinitis, and atopic dermatitis were analyzed.
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Allergy
Mariana Farraia, Francisca Castro Mendes, Oksana Sokhatska, Tiago Rama, Milton Severo, Adnan Custovic, Joao Cavaleiro Rufo, Henrique Barros, Andre Moreira
Summary: This study aims to develop and evaluate a personalized predictive algorithm for asthma that combines component-resolved diagnosis (CRD) with clinical data, and uses information on allergic sensitization to improve the accuracy of asthma prediction models.
PEDIATRIC ALLERGY AND IMMUNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Samiran Khorat, Debashish Das, Rupali Khatun, Sk Mohammad Aziz, Prashant Anand, Ansar Khan, Mattheos Santamouris, Dev Niyogi
Summary: Cool roofs can effectively mitigate heatwave-induced excess heat and enhance thermal comfort in urban areas. Implementing cool roofs can significantly improve urban meteorology and thermal comfort, reducing energy flux and heat stress.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Qi Li, Jiayu Chen, Xiaowei Luo
Summary: This study focuses on the vertical wind conditions as a main external factor that limits the energy assessment of high-rise buildings in urban areas. Traditional tools for energy assessment of buildings use a universal vertical wind profile estimation, without taking into account the unique wind speed in each direction induced by the various shapes and configurations of buildings in cities. To address this limitation, the study developed an omnidirectional urban vertical wind speed estimation method using direction-dependent building morphologies and machine learning algorithms.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Xiaojun Luo, Lamine Mahdjoubi
Summary: This paper presents an integrated blockchain and machine learning-based energy management framework for multiple forms of energy allocation and transmission among multiple domestic buildings. Machine learning is used to predict energy generation and consumption patterns, and the proposed framework establishes optimal and automated energy allocation through peer-to-peer energy transactions. The approach contributes to the reduction of greenhouse gas emissions and enhances environmental sustainability.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ying Yu, Yuanwei Xiao, Jinshuai Chou, Xingyu Wang, Liu Yang
Summary: This study proposes a dual-layer optimization design method to maximize the energy sharing potential, enhance collaborative benefits, and reduce the storage capacity of building clusters. Case studies show that the proposed design significantly improves the performance of building clusters, reduces energy storage capacity, and shortens the payback period.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Felix Langner, Weimin Wang, Moritz Frahm, Veit Hagenmeyer
Summary: This paper compares two main approaches to consider uncertainties in model predictive control (MPC) for buildings: robust and stochastic MPC. The results show that compared to a deterministic MPC, the robust MPC increases the electricity cost while providing complete temperature constraint satisfaction, while the stochastic MPC slightly increases the electricity cost but fulfills the thermal comfort requirements.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Somil Yadav, Caroline Hachem-Vermette
Summary: This study proposes a mathematical model to evaluate the performance of a Double Skin Facade (DSF) system and its impact on indoor conditions. The model considers various design parameters and analyzes their effects on the system's electrical output and room temperature.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ruijun Chen, Holly Samuelson, Yukai Zou, Xianghan Zheng, Yifan Cao
Summary: This research introduces an innovative resilient design framework that optimizes building performance by considering a holistic life cycle perspective and accounting for climate projection uncertainties. The study finds that future climate scenarios significantly impact building life cycle performance, with wall U-value, windows U-value, and wall density being major factors. By using ensemble learning and optimization algorithms, predictions for carbon emissions, cost, and indoor discomfort hours can be made, and the best resilient design scheme can be selected. Applying this framework leads to significant improvements in building life cycle performance.
ENERGY AND BUILDINGS
(2024)