Pub Date : 2025-09-05DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100120
Jun Jiang , Tobias Maria Burgholz , Kai Rewitz , Rita Streblow , Dirk Müller
Laboratory studies are essential in advancing multi-domain indoor environmental quality (IEQ) research, as they provide highly controllable, precise, and reproducible conditions for investigating the effects of various IEQ factors on occupants’ health and behavior. However, many existing IEQ laboratories face significant challenges, including inadequate multi-domain control, limited participant-laboratory interaction, and incomplete performance testing. This paper presents the comprehensive development process of the Comfort Studies and Indoor Environment Laboratory (CoSIE Lab), a flexible and expandable research facility designed to control IEQ factors across thermal, indoor air quality, visual, and acoustic domains. The development process is organized into distinct phases: conceptual planning, design and construction, commissioning and performance testing, and experimental applications. Through this structured approach, we aim to share valuable insights and lessons learned from the development of the CoSIE Lab. Key findings indicate that capillary tube mat is an effective solution for radiant temperature control. In conjunction with a hydronic system, the CoSIE Lab achieves 76 zones with individual surface temperature control ranging from 15 °C to 40 °C. The surface radiant system enhances air conditioning process, enabling both homogenous and heterogenous air temperature distributions within the test rooms. Measurements of illuminance and color temperature demonstrate close alignment with design specifications for artificial lighting as simulated in software. An acoustic assessment reveals potential overestimation of effective absorption areas when applying the DIN EN 12354‐6 model for reverberation time calculations. In addition to these findings, this study contributes to enhancing clarity and consistency in research dissemination related to IEQ laboratory developments.
实验室研究是推进多领域室内环境质量(IEQ)研究的关键,因为它们为研究各种IEQ因素对居住者健康和行为的影响提供了高度可控、精确和可重复的条件。然而,许多现有的IEQ实验室面临着巨大的挑战,包括不充分的多域控制,有限的参与者-实验室互动,以及不完整的性能测试。本文介绍了舒适研究和室内环境实验室(CoSIE实验室)的全面发展过程,这是一个灵活和可扩展的研究设施,旨在控制热、室内空气质量、视觉和声学领域的IEQ因素。开发过程分为不同的阶段:概念规划、设计和建造、调试和性能测试以及实验应用。通过这种结构化的方法,我们旨在分享从CoSIE实验室的发展中获得的宝贵见解和经验教训。研究结果表明,毛细管垫是辐射温度控制的有效解决方案。CoSIE实验室与水力系统相结合,可实现76个区域,单个表面温度控制范围为15°C至40°C。表面辐射系统增强了空调过程,使测试室内的均匀和非均匀空气温度分布成为可能。照度和色温的测量表明,在软件中模拟的人工照明与设计规范密切一致。声学评估表明,当应用DIN EN 12354‐6模型进行混响时间计算时,可能会高估有效吸收面积。除了这些发现外,本研究还有助于提高与IEQ实验室发展有关的研究传播的清晰度和一致性。
{"title":"Development of the CoSIE Lab: An advanced laboratory for multi-domain indoor environmental quality research","authors":"Jun Jiang , Tobias Maria Burgholz , Kai Rewitz , Rita Streblow , Dirk Müller","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100120","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100120","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Laboratory studies are essential in advancing multi-domain indoor environmental quality (IEQ) research, as they provide highly controllable, precise, and reproducible conditions for investigating the effects of various IEQ factors on occupants’ health and behavior. However, many existing IEQ laboratories face significant challenges, including inadequate multi-domain control, limited participant-laboratory interaction, and incomplete performance testing. This paper presents the comprehensive development process of the Comfort Studies and Indoor Environment Laboratory (CoSIE Lab), a flexible and expandable research facility designed to control IEQ factors across thermal, indoor air quality, visual, and acoustic domains. The development process is organized into distinct phases: conceptual planning, design and construction, commissioning and performance testing, and experimental applications. Through this structured approach, we aim to share valuable insights and lessons learned from the development of the CoSIE Lab. Key findings indicate that capillary tube mat is an effective solution for radiant temperature control. In conjunction with a hydronic system, the CoSIE Lab achieves 76 zones with individual surface temperature control ranging from 15 °C to 40 °C. The surface radiant system enhances air conditioning process, enabling both homogenous and heterogenous air temperature distributions within the test rooms. Measurements of illuminance and color temperature demonstrate close alignment with design specifications for artificial lighting as simulated in software. An acoustic assessment reveals potential overestimation of effective absorption areas when applying the DIN EN 12354‐6 model for reverberation time calculations. In addition to these findings, this study contributes to enhancing clarity and consistency in research dissemination related to IEQ laboratory developments.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 4","pages":"Article 100120"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-09-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"145050503","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-28DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100119
Premsagar Prakash Tasgaonkar , Priyanka Arun , Kamal Kumar Murari
