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Toxics
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Analysis, Exposures, and Health Risks of Indoor and Outdoor Air...
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Analysis, Exposures, and Health Risks of Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution

A special issue of Toxics (ISSN 2305-6304). This special issue belongs to the section "Air Pollution and Health".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (21 June 2024) | Viewed by 4694

Special Issue Editors

Dr. Besis Athanasios

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Guest Editor
Environmental Pollution Control Laboratory, Department of Chemistry, Aristotle University of Thessaloniki, GR-54124 Thessaloniki, Greece
Interests: environmental chemistry; environmental analysis; atmospheric pollution; outdoor and indoor air quality; air sampling; health impact assessment; particulate matter; atmospheric aerosols; indoor air pollution; chemical characterization of airborne particulate matter
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals
Dr. Cécile Vignal

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Guest Editor
INFINITE UMR1286, Translational Research in Inflammation, Inserm/Université de Lille, Lille, France
Interests: inflammatory bowel diseases; immunity; environmental risk factors; food contaminants; airborne contaminants; mechanistic studies

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Air pollution has caused major concerns across the world due to its widespread nature, damage to our environment and potential health risks to humans. Many studies have been conducted to investigate the cause and seriousness of outdoor air pollution problems. At the same time, it is significant for human exposure studies to include exposure to indoor chemicals since humans spend more than 80% of the day indoors. Information about the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio of air pollutant concentrations is a crucial component of human exposure and health impact assessments. This Special Issue aims to gain more insight into: (a) the concentrations of various pollutants from different chemical classes in outdoor and indoor environments; (b) the potential sources; and (c) human exposure and health risks. Original research articles and review articles on these topics are encouraged and I look forward to receiving your contributions.

Dr. Besis Athanasios
Dr. Cécile Vignal
Guest Editors

Manuscript Submission Information

Manuscripts should be submitted online at www.mdpi.com by registering and logging in to this website. Once you are registered, click here to go to the submission form. Manuscripts can be submitted until the deadline. All submissions that pass pre-check are peer-reviewed. Accepted papers will be published continuously in the journal (as soon as accepted) and will be listed together on the special issue website. Research articles, review articles as well as short communications are invited. For planned papers, a title and short abstract (about 100 words) can be sent to the Editorial Office for announcement on this website.

Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Toxics is an international peer-reviewed open access monthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2600 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • air pollution
  • human health
  • indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio
  • sources
  • risk assessment
  • particulate matter (PM)
  • volatile organic compounds (VOCs)
  • indoor dust

Published Papers (4 papers)

