particulate matter

Substantial energy is used to condition the air that enters California homes through leaks in the building envelope and ductwork - typically about a third of all heating and cooling. Reducing this through air sealing is essential to California achieving zero energy homes. However, this outdoor air also dilutes pollutants emitted inside homes and contributes to a healthy indoor environment and acceptable indoor air quality (IAQ). To address this IAQ issue, California’s Title 24 Building Standards have required mechanical ventilation in new homes since 2008.

Recirculation hoods equipped with carbon and plasma filters are becoming more and more popular. The aim of this study is to determine the effectiveness of recirculation hoods with regard to PM2.5 and NOx removal in a 26 m3 lab kitchen with a gas furnace. With the carbon filter PM2.5 is reduced for about 30%. A fresh carbon filter removed about 60% of the NO2, dropping within a few weeks of cooking to 20%. With the plasma hood NO2 concentrations were above the WHO 1-hour limit and the Dutch health council 15 minutes limit.

The present study aims at investigating concentration levels of particulate matter PM10, PM2.5, PM1 and UFP as well as of total airborne fungi and their vertical distribution in the indoor and outdoor environment of school classrooms. Measurements were performed in two naturally ventilated high schools in Athens, from January until May 2011. Indoor concentrations of the pollutants will be presented per floor level and indoor to outdoor (I/O) concentration ratios will be estimated as a function of the floor height.

The concentration levels of particulate matter (PM), airborne fungi, carbon dioxide as well as temperature and relative humidity were investigated in the indoor and outdoor environment of two schools in Athens, Greece during the period January to May 2011. The overall concentration ranges of the indoor measured pollutants were: PM10: 14.92-166.18 μg/m3, PM2.5: 3.16-31.27 μg/m3, PM1: 0.72-9.01 μg/m3, UFP: 4188-63093 pt/cm3, total airborne fungi: 28-2098 CFU/m3 and CO2: 389-1717 ppm.

This study copes with the problem of ventilation in existing educational environments in terms of indoor air quality (AIQ), comfort and energy consumption. In accordance with international regulations, densely occupied environments such as school classrooms need high air change rates in order to provide sufficient fresh air. Nevertheless, in Italian schools, it is rare to see mechanical ventilation systems or natural systems that are mechanically controlled. This means that it is necessary for the users to control air changes by opening or closing the windows.

Recently, studies have shown that the classroom environment is very important for students' health and performance. Thus, the evaluation of indoor air quality (IAQ) in a classroom is necessary to ensure students' well-being. In this paper the emphasis is on airborne concentration of particulate matter (PM) in adult education rooms. The mass concentration of PM10 particulates was measured in two classrooms under different ventilation methods in the University of Reading, UK, during the winter period of 2008.

Particulate matter is a complex mixture of extremely small particles and liquid droplets. It is a diversepollutant class whose excessive presence in indoor air contributes to an array of adverse health andmaterial-damage effects. The size of particles is directly linked to their potential for causing healthproblems.

The indoor air quality management of the public places is gaining wide attention in Korea, because theindoor air quality of the public places are obliged to satisfy the guidelines suggested by Korean Ministryof Environment. According to this regulation, the railroad stations are regarded as public places whilethe passenger cabin of train is excluded. However, because the passengers spend more time in thepassenger cabin than in the stations, the indoor air quality management of the passenger cabin is moreimportant.

The provision of a healthy and satisfactorily clean indoor environment requires that consideration be given to a range of issues, such as the type of indoor environment, indoor and outdoor sources, indoor activity and others. The selection of relevant measures to achieve the required indoor air quality (IAQ) depends on knowledge and understanding of the mechanisms and parameters affecting the concentration levels indoors.