Projections regarding climate change indicate that globally, densely populated areas are poised to witness a heightened frequency of more severe and prolonged heat waves. Indoor conditions, including housing roofs, and circulation systems significantly influence the impact of heat-related issues and discomfort. Literature on heat-related vulnerability studies often lacks substantial references to these factors. This study seeks to comprehend the influence of various roof types on heat risks in a semi-arid region village in Maharashtra, India. The study uses indoor data loggers to observe temperature & relative humidity in different housing conditions. Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is derived to evaluate heat-risk exposure in indoor environments. Findings reveal that dwellings with tin roofs experience higher and more prolonged heat risks compared to Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) or thatch roof houses. Moreover, RCC and tin roofs exhibit increased exposure during the day WBGT (5–7 °C higher during night WBGT), whereas thatched roofs display minimal daily WBGT variation, indicating robust heat resilience. Ceiling fans consistently lower indoor WBGT and thus reduce heat‑risk hours across all roof types, though their effectiveness varies by time of day and housing material. Fans offer cooling benefit in the early morning from 12 am to 10 am and late evening hours from 7 pm to 11 pm. Ceiling fans reduce indoor WBGT by approximately 1.1°C in tin‑roof houses, 1.4°C in thatched houses, and 1.5°C in RCC houses, demonstrating their pronounced cooling efficacy during these heat periods.
{"title":"Estimating the indoor heat stress of low-socioeconomic status households in Jalna district of Maharashtra (India)","authors":"Premsagar Prakash Tasgaonkar , Priyanka Arun , Kamal Kumar Murari","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100119","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100119","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Projections regarding climate change indicate that globally, densely populated areas are poised to witness a heightened frequency of more severe and prolonged heat waves. Indoor conditions, including housing roofs, and circulation systems significantly influence the impact of heat-related issues and discomfort. Literature on heat-related vulnerability studies often lacks substantial references to these factors. This study seeks to comprehend the influence of various roof types on heat risks in a semi-arid region village in Maharashtra, India. The study uses indoor data loggers to observe temperature & relative humidity in different housing conditions. Wet-Bulb Globe Temperature (WBGT) is derived to evaluate heat-risk exposure in indoor environments. Findings reveal that dwellings with tin roofs experience higher and more prolonged heat risks compared to Reinforced Cement Concrete (RCC) or thatch roof houses. Moreover, RCC and tin roofs exhibit increased exposure during the day WBGT (5–7 °C higher during night WBGT), whereas thatched roofs display minimal daily WBGT variation, indicating robust heat resilience. Ceiling fans consistently lower indoor WBGT and thus reduce heat‑risk hours across all roof types, though their effectiveness varies by time of day and housing material. Fans offer cooling benefit in the early morning from 12 am to 10 am and late evening hours from 7 pm to 11 pm. Ceiling fans reduce indoor WBGT by approximately 1.1°C in tin‑roof houses, 1.4°C in thatched houses, and 1.5°C in RCC houses, demonstrating their pronounced cooling efficacy during these heat periods.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 3","pages":"Article 100119"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-28","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917805","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-27DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100117
Amber M. Yeoman , Marvin Shaw , Martyn Ward , Thomas Warburton , Alastair C. Lewis
Fifteen commonly used topical drugs and five medical products were evaluated using headspace Q-TOF GC/MS to assess VOCs emissions into healthcare environments and potential patient inhalation. The speciation of VOCs found in medicine products was less complex than typically found in non-medicated, cosmetic skincare products. VOCs arising from medicinal products could be classified as being related to product performance (e.g., solvent), product fragrance, and likely trace contaminants unintentionally included. The scale of emissions and resulting inhalation could be significant for products that are facially applied, and there may be some potential for wider indoor air quality effects if used regularly in poorly ventilated spaces. Emission rates from topical drugs were then quantified using SIFT-MS, focusing on the ten most abundant/commonly found species identified by Q-TOF GC/MS – 2-propanol, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, cyclohexane, ethanol, menthol, methyl salicylate, phenol, and limonene and eucalyptol (representing the total of all terpene species). Emission rates were in the range 9.7 × 10−5 µg s−1 g [product]−1 to 5.9 µg s−1 g [product]−1.
