Special Issue "Indoor Air Pollution and Human Health"

Associate Editor
Dr. Gary Adamkiewicz
Exposure, Epidemiology & Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, P.O. Box 15677, Landmark 426 W, 401 Park Dr., Boston, MA 02215, USA
E-Mail:
Interests: housing and health; indoor air pollution; chemical exposures; health disparities; exposure assessment; environmental epidemiology

Guest Editor
Prof. Dr. John D. Spengler
Exposure, Epidemiology & Risk Program, Department of Environmental Health, Harvard School of Public Health, P.O. Box 15677, Landmark 406 W, 401 Park Dr., Boston, MA 02215, USA
Website: http://www.harvardscience.harvard.edu/directory/researchers/john-d-spengler
E-Mail:
Interests: indoor air pollution; exposure assessment; environmental epidemiology; risk assessment

Editorial

Spengler, J.; Adamkiewicz, G. Indoor Air Pollution: An Old Problem with New Challenges. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health 2009, 6, 2880-2882.

Submission

• indoor environments
• IAQ
• climate
• housing
• chemicals
• energy conservation
• air exchange
• ventilation
• policy

Type of Paper: Article
Title: Induction of Asthma in Childhood by Indoor Factors
Author: Joachim Heinrich
Affiliation: Helmholtz Zentrum München, National Research Center for Environmental Health, Head of Unit of Environmental Epidemiology, Munich, Germany; E-Mail: joachim.heinrich@helmholtz-muenchen.de
Abstract: Asthma has become the most common, childhood chronic disease in the industrialized world, and it is also increasing in developing regions. There are huge differences in the prevalence of childhood asthma across countries and continents, and there is no doubt that the prevalence of asthma was strongly increasing during the past decades worldwide. Asthma, as a complex disease, has a broad spectrum of potential determinants ranging from genetics to life style and environmental factors. Environmental factors are likely to be important in explaining the regional differences and the overall increasing trend towards asthma’s prevalence. Among the environmental conditions, indoor factors are of particular interest because people spend more than 80% of their time indoors globally. Furthermore, it is expected that this proportion would be even higher in children. Increasing prices for oil, gas and other sources of primary energy will further lead to better insulation of homes, and ultimately to reduced energy costs. This will decrease air exchange rates and will lower the dilution of indoor air mass with ambient air. Indoor air quality and potential health effects will therefore be an area for future research and for gaining a better understanding of asthma epidemics.
This strategic review will summarize the current knowledge of the effects of a broad spectrum of indoor factors on the development of asthma in childhood in Western countries based on epidemiological studies.
In conclusion, several epidemiological studies point out, that indoor factors might cause asthma in childhood. Stronger and more consistent findings are seen when exposure to these indoor factors is assessed by surrogates for the source of the actual toxicants. Measurement-based exposure assessments for several indoor factors are less common than using surrogates of the exposure. These studies, however, mainly showed heterogeneous results. The most consistent finding for an induction of asthma in childhood is related to exposure to environmental tobacco smoke, to living in homes close to busy roads, and in damp homes where are visible moulds at home. The causing agents of the increased risk of living in damp homes remained uncertain and needs clarification. Exposure to pet-derived allergens and house dust mites are very commonly investigated and thought to be related to asthma onset. The epidemiological evidence is not sufficient to recommend avoidance measures as preventive activities. More research is also needed to clarify the potential risk for exposure to volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds due to renovation activities, phthalates and chlorine chemicals due to cleaning.