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Research

20 pages, 1602 KiB  
Article
Phthalate Acid Esters (PAEs) in Indoor Dust from Decoration Material Stores: Occurrence, Sources, and Health Risks
by Li-Bo Chen, Chong-Jing Gao, Ying Zhang, Hao-Yang Shen, Xin-Yu Lu, Cenyan Huang, Xiaorong Dai, Jien Ye, Xiaoyu Jia, Kun Wu, Guojing Yang, Hang Xiao and Wan-Li Ma
Toxics 2024, 12(7), 505; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12070505 - 13 Jul 2024
Viewed by 334
Abstract
Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are one of the most widely used plasticizers globally, extensively employed in various decoration materials. However, studies on the impact of these materials on indoor environmental PAE pollution and their effects on human health are limited. In this study, [...] Read more.
Phthalate acid esters (PAEs) are one of the most widely used plasticizers globally, extensively employed in various decoration materials. However, studies on the impact of these materials on indoor environmental PAE pollution and their effects on human health are limited. In this study, forty dust samples were collected from four types of stores specializing in decoration materials (flooring, furniture boards, wall coverings, and household articles). The levels, sources, exposure doses, and potential health risks of PAEs in dust from decoration material stores were assessed. The total concentrations of Σ9PAE (the sum of nine PAEs) in dust from all decoration-material stores ranged from 46,100 ng/g to 695,000 ng/g, with a median concentration of 146,000 ng/g. DMP, DEP, DBP, and DEHP were identified as the predominant components. Among all stores, furniture board stores exhibited the highest Σ9PAE (159,000 ng/g, median value), while flooring stores exhibited the lowest (95,300 ng/g). Principal component analysis (PCA) showed that decoration materials are important sources of PAEs in the indoor environment. The estimated daily intakes of PAEs through non-dietary dust ingestion and dermal-absorption pathways among staff in various decoration-material stores were 60.0 and 0.470 ng/kg-bw/day (flooring stores), 113 and 0.780 ng/kg-bw/day (furniture board stores), 102 and 0.510 ng/kg-bw/day (wall covering stores), and 114 and 0.710 ng/kg-bw/day (household article stores). Particularly, staff in wall-covering and furniture-board stores exhibited relatively higher exposure doses of DEHP. Risk assessment indicated that although certain PAEs posed potential health risks, the exposure levels for staff in decoration material stores were within acceptable limits. However, staff in wall covering stores exhibited relatively higher risks, necessitating targeted risk-management strategies. This study provides new insights into understanding the risk associated with PAEs in indoor environments. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Exposures, and Health Risks of Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution)
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17 pages, 2747 KiB  
Article
Volatile Organic Compounds on Rhodes Island, Greece: Implications for Outdoor and Indoor Human Exposure
by Athanasios Besis, Dimitrios Margaritis, Constantini Samara and Evangelos Bekiaris
Toxics 2024, 12(7), 486; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12070486 - 2 Jul 2024
Viewed by 772
Abstract
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are considered a class of pollutants with a significant presence in indoor and outdoor air and serious health effects. The aim of this study was to measure and evaluate the levels of outdoor and indoor VOCs at selected sites [...] Read more.
Volatile organic compounds (VOC) are considered a class of pollutants with a significant presence in indoor and outdoor air and serious health effects. The aim of this study was to measure and evaluate the levels of outdoor and indoor VOCs at selected sites on Rhodes Island, Greece, during the cold and warm periods of 2023. Spatial and seasonal variations were evaluated; moreover, cancer and non-cancer inhalation risks were assessed. For this purpose, simultaneous indoor-outdoor air sampling was carried out on the island of Rhodes. VOCs were determined by Thermal Desorption—Gas Chromatography/Mass Spectroscopy (TD-GC/MS). Fifty-six VOCs with frequencies ≥ 50% were further considered. VOC concentrations (∑56VOCs) at all sites were found to be higher in the warm period. In the warm and cold sampling periods, the highest concentrations were found at the port of Rhodes City, while total VOC concentrations were dominated by alkanes. The Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) model was applied to identify the VOC emission sources. Non-cancer and cancer risks for adults were within the safe levels. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Exposures, and Health Risks of Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution)
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12 pages, 768 KiB  
Article
Indoor Air Quality and Bioaerosols in Spanish University Classrooms
by Esther Fuentes-Ferragud, Antonio López, Juan Miguel Piera, Vicent Yusà, Salvador Garrigues, Miguel de la Guardia, F. Xavier López Labrador, Marisa Camaró, María Ibáñez and Clara Coscollà
Toxics 2024, 12(3), 227; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics12030227 - 20 Mar 2024
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1458
Abstract
A comprehensive study assessed indoor air quality parameters, focusing on relevant air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), gaseous compounds (CO, CO2, formaldehyde, NO2) and volatile/semi-volatile organic chemicals, as well as respiratory viruses (including [...] Read more.