采用顶空Q-TOF气相色谱/质谱法对15种常用外用药物和5种医疗产品进行了评估,以评估医疗环境中挥发性有机化合物的排放和潜在的患者吸入。在医药产品中发现的挥发性有机化合物的形态比通常在非医药化妆品护肤产品中发现的要简单。来自医药产品的挥发性有机化合物可归类为与产品性能(如溶剂)、产品香味和可能无意中包含的微量污染物有关。对于面部使用的产品,排放和由此产生的吸入的规模可能很大,如果经常在通风不良的空间使用,可能会对室内空气质量产生更大的影响。然后使用SIFT-MS对外用药物的排放率进行量化,重点关注通过Q-TOF GC/MS鉴定出的10个最丰富/最常见的物种- 2-丙醇、苯甲醛、苯甲醇、环己烷、乙醇、薄荷醇、水杨酸甲酯、苯酚、柠檬烯和桉树醇(代表所有萜烯物种的总数)。排放率范围为9.7 × 10−5µg s−1 g [product]−1至5.9 µg s−1 g [product]−1。
{"title":"Volatile organic compounds from topical drugs and medical products: Effects on air quality and healthcare environments","authors":"Amber M. Yeoman , Marvin Shaw , Martyn Ward , Thomas Warburton , Alastair C. Lewis","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100117","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100117","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Fifteen commonly used topical drugs and five medical products were evaluated using headspace Q-TOF GC/MS to assess VOCs emissions into healthcare environments and potential patient inhalation. The speciation of VOCs found in medicine products was less complex than typically found in non-medicated, cosmetic skincare products. VOCs arising from medicinal products could be classified as being related to product performance (e.g., solvent), product fragrance, and likely trace contaminants unintentionally included. The scale of emissions and resulting inhalation could be significant for products that are facially applied, and there may be some potential for wider indoor air quality effects if used regularly in poorly ventilated spaces. Emission rates from topical drugs were then quantified using SIFT-MS, focusing on the ten most abundant/commonly found species identified by Q-TOF GC/MS – 2-propanol, benzaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, cyclohexane, ethanol, menthol, methyl salicylate, phenol, and limonene and eucalyptol (representing the total of all terpene species). Emission rates were in the range 9.7 × 10<sup>−5</sup> µg s<sup>−1</sup> g <sub>[product]</sub> <sup>−1</sup> to 5.9 µg s<sup>−1</sup> g <sub>[product]</sub> <sup>−1</sup>.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 3","pages":"Article 100117"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-27","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144917806","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-22DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100118
Therese Nitter Moazami , Tom Sterud
This two-wave cross-sectional study analyzed data from 7968 Norwegian office workers collected in 2016 and 2019 to investigate associations among self-reported indoor climate, headaches, and respiratory symptoms across six office types. Interaction effects between office type, indoor climate, and health outcomes were assessed, alongside a mediation analysis examining indoor climate as a mediator between office type and health outcomes. Adjusted generalized linear models (GLMs) revealed that shared offices had significantly poorer indoor climate conditions than private offices, with the highest odds reported in flexible spaces (OR = 1.72, 95 % CI: 1.41–2.09) and offices with over 24 occupants (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI: 1.27–1.93). Self-reported poor indoor climate was associated with respiratory symptoms (OR = 2.17, 95 % CI: 1.74–2.27) and headaches (OR = 1.66, 95 % CI: 1.48 – 1.86). No direct association was found between office type and health outcomes; however, mediation analysis demonstrated a significant indirect effect of office type on health outcomes via indoor climate. Interaction analysis further revealed that the association between poor indoor climate and respiratory symptoms was stronger in shared offices compared to cell offices for both respiratory symptoms (OR = 2.32 vs. OR = 1.80) and headaches (OR = 1.69 vs. OR = 1.44). In conclusion, this study demonstrates notable associations between office type, perceived indoor climate, and self-reported health outcomes. While the cross-sectional design limits the ability to determine the direction or underlying mechanisms of these associations, the results emphasize the relevance of both office layout and indoor climate quality in evaluating workplace health.
