air pollution

In recent years, population exposure to air pollution has been a major concern. Indoor air quality (IAQ) is mainly monitored with CO2-concentration-based indicators. High levels of CO2-concentration are avoided in buildings when airing by the windows is done and/or when air exchange rate of the existing ventilation is regulated, based on a CO2-level-information. However, as contributing to maintain low CO2-concentration-levels indoors, the increase of outdoor air intake is associated with a more or less important introduction of outdoor air pollutants in the building.

When designed and operated adequately, natural ventilation (NV) can improve the buildings’ energy efficiency and indoor environmental quality. There is a plethora of factors that limit the effectiveness of NV, such as the climate, surrounding buildings, noise, and ambient air pollution, especially in urban environments. Nevertheless, the existing NV potential (NVP) calculation methods are complex and difficult to be used. This study proposes a new methodology for quantifying the NVP by considering the exterior climate and ambient air pollution.

An emerging issue in Denmark is passive smoking in residential buildings where non-smokers are exposed to harmful smoke from their neighbours. There are various ways that smoke infiltrates from one flat to another. The air infiltration rate between two flats in a multi-storey building depends on its construction, tightness and age.

With the rapid development of urbanization, the economy and number of vehicles, the urban climate has worsened in recent years, causing serious urban problems including urban heat islands, air pollution and infectious disease transmission. Ventilation is indicated as one of the most effective approaches to solve these problems.

In this study we evaluated the diffusion of nitrous oxide in a few operating rooms, using spatial data modelling techniques, in order to assess hospital staff exposure and to promote risk management. Indoor air sampling was carried out, during routine operating activity, by means of transportable infrared spectrometer, with geostatistical techniques. We detected high average concentrations of nitrous oxide (from 8 ppm to 445 ppm, with a peak of 1345 ppm).