Type of Paper: Article
Title: Measurement of Ultrafine Particles and Other Air Pollutants Emitted by Cooking Activities
Authors: Qunfang Zhang ¹, Roja H. Gangupomu ², David Ramirez ¹ and Yifang Zhu ¹
Affiliations: ¹ Texas A&M University-Kingsville, Department of Environmental Engineering, 700 University Blvd. MSC 213, Kingsville, TX 78363, USA; E-Mails: zhangqunfang@gmail.com (Q.Z.); kfdr000@tamuk.edu (D.R.)
² The University of Texas at Arlington, Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, Box 19308 416 Yates St. Suite 425, Arlington, TX 76019, USA; E-Mail: rojaharitha@yahoo.com
Abstract: Cooking emissions show a strong dependence on cooking styles and parameters. Measurements of the average ultrafine particle (UFP) concentration, PM2.5 and black carbon concentrations emitted by cooking activities ranged from 1.34 × 104 to 6.04 × 105 particles/cm3, 10.0 to 230.9 ug/m3 and 0.1 to 0.8 ug/m3, respectively. Lower UFP concentrations were observed during boiling, while higher levels were emitted during frying. The highest UFP concentrations were observed when using a gas stove at high temperature with the kitchen exhaust fan turned off. The observed UFP profiles were similar in the kitchen and in another room, with a lag of approximately ten min.
Keywords: cooking emissions; ultrafine particles; cooking style; cooking parameters; spatial profile

Type of Paper: Article
Title: Volatile Organic Compounds in Central and Northern Alberta Residences—Evidence from Community Surveys and Implications for Public Health
Author: Warren Kindzierski
Affiliation: Department of Public Health Sciences, School of Public Health, University of Alberta, Edmonton, Alberta, T6G 2G3, Canada; E-Mail: warrenk@ualberta.ca
Abstract: An analysis of data on selected indoor volatile organic compounds from recent community studies in central and northern Alberta, Canada was undertaken. Measures of central tendency and upper limit concentrations were estimated from eight studies in these communities. Best estimates of central tendency concentrations for 12 volatile organic compounds – benzene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, 3-methylhexane, heptane, octane, nonane, decane, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, carbon tetrachloride, tetrachloroethylene, and 1,2,4 trimethylbenzene – were less than 5 µg/m3. Best estimates of central tendency concentrations for three volatile organic compounds – toluene, m/p-xylene, and limonene – were greater than 5 µg/m3. In the case of best estimates of upper limit concentrations – benzene, ethylbenzene, o-xylene, hexane, 3 methylhexane, heptane, octane, nonane, carbon tetrachloride, and tetrachloroethylene had upper limit concentrations less than 15 µg/m3. Best estimates of upper limit concentrations for toluene, m/p xylene, decane, limonene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, and 1,2,4-trimethylbenzene were greater than 15 µg/m3. Upper limit concentrations observed in central and northern Alberta residences were about 4 to 10 times higher than typical values for most of the volatile organic compounds observed.
Keywords: VOCs; air quality; indoor air; Alberta

Type of Paper: Article
Title: Modified Perfluorocarbon Tracer Method for Measuring Effective Multizone Air Exchange Rates
Authors: Naohide Shinohara ¹, Toshiyuki Kataoka ², Koichi Takamine ², Michio Butsugan ³, Hirokazu Nishijima ⁴ and Masashi Gamo ¹
Affiliations: ¹ Research Institute of Science for Safety and Sustainability (RISS), National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology (AIST), 16-1 Onogawa, Tsukuba, Ibaraki 305-8569, Japan; E-Mails: n-shinohara@aist.go.jp (N.S.); masashi-gamo@aist.go.jp (M.G.)
² The Chemicals Evaluation and Research Institute, Japan (CERI), 1600 Shimotakano, Sugito-machi,Kitakatsushika-gun, Saitama 345-0043, Japan; E-Mails: takamine-koichi@ceri.jp (T.K.); kataoka-toshiyuki@ceri.jp (K.T.)
³ Hitachi Chemical Co., Ltd., 13-1, Higashi-cho 4-chome, Hitachi-shi, Ibaraki 317-8555, Japan; E-Mail: m-butsugan@hitachi-chem.co.jp
⁴ Sigma-Aldrich Japan K.K., 2-2-24, Higashi-Shinagawa, Shinagawa-ku, Tokyo 140-0002, Japan; E-Mail: hnishijima@sial.com
Abstract: A low-cost, easy-to-use perfluorocarbon tracer (PFT) doser with a stable dosing rate was developed for measuring 24-h-average air exchange rates. Carbon molecular sieve cartridges and carbon disulfide (CS2) were used for passive sampling and extraction of the tracer gas, respectively. Recovery efficiencies, sampling rates, and lower detection limits for 24-h sampling of hexafluorobenzene, octafluorotoluene, and perfluoroallylbenzene were 40% ± 3%, 72% ± 5%, and 84% ± 6%; 10.5 ± 1.1, 14.4 ± 1.4, and 12.2 ± 0.49 mL/min; and 0.20, 0.17, and 0.26 µg/m3, respectively. A modified procedure was developed for simultaneous measurement of inter-room and indoor–outdoor exchange rate.
Keywords: air exchange rate; 24-h average; PFT method; multizone; solvent extraction; uncertainty