这项双波横断面研究分析了2016年和2019年收集的7968名挪威上班族的数据,以调查六种办公室类型中自我报告的室内气候、头痛和呼吸道症状之间的关系。评估了办公室类型、室内气候和健康结果之间的相互作用,并进行了中介分析,检验了室内气候作为办公室类型和健康结果之间的中介。调整后的广义线性模型(GLMs)显示,共享办公室的室内气候条件明显比私人办公室差,在灵活空间(OR = 1.72, 95 % CI: 1.41-2.09)和24人以上的办公室(OR = 1.57, 95 % CI: 1.27-1.93)的几率最高。自我报告的室内恶劣气候与呼吸道症状(OR = 2.17, 95 % CI: 1.74-2.27)和头痛(OR = 1.66, 95 % CI: 1.48 - 1.86)相关。办公室类型与健康结果之间没有直接关联;然而,中介分析表明,办公室类型通过室内气候对健康结果有显著的间接影响。相互作用分析进一步显示,在共享办公室中,较差的室内气候与呼吸道症状之间的关联在呼吸道症状(OR = 2.32 vs. OR = 1.80)和头痛(OR = 1.69 vs. OR = 1.44)方面都强于单间办公室。总之,本研究证明了办公室类型、感知到的室内气候和自我报告的健康结果之间的显著关联。虽然横断面设计限制了确定这些关联的方向或潜在机制的能力,但研究结果强调了办公室布局和室内气候质量在评估工作场所健康方面的相关性。
{"title":"Self-reported indoor climate in shared vs. private offices and its effects on headache and respiratory symptoms in Norwegian office workers","authors":"Therese Nitter Moazami , Tom Sterud","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100118","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100118","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>This two-wave cross-sectional study analyzed data from 7968 Norwegian office workers collected in 2016 and 2019 to investigate associations among self-reported indoor climate, headaches, and respiratory symptoms across six office types. Interaction effects between office type, indoor climate, and health outcomes were assessed, alongside a mediation analysis examining indoor climate as a mediator between office type and health outcomes. Adjusted generalized linear models (GLMs) revealed that shared offices had significantly poorer indoor climate conditions than private offices, with the highest odds reported in flexible spaces (OR = 1.72, 95 % CI: 1.41–2.09) and offices with over 24 occupants (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI: 1.27–1.93). Self-reported poor indoor climate was associated with respiratory symptoms (OR = 2.17, 95 % CI: 1.74–2.27) and headaches (OR = 1.66, 95 % CI: 1.48 – 1.86). No direct association was found between office type and health outcomes; however, mediation analysis demonstrated a significant indirect effect of office type on health outcomes via indoor climate. Interaction analysis further revealed that the association between poor indoor climate and respiratory symptoms was stronger in shared offices compared to cell offices for both respiratory symptoms (OR = 2.32 vs. OR = 1.80) and headaches (OR = 1.69 vs. OR = 1.44). In conclusion, this study demonstrates notable associations between office type, perceived indoor climate, and self-reported health outcomes. While the cross-sectional design limits the ability to determine the direction or underlying mechanisms of these associations, the results emphasize the relevance of both office layout and indoor climate quality in evaluating workplace health.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 3","pages":"Article 100118"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-22","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144890534","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-13DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100116
Virpi Leivo , Minna Kempe , Ulla Haverinen-Shaughnessy
Energy retrofits can have an impact on indoor air quality and climate, particularly on temperature, humidity, and concentrations of air pollutants. Both positive and negative impacts have been identified, usually based on measurements taken quite soon (up to about one year) after the retrofits. We studied the long-term (about seven years) impacts of energy retrofits on indoor thermal conditions, ventilation rates, and CO2 and radon concentrations during heating season in 13 Finnish apartment buildings (42 apartments) along with the occupants’ self-reported satisfaction with IAQ. High indoor temperatures and low RH were recorded in all the measurements. There were no significant changes in the night-time average CO2 concentration (less than 700 ppm) and momentary air exchange rates (0.3–0.35 (dm3/s)/ m2) between the measurements. There was a decreasing trend in radon concentration. Seven years after the retrofit, the average radon concentration was 23 % lower than before the retrofit. Concentrations above 100 Bq/m3 were also less frequent after the retrofitting. According to the occupant questionnaire, the respondents were significantly more satisfied with IAQ about one year after the retrofits. About 7 years after the retrofit, they still appeared to be more satisfied with IAQ than before the retrofits.
{"title":"Long-term impacts of energy retrofits on indoor air quality and climate – Follow-up results of a sample of Finnish apartment buildings","authors":"Virpi Leivo , Minna Kempe , Ulla Haverinen-Shaughnessy","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100116","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100116","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Energy retrofits can have an impact on indoor air quality and climate, particularly on temperature, humidity, and concentrations of air pollutants. Both positive and negative impacts have been identified, usually based on measurements taken quite soon (up to about one year) after the retrofits. We studied the long-term (about seven years) impacts of energy retrofits on indoor thermal conditions, ventilation rates, and CO<sub>2</sub> and radon concentrations during heating season in 13 Finnish apartment buildings (42 apartments) along with the occupants’ self-reported satisfaction with IAQ. High indoor temperatures and low RH were recorded in all the measurements. There were no significant changes in the night-time average CO<sub>2</sub> concentration (less than 700 ppm) and momentary air exchange rates (0.3–0.35 (dm<sup>3</sup>/s)/ m<sup>2</sup>) between the measurements. There was a decreasing trend in radon concentration. Seven years after the retrofit, the average radon concentration was 23 % lower than before the retrofit. Concentrations above 100 Bq/m<sup>3</sup> were also less frequent after the retrofitting. According to the occupant questionnaire, the respondents were significantly more satisfied with IAQ about one year after the retrofits. About 7 years after the retrofit, they still appeared to be more satisfied with IAQ than before the retrofits.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 3","pages":"Article 100116"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-13","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144841612","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-08-05DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100114
Xiaotong Zhang , Wenying Zhang , Tingting Liu , Fengjing Song , Chengyu Chen , Chao Wang , Weiyi Zhang , Xu Han , Xianliang Wang
Background
Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are one of the most common flame retardants in household products. Given their broad-spectrum toxicity, monitoring PBDE levels in indoor environments and assessing their potential health risks are critical for residential health risk management.