A comprehensive study assessed indoor air quality parameters, focusing on relevant air pollutants such as particulate matter (PM10 and PM2.5), gaseous compounds (CO, CO2, formaldehyde, NO2) and volatile/semi-volatile organic chemicals, as well as respiratory viruses (including SARS-CoV-2), fungi and bacteria in Spanish university classrooms. Non-target screening strategies evaluated the presence of organic pollutants inside and outside the classrooms. Saliva samples from teachers and students were collected to explore correlations between respiratory viruses in the air and biological samples. Indoor results revealed the punctual exceedance of recommended guidelines for CO2, formaldehyde (HCHO), volatile organic compounds (TVOCs) and PM in the least naturally ventilated classrooms. Significant differences occurred between the classes, with the least ventilated one showing higher average concentrations of CO2, HCHO, NO2, PM10 and PM2.5. A respiratory virus (rhinovirus/enterovirus) was detected in the medium naturally ventilated classroom, although saliva samples tested negative. Suspect screening tentatively identified 65 substances indoors and over 200 outdoors, with approximately half reporting a high toxicological risk based on the Cramer rules. The study provides a comprehensive overview of indoor air quality, respiratory viruses and organic pollutants in university classrooms, highlighting the variations and potential health risks associated with ventilation differences. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Exposures, and Health Risks of Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution)
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14 pages, 1976 KiB  
Article
Reduction of Outdoor and Indoor PM2.5 Source Contributions via Portable Air Filtration Systems in a Senior Residential Facility in Detroit, Michigan
by Zachary M. Klaver, Ryan C. Crane, Rosemary A. Ziemba, Robert L. Bard, Sara D. Adar, Robert D. Brook and Masako Morishita
Toxics 2023, 11(12), 1019; https://doi.org/10.3390/toxics11121019 - 14 Dec 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1623
Abstract
Background: The Reducing Air Pollution in Detroit Intervention Study (RAPIDS) was designed to evaluate cardiovascular health benefits and personal fine particulate matter (particulate matter < 2.5 μm in diameter, PM2.5) exposure reductions via portable air filtration units (PAFs) among older adults [...] Read more.
Background: The Reducing Air Pollution in Detroit Intervention Study (RAPIDS) was designed to evaluate cardiovascular health benefits and personal fine particulate matter (particulate matter < 2.5 μm in diameter, PM2.5) exposure reductions via portable air filtration units (PAFs) among older adults in Detroit, Michigan. This double-blind randomized crossover intervention study has shown that, compared to sham, air filtration for 3 days decreased 3-day average brachial systolic blood pressure by 3.2 mmHg. The results also showed that commercially available HEPA-type and true HEPA PAFs mitigated median indoor PM2.5 concentrations by 58% and 65%, respectively. However, to our knowledge, no health intervention study in which a significant positive health effect was observed has also evaluated how outdoor and indoor PM2.5 sources impacted the subjects. With that in mind, detailed characterization of outdoor and indoor PM2.5 samples collected during this study and a source apportionment analysis of those samples using a positive matrix factorization model were completed. The aims of this most recent work were to characterize the indoor and outdoor sources of the PM2.5 this community was exposed to and to assess how effectively commercially available HEPA-type and true HEPA PAFs were able to reduce indoor and outdoor PM2.5 source contributions. Methods: Approximately 24 h daily indoor and outdoor PM2.5 samples were collected on Teflon and Quartz filters from the apartments of 40 study subjects during each 3-day intervention period. These filters were analyzed for mass, carbon, and trace elements. Environmental Protection Agency Positive Matrix Factorization (PMF) 5.0 was utilized to determine major emission sources that contributed to the outdoor and indoor PM2.5 levels during this study. Results: The major sources of outdoor PM2.5 were secondary aerosols (28%), traffic/urban dust (24%), iron/steel industries (15%), sewage/municipal incineration (10%), and oil combustion/refinery (6%). The major sources of indoor PM2.5 were organic compounds (45%), traffic + sewage/municipal incineration (14%), secondary aerosols (13%), smoking (7%), and urban dust (2%). Infiltration of outdoor PM2.5 for sham, HEPA-type, and true HEPA air filtration was 79 ± 24%, 61 ± 32%, and 51 ± 34%, respectively. Conclusions: The results from our study showed that intervention with PAFs was able to significantly decrease indoor PM2.5 derived from outdoor and indoor PM2.5 sources. The PAFs were also able to significantly reduce the infiltration of outdoor PM2.5. The results of this study provide insights into what types of major PM2.5 sources this community is exposed to and what degree of air quality and systolic blood pressure improvements are possible through the use of commercially available PAFs in a real-world setting. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Analysis, Exposures, and Health Risks of Indoor and Outdoor Air Pollution)
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