Article
Construction & Building Technology
Dusan Licina, Sarka Langer
Summary: The study compared IAQ results before and after relocation to two WELL-certified office buildings, finding no significant differences in most air pollutants, but some discrepancies in certain substances. Although WELL buildings had higher levels of TVOC and individual VOC associated with paints, there was a statistically significant improvement in IAQ satisfaction after relocation, possibly influenced by thermal environment and awareness of the WELL certification.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Ioannis Sakellaris, Dikaia Saraga, Corinne Mandin, Yvonne de Kluizenaar, Serena Fossati, Andrea Spinazze, Andrea Cattaneo, Victor Mihucz, Tamas Szigeti, Eduardo de Oliveira Fernandes, Krystallia Kalimeri, Rosanna Mabilia, Paolo Carrer, John Bartzis
Summary: This study aimed to investigate the association between indoor pollutant concentrations and reported health symptoms of building-related occupants in 148 office rooms. The findings showed that offices with higher pollutant concentrations were more likely to have occupants reporting health symptoms, with various pollutants showing associations with different health symptoms, such as formaldehyde with respiratory and general symptoms.
Review
Construction & Building Technology
Amit Passi, S. M. Shiva Nagendra, M. P. Maiya
Summary: This research paper provides a comprehensive review of different types of air pollutants, their sources, health impacts, characteristics, and management in underground metro stations. Comparing actual pollutant levels with regulatory guidelines, it was found that particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, and bacteria were often above recommended limits. A focus on gaseous and biological pollutants, health risk assessment, and the influence of thermal parameters on IAQ perception in future research is recommended based on existing studies.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2021)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Roger Sheu, Claire F. Fortenberry, Michael J. Walker, Azin Eftekhari, Christof Stoenner, Alexa Bakker, Jordan Peccia, Jonathan Williams, Glenn C. Morrison, Brent J. Williams, Drew R. Gentner
Summary: Detailed offline speciation of gas- and particle-phase organic compounds was conducted using gas/liquid chromatography with traditional and high-resolution mass spectrometers in a hybrid targeted/nontargeted analysis. Observations showed that indoor gas-phase organic compounds had higher abundances compared to outdoor environments and were strongly correlated with controlled emissions of tracer species. After ventilation, indoor emissions of volatile organic compounds doubled.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2021)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Matthias Richter, Wolfgang Horn, Elevtheria Juritsch, Andrea Klinge, Leon Radeljic, Oliver Jann
Summary: The study investigated emissions from over 30 natural building materials for interior works, finding that the majority of the materials had low emissions and met the AgBB evaluation scheme.
Article
Environmental Sciences
Nicole Ninya, Laura Vallecillos, Rosa Maria Marce, Francesc Borrull
Summary: This study monitored the presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and semi-volatile organic compounds (semi-VOCs) in indoor and outdoor environments in a school in Tarragona, Spain. The results showed a significant increase in solvent concentrations indoors due to the implementation of COVID-19 measures. The concentrations of organic compounds in indoor air were twenty times higher than those outdoors.
SCIENCE OF THE TOTAL ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Article
Chemistry, Physical
Junxian Qin, Yun Pei, Yue Zheng, Daiqi Ye, Yun Hu
Summary: Fe-MOF derivative (M-300) was prepared by thermal treatment using MIL-100(Fe) as a precursor. M-300 catalyst showed excellent performance in the degradation of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and bacteriostasis to Escherichia coli under visible light. The catalyst also exhibited the capacity of acetaldehyde degradation under actual sunlight. The high activity of M-300 is attributed to the abundant exposure of the unsaturated Fe2+ active site, promoting electron transfer and oxygen reduction process, thereby improving the efficiency of the photocatalytic oxidation reaction. This study demonstrates the potential application of MOFs derivatives in indoor photocatalytic purification and provides a new insight into catalyst modification for photocatalytic degradation of pollutants.