Methods
Based on published literature data from 2010 to 2022, the concrete raw data regarding the concentration of PBDEs in actual dust samples from true household living conditions in China were collected exhaustively from 26 peer-reviewed papers after screening. Congeners with detection rates exceeding 80 % (BDE-28, −47, −99, −100, −153, −154, −183, −209) were selected for further analysis. Household dust PBDE levels were quantified using the weighted average concentration. Seasonal and regional variations were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests, while Spearman correlation analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were applied for source apportionment. Health risks to children were assessed based on estimated daily intake (EDI) via ingestion and dermal absorption, using hazard indices (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) models.
Results
The concentrations of PBDEs in household dust (HD-PBDEs)2 in China ranged from 4.03 ng/g to 37333.58 ng/g, with a weighted average concentration of 3625.43 ng/g. The weighted average concentration was maximum in Zhejiang (27268.66 ng/g) and lowest in Shaanxi (4.03 ng/g). BDE-209 was the predominant congener of HD-PBDEs, ranging from 73.56 % to 99.78 %, followed by BDE-47 (6.84–62.08 %), BDE-99 (1.80–56.77 %), and BDE-153 (0–43.10 %). The weighted average concentrations of ∑8PBDEs were 1419.97 ng/g in 2006–2009, 5886.15 ng/g in 2010–2014, and 1813.51 ng/g in 2015–2020. HD-PBDE concentration was significantly higher in winter than in spring and fall (P < 0.05). Families residing in rural areas, southern regions, or near e-waste-contaminated areas exhibited higher concentrations of HD-PBDEs (P < 0.05). Two principal components were extracted, accounting for 84.56 % of the total variance. The estimated daily intake of HD-PBDEs for children via ingestion (1.93 × 101 ng/kg BW/day) was higher than that via dermal absorption (8.93 ×10−1 ng/kg BW/day). The non-carcinogenic risk of HD-PBDEs (1.01 ×10−1) and the carcinogenic risk of BDE-209 (1.30 ×10−8) were below the standard criterion.
Conclusions
HD-PBDE concentrations in China ranked moderate-to-high globally, with clear regional variations. Both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of HD-PBDE exposure to Chinese children were acceptable. Future investigations should focus on longitudinal monitoring of PBDE trends in household environments and health impacts on vulnerable subpopulations.
{"title":"Levels, distribution, sources and children's health risk of PBDEs in household dust from 2010 to 2022 in China","authors":"Xiaotong Zhang , Wenying Zhang , Tingting Liu , Fengjing Song , Chengyu Chen , Chao Wang , Weiyi Zhang , Xu Han , Xianliang Wang","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100114","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100114","url":null,"abstract":"<div><h3>Background</h3><div>Polybrominated biphenyl ethers (PBDEs) are one of the most common flame retardants in household products. Given their broad-spectrum toxicity, monitoring PBDE levels in indoor environments and assessing their potential health risks are critical for residential health risk management.</div></div><div><h3>Methods</h3><div>Based on published literature data from 2010 to 2022, the concrete raw data regarding the concentration of PBDEs in actual dust samples from true household living conditions in China were collected exhaustively from 26 peer-reviewed papers after screening. Congeners with detection rates exceeding 80 % (BDE-28, −47, −99, −100, −153, −154, −183, −209) were selected for further analysis. Household dust PBDE levels were quantified using the weighted average concentration. Seasonal and regional variations were evaluated using the Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests, while Spearman correlation analysis and exploratory factor analysis (EFA) were applied for source apportionment. Health risks to children were assessed based on estimated daily intake (EDI) via ingestion and dermal absorption, using hazard indices (HI) and carcinogenic risk (CR) models.</div></div><div><h3>Results</h3><div>The concentrations of PBDEs in household dust (HD-PBDEs)<span><span><sup>2</sup></span></span> in China ranged from 4.03 ng/g to 37333.58 ng/g, with a weighted average concentration of 3625.43 ng/g. The weighted average concentration was maximum in Zhejiang (27268.66 ng/g) and lowest in Shaanxi (4.03 ng/g). BDE-209 was the predominant congener of HD-PBDEs, ranging from 73.56 % to 99.78 %, followed by BDE-47 (6.84–62.08 %), BDE-99 (1.80–56.77 %), and BDE-153 (0–43.10 %). The weighted average concentrations of ∑<sub>8</sub>PBDEs were 1419.97 ng/g in 2006–2009, 5886.15 ng/g in 2010–2014, and 1813.51 ng/g in 2015–2020. HD-PBDE concentration was significantly higher in winter than in spring and fall (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Families residing in rural areas, southern regions, or near e-waste-contaminated areas exhibited higher concentrations of HD-PBDEs (<em>P</em> < 0.05). Two principal components were extracted, accounting for 84.56 % of the total variance. The estimated daily intake of HD-PBDEs for children via ingestion (1.93 × 10<sup>1</sup> ng/kg BW/day) was higher than that via dermal absorption (8.93 ×10<sup>−1</sup> ng/kg BW/day). The non-carcinogenic risk of HD-PBDEs (1.01 ×10<sup>−1</sup>) and the carcinogenic risk of BDE-209 (1.30 ×10<sup>−8</sup>) were below the standard criterion.