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The global haze problem is becoming increasingly prominent, and indoor air pollution is becoming more and more serious, resulting in an increase in the number of patients with "sick building syndrome" living in closed rooms. Under the bad indoor and outdoor air environment, scholars from various countries have actively explored the use of indoor plants to purify the air. Windows are not only a channel for the exchange of air between indoors and outdoors, they are also a channel for outdoor pollution to enter the house. By integrating plants with windows and using trace irrigation technology, the author designed and built a maintenance-free plant window device - Green Window System (GWS). This paper introduces the detailed structure, irrigation technology and plant screening of the GWS.9 experiments were set up to compare the absorption capacity of indoor and outdoor particulate between the GWS and the same amount of indoor plants under the same conditions. The study found that under indoor air circulation conditions, the GWS adsorbed 1.3% and 1.71% more PM2.5 and PM10 respectively than ordinary plants. Under indoor and outdoor ventilation conditions on a hazy day, the PM2.5 and PM10 in the room with the GWS were 26.53% and 40.18% lower respectively than in an ordinary room, indicating that the GWS is more effective in adsorbing PM2.5 and PM10, and proving that the GWS is more effective in purifying PM10 than PM2.5. The green window system saves space in the room and enhances the photosynthetic efficiency of the plants. The GWS creates closed airtight ducts and a more humid environment that facilitates the adsorption of plants and the settling of particles. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor Radon is the second cause of deadly lung cancer and is suspected of inflicting further health risks and synergies with other air pollutants. Radon mapping is based on long-term average concentrations, but the spatiotemporal concentration variability can be very high, delivering higher radiation doses than expected. Continuous monitoring, appropriate indices, and reliable models, aided by digital technologies may improve the assessment and management of indoor Radon risk, especially for vulnerable populations. Further epidemiological studies, research and modelling in dosimetry, new monitoring technologies and methods, and synergies with air quality research, are expected to contribute towards a unified strategy for Radon risk assessment, management, and perception. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Public health problems caused by indoor pollution (sick building syndrome) have been a concern for some time. In Indonesia, there are no regulations regarding pollutants that have the potential to become hazardous substances and contribute to just general health problems. PM1, PM2,5, PM10, and TSP can affect health, and, in Indonesia, little research has been done on their indoor concentration levels. This study aims to determine the indoor variables and occupant activities that affect the concentrations of CO, NO2 and the particulates. Thirty seven (37) apartments were 24h sampled, measured and interveiewed during December 2017 to April 2018 using direct interview. Results show that occupants activities and indoor interior configuration affect concentration of indoor pollutants. The number of furniture units significantly contributes to the worsen indoor air quality along with humidity. Opening window (natural ventilation) was found to increase coarse particulates (PM10 and TSP), CO concentration, significantly and on the contrary reduce NO2 concentration. Other variables such as number of fan and exhaust fans gave mixed result as both reduce particulates but on the other hand may increase gas concentrations. Further study is needed to investigate the cause of worse indoor quality during natural ventilation as well as occupants activities. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor air pollution monitoring is an important activity toward a more clean air for indoor environments as most of people spend a lot more time in such environments (as e.g. at home, at their workplace or at kindergarten/school/university). The quality of indoor air can have a strong impact on human health, due to longer exposure, especially when ventilation is poor. So far, some solutions were proposed for solving this problem, starting from simple stationary sensors, to more complicated mobile sensing networks and single or multi-robots systems. Intelligent robots either alone or in cooperation with other robots can collect environmental data from specific indoor environments in order to build a map of indoor air pollution, to analyze the air pollution degree or to perform a more detailed analysis of air pollution in the monitored indoor areas and to identify and propose some air pollution reduction measures to be taken by the decision factors. In this paper we propose an indoor air pollution monitoring system, based on the Internet of Things (IoT) concept that can monitor an indoor environment such as a workplace or a living place(residence) using intelligent mobile robots equipped with air pollution monitoring sensors. Robots follow the same path that people follow and offer a more accurate image of the pollution that affects people every day. The robots are equipped with GPS and WiFi data connection and send data using TCP/IP protocol to an environmental SCADA system that records and builds pollution maps of the place that is monitored. Based on these maps, the SCADA system can automatically start the ventilation system or forbid access in areas where pollution is too high. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor environment is considered to be a basic requirement for human health and wellbeing. Concentrations of indoor air pollutants are typically 2-5 times higher, and occasionally 100 times higher than outdoors. The condition and performance of the ventilation have a significant impact on indoor air quality. People are ordinarily exposed to high concentrations of pollutants in indoor environments. The consequences of low ventilation rates include elevated levels of carbon dioxide and other air contaminants indoors. Suitable ventilation is more important in schools (no-industrial civic amenities) than in many other buildings. Indoor air quality in the environment used for education affect learning processes, concentration, and productivity of students. Also could affect the health of students and teachers in long-term. Students are at greater risk because of the hours spent in educational facilities. The objective of the paper is to evaluate the effect of the rate of ventilation on the perceived indoor air quality (IAQ) in the indoor environment used for education. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mold is considered to be one of the most important features of Sick Building Syndrome and is an important problem in current building industry. In many cases it is caused by the rising moisture of building envelopes surface and exaggerated humidity of indoor air. Concerning historical buildings it is mostly caused by outdated raising techniques among that is absence of horizontal isolation against moisture and hygroscopic materials applied for construction. Recent buildings also suffer problem of mold risk which is caused in many cases by hermetization leading to improper performance of gravitational ventilation systems that make suitable conditions for mold development. Basing on our research there is proposed a method of buildings mold threat classification using electronic nose, based on a gas sensors array which consists of MOS sensors (metal oxide semiconductor). Used device is frequently applied for air quality assessment in environmental engineering branches. Presented results show the interpretation of e-nose readouts of indoor air sampled in rooms threatened with mold development in comparison with clean reference rooms and synthetic air. Obtained multivariate data were processed, visualized and classified using a PCA (Principal Component Analysis) and ANN (Artificial Neural Network) methods. Described investigation confirmed that electronic nose - gas sensors array supported with data processing enables to classify air samples taken from different rooms affected with mold. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The aim of the study was to determine the condition of indoor environmental quality in the selected elementary school through quantitative and qualitative determination of physical and chemical factors, and subjective assessment (questionnaires). Differences between indoor air temperatures in both seasons were small (up to 1°C). The recommended value of 1000 ppm for concentrations of CO2 by Von Pettenkofer was exceeded in all monitored classrooms. Limit value for PM10 (50 μg/m3) was exceeded by 52.4% (winter) and by 75.62% (spring) in the art studio; by 72.60% (winter) and by 75.85% (spring) in the classroom for piano lessons. The recommended value for TVOC levels according to Mølhave (200 μg/m3) was exceeded in all cases. Limit value for noise level of 40 dB(A) for the art studio was exceeded by 41.34% in winter and by 33.17% in spring. On the other hand, the limit value of 80 dB(A) was not exceeded in the classroom for piano lessons. Calculated I/O ratio pointed out the presence of indoor sources of pollution in case of TVOC and PM10 in both classrooms, except the I/O ratio of PM10 in the art studio in winter. In addition to the quality of the environment, we must also not forget about the quality of teaching. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Interior conditions in closed spaces (housing, offices, vehicles) were for a long period of time focused on the thermal comfort. With the awareness that people spend a good amount of time inside these spaces and with the increase in life quality, it was considered an additional problem the ensuring of a proper indoor breathable air quality (by limiting the concentrations of harmful released substances). It was demonstrated that the interior pollution of those spaces primarily depends on two factors: interior harmful substances released from diverse sources (human activity or releases from construction elements, furniture, upholstery, car dashboard) and the pollution caused by outside polluted air, naturally or mechanically infiltrated. It was reported that the emergence of new materials, smoking, the harmful effects of some releases which weren't discussed 20 years ago (formaldehyde, radon, interior ozone, heavy metals, mites) as well as the existence of some misfit ventilation systems, led to health problems of the occupants (migraines, asthma, allergies, etc.). Indoor pollution of a vehicle cabin comes from the outside air and inside sources as the occupants. In this study we analyzed pollution caused by carbon dioxide and air humidity. Theoretical analysis of pollution in the passenger compartment of a car was achieved by applying the general theory of gas pollutants diffusion in closed spaces. Human emission rates were considered pollution sources and it was pursued the manner they can be diluted to the permitted concentration limit through fresh air ventilation. The analytical model was applied separately for the two gaseous pollutants being tracked. Initially calculations were made in different occupancy variants (1-4 passengers) and for different ventilation air flow. These conditions have been prepared for in situ measurement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Air pollution of indoor environments is one of the biggest health concerns