APPLIED CATALYSIS B-ENVIRONMENTAL
(2023)
Article
Chemistry, Multidisciplinary
Lucia-Andreea El-Leathey, Paula Anghelita, Alexandru-Ionel Constantin, Gabriela Circiumaru, Rares-Andrei Chihaia
Summary: The use of smart technologies and IoT in the built environment is gaining popularity for monitoring parameters related to occupants' comfort and health. This study proposes a modular and replicable IoT system based on Arduino board, which successfully monitors various parameters in office spaces and a testing laboratory. The results suggest that while health parameters generally meet the recommended thresholds, thermal comfort parameters are consistently exceeded, highlighting the need for improved ventilation and building characteristics.
APPLIED SCIENCES-BASEL
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Do Young Maeng, V. Faye McNeill
Summary: The hydrolysis of synthetic esters in damp indoor environments can lead to the release of volatile organic compounds, causing poor air quality and sick building syndrome. Researchers used a model to simulate this phenomenon and found that alkaline hydrolysis from PVC flooring and airborne uptake in aqueous films are not major sources of the compounds associated with sick building syndrome, but acute exposure to certain compounds during paint application may be of concern.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Charles J. Weschler, William W. Nazaroff
Summary: Indoor ozone concentrations are generally lower than outdoor concentrations due to ozone reactions with indoor surfaces. The concept of ozone loss, which represents the net concentration of gaseous products derived from indoor ozone chemistry, can be used to differentiate the health effects of ozone's oxidation products from direct exposure to ozone itself. The ozone loss concentration is directly related to the rate of ozone removal on surfaces and inversely related to the net removal of ozone by air exchange and surface reactions. Ozone loss shows promise as a metric for studying the potential adverse health effects of indoor ozone chemistry, but its limitations should be considered.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Engineering, Environmental
Charles J. Weschler, William W. Nazaroff
Summary: This paper examines the relationship between indoor ozone concentration and ozone loss concept, and suggests that there is a proportional relationship between indoor ozone concentration and the total rate constant for ozone removal on surfaces, as well as an inverse relationship with the net removal of ozone by air exchange and surface reactions. Therefore, ozone loss can be used as a metric for analyzing the adverse health effects of indoor ozone chemistry products.
ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE & TECHNOLOGY
(2023)
Article
Environmental Sciences
Sergey N. Maximoff, Rajat Mittal, Ajeet Kaushik, Jaspreet S. Dhau
Summary: Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are a significant class of indoor air pollutants and reducing their levels can be achieved through the use of activated carbons (ACs). A study estimated the amount of AC needed under different conditions using literature data on thermophysical parameters for 45 pairs of AC-VOC.
Article
Construction & Building Technology
Min Xue, Junjie Liu, Lei Zhao, Jingjing Pei
Summary: Indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from furniture and indoor decoration produce odours that decrease perceived air quality. This study found that ozone has different effects on the odour emitted by different materials, intensifying the characteristic odours of medium-density fibreboard (MDF) and weakening the characteristic odours of flame retarded plywood (FRP). The results are of significant importance for odour control research on wooden board emissions.
BUILDING AND ENVIRONMENT
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Haimei Wang, Jianyin Xiong, Wenjuan Wei
Summary: This article reviews the methods for measuring key parameters of VOCs/SVOCs in indoor and vehicular environments, analyzes the pros and cons of various methods, and discusses the impacts of multiple factors on emission behaviors. Additionally, a pre-assessment approach using key parameters for predicting VOC/SVOC concentrations or human exposure levels during the design stage is introduced.
ENVIRONMENT INTERNATIONAL
(2022)
Review
Environmental Sciences
Sahir Gagan, Kumar Sarang, Krzysztof J. Rudzinski, Ruizhe Liu, Rafal Szmigielski, Yue Zhang
Summary: This review summarizes the progress made in studying the formation of SOA from biogenic VOCs, provides the latest methods for synthesizing marker compounds, and details the oxidation reaction pathways of each BVOC. It offers future directions for connecting atmospheric sciences with organic chemistry.
ATMOSPHERIC ENVIRONMENT
(2023)