</div></div><div><h3>Conclusions</h3><div>HD-PBDE concentrations in China ranked moderate-to-high globally, with clear regional variations. Both non-carcinogenic and carcinogenic risks of HD-PBDE exposure to Chinese children were acceptable. Future investigations should focus on longitudinal monitoring of PBDE trends in household environments and health impacts on vulnerable subpopulations.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 3","pages":"Article 100114"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-08-05","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144780467","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-17DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100113
Chideraa Courage Offor , John Kanayochukwu Nduka , Henrietta Ijeoma Kelle
Outbreak and emergency occasioned by coronavirus virus disease forcefully led to imposition of lockdown in Nigeria; a situation that consequently exposed humans to heavy metal(loid)s laden dust. Hence, this study measured the concentration of heavy metal(loid)s in indoor dust from households of three selected semi-urban areas (Rumuodomaya-Ogale, Ekwulobia and Awka) of Eastern Nigeria. Dust samples (n = 144) were collected from household’s windows and floors using clean brush, filtered, digested by standard method and analyzed for Cd, Co, Ni, Hg, As, Mn, Al, Pb, Cr, Zn, and Fe using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Model: Varian AA240, USA). Results show that Fe was dominant when compared to other metals assessed. Whereas the total heavy metal(loid)s concentration (THMC) of the floor dusts was higher than that of window dusts from Ekwulobia, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in total heavy metal(loid)s level in window and floor dust of the three semi-urban areas across the months. Awka showed the least THMC in the window (1.17 – 1.52 mg kg−1) and floor (1.08 – 2.35 mg kg−1) dusts in comparison with Ekwulobia (window: 1.23 mg/kg to 9.05 mg kg−1; floor: 1.27 mg kg−1 to 9.22 mg kg−1) and Rumuodomaya-Ogale (window: 1.49 – 2.70 mg kg−1; floor: 1.24 – 2.23 mg kg−1). The cancer and non-cancer risk of exposure to the heavy metal(loid)s dusts was insignificant while most of the heavy metal(loid)s could be related to anthropogenic origin based on the Positive Matrix Factorization and Principal Component Analysis models.
{"title":"Exposure risk and source analysis of toxic metal(loid)s in indoor dust of Eastern Nigeria during COVID-19 lockdown","authors":"Chideraa Courage Offor , John Kanayochukwu Nduka , Henrietta Ijeoma Kelle","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100113","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100113","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Outbreak and emergency occasioned by coronavirus virus disease forcefully led to imposition of lockdown in Nigeria; a situation that consequently exposed humans to heavy metal(loid)s laden dust. Hence, this study measured the concentration of heavy metal(loid)s in indoor dust from households of three selected semi-urban areas (Rumuodomaya-Ogale, Ekwulobia and Awka) of Eastern Nigeria. Dust samples (n = 144) were collected from household’s windows and floors using clean brush, filtered, digested by standard method and analyzed for Cd, Co, Ni, Hg, As, Mn, Al, Pb, Cr, Zn, and Fe using Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (Model: Varian AA240, USA). Results show that Fe was dominant when compared to other metals assessed. Whereas the total heavy metal(loid)s concentration (THMC) of the floor dusts was higher than that of window dusts from Ekwulobia, there was no significant difference (p > 0.05) in total heavy metal(loid)s level in window and floor dust of the three semi-urban areas across the months. Awka showed the least THMC in the window (1.17 – 1.52 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>) and floor (1.08 – 2.35 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>) dusts in comparison with Ekwulobia (window: 1.23 mg/kg to 9.05 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>; floor: 1.27 mg kg<sup>−1</sup> to 9.22 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>) and Rumuodomaya-Ogale (window: 1.49 – 2.70 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>; floor: 1.24 – 2.23 mg kg<sup>−1</sup>). The cancer and non-cancer risk of exposure to the heavy metal(loid)s dusts was insignificant while most of the heavy metal(loid)s could be related to anthropogenic origin based on the Positive Matrix Factorization and Principal Component Analysis models.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 3","pages":"Article 100113"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-17","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144662103","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-16DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100112
Hugo Destaillats, Wanyu R. Chan