Type of Paper: Article
Title: Assessment of Benzo(a)pyrene-equivalent Carcinogenicity and Mutagenicity of Residential Indoor versus Outdoor Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Exposing Young Children in New York City
Authors: Kyung Hwa Jung ¹, Beizhan Yan ², Steven N. Chillrud ², Frederica P. Perera ³, Robin Whyatt ³, David Camann ⁴, Patrick L. Kinney ³ and Rachel L. Miller ^1,3
Affiliations: ¹ Division of Pulmonary, Allergy and Critical Care of Medicine, College of Physicians and Surgeons, Columbia University, PH8E, 630 W. 168 St. New York, New York 10032, USA; E-Mail: rlm14@columbia.edu (R.L.M.)
² Lamont-Doherty Earth Observatory, Columbia University, 61 Rt, 9W Palisades, New York 10964, USA
³ Mailman School of Public Health, Department of Environmental Health Sciences, Columbia University, 60 Haven Ave., B-1 New York, New York 10032, USA
⁴ Southwest Research Institute, 6220 Culebra Road, San Antonio, Texas, 78228, USA
Abstract: The application of benzo(a)pyrene (BaP)-toxic equivalent factor to polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) concentrations can provide a more accurate risk assessment from environmental exposure to PAH. We hypothesized that BaP-equivalent toxicity determined following residential air monitoring among young urban children may vary by season. Residential indoor and outdoor air levels of PAH measured over two-weeks in a cohort of 5-6 year old children (n=260) in New York City were normalized to the cancer and mutagen potency equivalent factor of BaP (BaP=1). Data are presented as carcinogenic equivalents (BaP-TEQ) and mutagenic equivalents (BaP-MEQ) for the sum of 8 PAH (∑8PAH; MW∑228) and individual PAH and compared across heating versus nonheating seasons. Results show that heating compared to nonheating season was associated significantly with higher (BaP-TEQ)∑8PAH and (BaP-MEQ)∑8PAH both indoors and outdoors (p<0.001). Outdoor (BaP-TEQ)∑8PAH and (BaP-MEQ)∑8PAH were significantly higher than the corresponding indoor measures during the heating season (p<0.01). These findings suggest that at levels encountered in New York City air, especially during the heating season, residential exposure to PAH may pose an increased risk of cancer and mutation.
Keywords: risk assessment; PAH, BaP-equivalents; TEF; MEF; heating season; indoor; outdoor; children

Type of Paper: Review
Title: A Review: Indoor Air Quality in Schools
Author: Chi-Chi Lin
Affiliation: Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering, National University of Kaohsiung, No. 700 Kaohsiung University Road, Kaohsiung, 811, Taiwan; E-Mail: chichilin@nuk.edu.tw
Abstract: The significance of indoor air quality in schools is underscored by the large number of faculties, staffs, and students worldwide. This paper reviews the state of knowledge regarding IAQ in schools worldwide, with an emphasis on ventilation and carbon dioxide, particulate matter, volatile organic compounds, nitric oxides and carbon monoxide, and others (such as ozone, PAHs and microorganisms). An insight of principal determinants of IAQ in schools is provided, followed by pollution sources and the possible strategies to improve IAQ in schools worldwide, along with recommended future work.
Keywords: school; indoor air quality; carbon dioxide; particulate matter; volatile organic compounds