in the European region and around the world, because people spend indoors the most of their time (i.e. homes, offices, vehicles, restaurants, etc.). Thus, they are exposed to the different type of pollutants such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs), an important source of the poor indoor air and which has been associated with various adverse health effects. In this context, the aim of our experimental studies was to monitor the volatile organic compounds belonging to different chemical categories in indoor air of residential and office spaces located in urban area of Bucharest, Romania. The compounds, selected based on the effect they may have on the human health, were monitored by using the equipment with a photo-ionization detector (PID), that detects and records, in real time, the concentrations of compounds, in range 20 - 20000ppb, with a resolution of 1ppb. The findings of the monitoring activity revealed that in all analysed spaces there are volatile organic compounds, and the measured concentrations were compared with Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA) Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs). The levels of VOCs concentrations are in OSHA PELs, but for same VOCs the values were higher than those reported in indoor air of Egyptian offices, for example. The exception is acrolein, an unsaturated aldehyde, whose recorded values were between 0.3 and 0.6ppm, exceeding for three to six times the permissible exposure limits (0.1ppm). The highest values for acrolein were found in the office with most occupants. For residential spaces, the concentration of acrolein was also over permissible exposure limit both in the bedroom and in the kitchen, the highest concentrations being recorded in residential areas 2 - bedroom and 3 - kitchen. The main purpose of our monitoring studies was the awareness the health risks of poor quality indoor air and the necessity of action towards reducing existing pollution in indoor built environment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Indoor air quality (IAQ) monitoring is getting more attention from people because of health, comfort, and energy efficiency considerations. Indoor air pollution sources are gases which are emitted from synthetic materials in the buildings and human breath. These gases can be detected by devices equipped with electronic sensor arrays which are installed rooms in a building, and they convert gas concentrations to digital data. This data must be processed to create information for monitoring system and to control ventilation system each individual room. Collection of digital data from multiple rooms of a building can be achieved by different technologies. In this study, MPI (Message Passing Interface) is preferred due to its simplicity and scalability. Gas concentration measurement devices are simulated by software on virtual hosts. MPI routine libraries are installed to the simulated sensor nodes, i.e. virtual hosts. A graphical user interface (control panel) is implemented to form building components such as rooms and sensor nodes. The sensor data transfer to the central server is achieved by MPI. In the central server some graphical tools are implemented to show air quality status of the rooms by coloring rectangular shapes accordingly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

While the effects of air pollution exposure on cardiovascular morbidity and mortality are well documented, the underlying mechanisms linking indoor air quality to cardiovascular diseases are largely unknown. In order to investigate changes in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR) associated with changes in exposure to indoor air pollution, we conducted nonlinear time series analysis of BP, HR and indoor air quality from the survey of health and living status of the general population in Taiwan. Associations of daily averaged indoor air pollutants [particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters < 10 μm (PM10), particulate matter with aerodynamic diameters < 2.5 μm (PM2.5), total volatile compounds (VOCs) and carbon dioxide (CO2)] with systolic BP (SBP), diastolic BP (DBP) and HR were explored by applying generalized additive mixed models. After controlling for potential confounders, we observed that increased hourly averaged indoor PM2.5 was associated with elevated SBP, DBP and HR. Associations of increased hourly averaged total VOCs with elevated SBP and HR were also observed. We concluded that changes in BP and HR are associated with exposure to indoor air pollutants in the Taiwanese general population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Clinical and epidemiological studies have shown that indoor air quality has substantial impact on the health of building occupants [1]. Possible sources of indoor air contamination include hazardous gases as well as particulate matters (PMs) [2]. Experimental studies show that the size distribution of PMs in indoor air ranges from tens of nanometers to a few hundreds of micrometers [3]. Vacuum cleaners can be used as a major tool to collect PMs from floor/carpets, which are the main sources of indoor PMs. However, the particle collection efficiency of typical cyclonic filters in the vacuums drops significantly for particles of diameter below 10 μm. In this work, we propose a lens-liquid filtration system (see Figure 1), where the flow channel is formed by a liquid free surface and a planar plate with fin/lens structures. Computational fluid dynamics simulations are performed by using FLUENT to optimize the structure of the proposed system toward high particle collection efficiency and satisfactory pressure drop. Numerical simulations show that the system can collect 250 nm diameter particles with collection efficiency of 50%. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]