There is growing interest in better understanding wildfire smoke contamination in the indoor environment, the associated human exposures and health impacts. Most efforts have been devoted to developing guidelines protecting occupants during a wildfire event, e.g., on the proper use of building ventilation and filtration. However, there is also a need to understand the long-term impacts of wildfires on indoor contamination, and which are the most effective mitigation options. We reviewed the scientific literature and additional available documentation to identify the main chemical contaminants found in buildings impacted by wildfire smoke. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace metals have been reported on indoor surfaces and dust after exposure to smoke, and are of particular concern due to the health effects associated with continuous exposures. Described mitigation approaches included cleaning using dry and wet media, vacuuming and ozonation. While little information is available on their effectiveness in long-term removal of wildfire smoke contaminants, similar remediation methods have been described to remove other types of persistent contamination indoors, including thirdhand tobacco smoke and mold, providing a reference to predict the expected efficacy and limitations of those methods. Gaps in the available information and research needs were identified to develop a research agenda addressing wildfire smoke’s persistent contamination and mitigation options.
{"title":"Remediation of indoor environments impacted by wildfire smoke: A review of available information and research needs","authors":"Hugo Destaillats, Wanyu R. Chan","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100112","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100112","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>There is growing interest in better understanding wildfire smoke contamination in the indoor environment, the associated human exposures and health impacts. Most efforts have been devoted to developing guidelines protecting occupants during a wildfire event, <em>e.g.,</em> on the proper use of building ventilation and filtration. However, there is also a need to understand the long-term impacts of wildfires on indoor contamination, and which are the most effective mitigation options. We reviewed the scientific literature and additional available documentation to identify the main chemical contaminants found in buildings impacted by wildfire smoke. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) and trace metals have been reported on indoor surfaces and dust after exposure to smoke, and are of particular concern due to the health effects associated with continuous exposures. Described mitigation approaches included cleaning using dry and wet media, vacuuming and ozonation. While little information is available on their effectiveness in long-term removal of wildfire smoke contaminants, similar remediation methods have been described to remove other types of persistent contamination indoors, including thirdhand tobacco smoke and mold, providing a reference to predict the expected efficacy and limitations of those methods. Gaps in the available information and research needs were identified to develop a research agenda addressing wildfire smoke’s persistent contamination and mitigation options.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 3","pages":"Article 100112"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-16","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144721328","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-10DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100111
Katrin Kabun , Karin Reinhold
Sheep wool as a natural fiber is an increasingly important alternative to synthetic materials in the green economy. The study evaluates the effectiveness of sheep wool based materials in enhancing indoor air quality (IAQ) and mitigating health risks in occupational settings. Two test cabins - one with conventional synthetic materials and another with sheep wool based materials - were designed to compare the performance of these materials in terms of noise insulation, volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions, CO2 levels and humidity regulation. A survey of the room occupants' perception of the material was also carried out. Results show that sheep wool panels provide sound insulation comparable to synthetic materials, especially at mid-range frequencies. Sheep wool's natural ability to regulate humidity contributed to a more stable indoor climate, while VOC levels remained low in both cabins, below the analytical determination limit for some parameters. The Synthetic cabin showed a slightly lower VOC level. The sheep wool cabin showed more rapid CO2 fluctuations, demanding further study. User surveys indicated a preference for the sheep wool cabin, with participants noting comfort and an overall more pleasant environment. This novel approach, which simultaneously measures IAQ indicators and examines the room users' perception of IAQ, shows that sheep wool based materials, being both sustainable and biodegradable, provide a healthier alternative to synthetic materials, supporting the goals of reducing health risks and promoting environmental sustainability.
{"title":"Improving indoor air quality and mitigating health risks with sheep wool as a sustainable material","authors":"Katrin Kabun , Karin Reinhold","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100111","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100111","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Sheep wool as a natural fiber is an increasingly important alternative to synthetic materials in the green economy. The study evaluates the effectiveness of sheep wool based materials in enhancing indoor air quality (IAQ) and mitigating health risks in occupational settings. Two test cabins - one with conventional synthetic materials and another with sheep wool based materials - were designed to compare the performance of these materials in terms of noise insulation, volatile organic compounds (VOC) emissions, CO<sub>2</sub> levels and humidity regulation. A survey of the room occupants' perception of the material was also carried out. Results show that sheep wool panels provide sound insulation comparable to synthetic materials, especially at mid-range frequencies. Sheep wool's natural ability to regulate humidity contributed to a more stable indoor climate, while VOC levels remained low in both cabins, below the analytical determination limit for some parameters. The Synthetic cabin showed a slightly lower VOC level. The sheep wool cabin showed more rapid CO<sub>2</sub> fluctuations, demanding further study. User surveys indicated a preference for the sheep wool cabin, with participants noting comfort and an overall more pleasant environment. This novel approach, which simultaneously measures IAQ indicators and examines the room users' perception of IAQ, shows that sheep wool based materials, being both sustainable and biodegradable, provide a healthier alternative to synthetic materials, supporting the goals of reducing health risks and promoting environmental sustainability.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 3","pages":"Article 100111"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-10","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144631230","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}
Pub Date : 2025-07-09DOI: 10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100110
Zhuolun Niu , Chun Chen
Electrospun nanofiber air filters can achieve high particle filtration efficiency with lower pressure drop compared with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. Therefore, they can potentially be used for effective indoor particle removal. To support practical applications, this study proposed an efficient method for producing electrospun nanofiber air filters that achieve a minimized pressure drop while meeting the target particle filtration efficiency. Specifically, this method decoupled the influence of applied voltage and electrospinning time, enabling the identification of the optimal applied voltage to minimize pressure drop and the calculation of the electrospinning time needed to achieve the target filtration efficiency. Compared with the previous approach, this method eliminated the need to measure structural parameters, thereby significantly simplifying the optimization process. Experimental measurements were conducted to validate the feasibility of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method can effectively achieve the target particle filtration efficiency with relative errors all less than 1% compared to the target values. Furthermore, the pressure drop of the optimized nanofiber air filters was up to 40.6% lower than that of the randomly selected filters in the verification cases. Finally, the benefits of using the optimized nanofiber air filters for indoor particle removal were numerically assessed. The results show that using the nanofiber air filters optimized by the proposed method in an air cleaner reduced indoor PM0.3–0.4 of outdoor origin in a typical public housing apartment in Hong Kong by up to 22.7% compared to the randomly selected nanofiber air filters.
{"title":"An efficient method for fabricating nanofiber air filters with minimized pressure drop for effective indoor particle removal","authors":"Zhuolun Niu , Chun Chen","doi":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100110","DOIUrl":"10.1016/j.indenv.2025.100110","url":null,"abstract":"<div><div>Electrospun nanofiber air filters can achieve high particle filtration efficiency with lower pressure drop compared with high-efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters. Therefore, they can potentially be used for effective indoor particle removal. To support practical applications, this study proposed an efficient method for producing electrospun nanofiber air filters that achieve a minimized pressure drop while meeting the target particle filtration efficiency. Specifically, this method decoupled the influence of applied voltage and electrospinning time, enabling the identification of the optimal applied voltage to minimize pressure drop and the calculation of the electrospinning time needed to achieve the target filtration efficiency. Compared with the previous approach, this method eliminated the need to measure structural parameters, thereby significantly simplifying the optimization process. Experimental measurements were conducted to validate the feasibility of the proposed method. The results show that the proposed method can effectively achieve the target particle filtration efficiency with relative errors all less than 1% compared to the target values. Furthermore, the pressure drop of the optimized nanofiber air filters was up to 40.6% lower than that of the randomly selected filters in the verification cases. Finally, the benefits of using the optimized nanofiber air filters for indoor particle removal were numerically assessed. The results show that using the nanofiber air filters optimized by the proposed method in an air cleaner reduced indoor PM<sub>0.3–0.4</sub> of outdoor origin in a typical public housing apartment in Hong Kong by up to 22.7% compared to the randomly selected nanofiber air filters.</div></div>","PeriodicalId":100665,"journal":{"name":"Indoor Environments","volume":"2 3","pages":"Article 100110"},"PeriodicalIF":0.0,"publicationDate":"2025-07-09","publicationTypes":"Journal Article","fieldsOfStudy":null,"isOpenAccess":false,"openAccessPdf":"","citationCount":null,"resultStr":null,"platform":"Semanticscholar","paperid":"144597160","PeriodicalName":null,"FirstCategoryId":null,"ListUrlMain":null,"RegionNum":0,"RegionCategory":"","ArticlePicture":[],"TitleCN":null,"AbstractTextCN":null,"PMCID":"","EPubDate":null,"PubModel":null,"JCR":null,"JCRName":null,"Score":null,"Total":0}