# ent

id: cord-003640-psnec2qp
type: ORG
entity:
  Healthy Development World Health Organization Report on Infectious Diseases Evidence of Airborne Transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome Virus Role


id: cord-003640-psnec2qp
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Factors That Structure Microbial Communities A Fortran Computer Program for Permutational Multivariate Analysis


id: cord-009825-6cargkwy
type: DISEASE
entity:
  influenza A virus a review of new studies Effects of room furnishings and air speed on particle deposition


id: cord-102285-ca74vhq3
type: ORG
entity:
  Policy Assessment for the Review of the National Ambient Air Quality Standards for Particulate Matter Impacts


id: cord-337316-ialg7d7e
type: ORG
entity:
  PM10 Neighborhood Perceptions and Cumulative Impacts of Low Level Chronic Exposure to Fine Particular Matter


id: cord-337316-ialg7d7e
type: ORG
entity:
  Italy Impact of Knowledge and Misconceptions on Benefit and Risk Perception of CCS Public Perceptions of Environmental Public Health Risks


id: cord-103972-kbv9kh6z
type: CELL_LINE
entity:
  J09X1 J09X2 J09X3 J09X9 J1000 J1001 J1008 J101 J102 J1081 J1082 J1083 J1089 J1100 J1108 J111 J112 J1181 J1182 J1183 J1189


id: cord-103972-kbv9kh6z
type: DNA
entity:
  E093523 E093529 E093531 E093532 E093533 E093539 E093541 E093542 E093543 E093549 E093551 E093552 E093553 E093559 E09359 E093591 E093592 E093593 E093599 E0936


id: cord-103972-kbv9kh6z
type: DNA
entity:
  E09610 E09618 E09620 E09621 E09622 E09628 E09630 E09638 E09641 E09649 E0965 E0969 E098 E1010 E1011 E1021 E1022 E1029 E10311 E10319 E10321 E103211 E103212 E103213 E103219 E10329 E103291 E103292 E103293 E103299 E10331 E103311 E103312 E103313 E103319 E10339 E103391 E103392 E103393 E103399 E10341 E103411 E103412 E103413 E103419 E10349 E103491 E103492 E103493 E103499 E10351 E103511 E103512 E103513 E103519 E103521 E103522 E103523 E103529 E103531 E103532 E103533 E103539 E103541 E103542 E103543 E103549 E103551 E103552 E103553 E103559 E10359


id: cord-103972-kbv9kh6z
type: DNA
entity:
  E1322 E1329 E13311 E13319 E13321 E133211 E133212 E133213 E133219 E13329 E133291 E133292 E133293 E133299 E13331 E133311 E133312 E133313 E133319 E13339 E133391 E133392 E133393 E133399 E13341 E133411 E133412 E133413 E133419 E13349 E133491


id: cord-103972-kbv9kh6z
type: DNA
entity:
  E133521 E133522 E133523 E133529 E133531 E133532 E133533 E133539 E133541 E133542 E133543 E133549 E133551 E133552 E133553 E133559 E13359 E133591 E133592 E133593 E133599 E1336


id: cord-103972-kbv9kh6z
type: DATE
entity:
  1993 1994 1995 1996 1997 1998 1999 2000 2001 2002 2003 2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015


id: cord-032165-nyj72o21
type: GGP
entity:
  K 0 ¼ 5 Â 10 À10 cm 3 s 24 From the above data when initial concentration is less than 10 6 pc cm 3 the influence of coagulation can be neglected during measurement with time period 10 min If the measurement time is 2 days the concentration should be less than 10 3 pc cm 3 so that the coagulation effect can be ignored This aspect should be noticed during the experimental study leakage detection of air filter and selfpurification time with smoke release The above sections have discussed various movement situations of single particle and the influence generated by local airflow Now the further study is presented about the particle distribution with particles released by the source in the flow field The simplest case is the particle distribution with the point source in the parallel flow field The specific aim is to determine the boundary of particle distribution namely the range of pollution Here


id: cord-308833-ei1faruy
type: LAW
entity:
  Standard Test Method for Resistance of Materials Used in Protective Clothing to Penetration by Blood


id: cord-263537-sh8julcb
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  The Indirect Benefit on Respiratory Health From the World s Effort to Reduce Transmission of SARS CoV 2


id: cord-018902-oninjtsn
type: DISEASE
entity:
  foodborne human pathogens spoilage microbes microbial allergens and food allergens Foodborne pathogens


id: cord-348994-ly2fop7d
type: ORG
entity:
  Satellite Observations for Long Term Exposure Assessment of Global Concentrations of Fine Particulate Matter Particulate


id: cord-348994-ly2fop7d
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  the Global Burden of Disease Study An Integrated Risk Function for Estimating the Global Burden of Disease Attributable to Ambient Fine Particulate Matter Exposure A


id: cord-333078-8cto831y
type: LAW
entity:
  validation measurement properties interpretation Report of the Global Lung Function Initiative GLI ERS Task Force


id: cord-284820-29uiq6at
type: ORG
entity:
  China Impact of Energy Saving and Emission Reduction Policy on Urban Sustainable Development Empirical Evidence


id: cord-274355-6hiutrct
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Documentation ASHRAE Standard Ventilation for Health Care Facilities ASHRAE Fundamentals SI Handbook


id: cord-257875-6lgn6u38
type: PROTEIN
entity:
  capsid chimeric viruses A recombinant trivalent vaccine candidate against human adenovirus types 3 7 and 55 COVID 19


id: cord-257875-6lgn6u38
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  The Role of Minocycline in the Treatment of Nosocomial Infections Caused by Multidrug Extensively Drug and Pandrug


id: cord-322364-uo49h1ku
type: ORG
entity:
  Africa Infrastructure Country Diagnostic Air Transportation Challenges to Growth Air Freight A Market Study with Implications for Landlocked Countries


id: cord-297840-z5l6vdsr
type: FAC
entity:
  Triple Airport Quarantine Stations Health Program Aims to Prevent Infectious Diseases From Entering Country Washington Post


id: cord-353209-qkhfp66l
type: ORG
entity:
  Validation of Arrayed Imaging Reflectometry Biosensor Response for Protein Antibody Interactions Cross Correlation of Label Free Arrayed Sensing of Immune Response


id: cord-017080-erbftqgh
type: ORG
entity:
  Final Report Planning Department Final Year Bachelor of Arts in Architectural Studies Students Department of Architecture University of Hong Kong Planning


id: cord-016682-7eslhs77
type: CHEBI
entity:
  iron sulfide uranium lithium sodium potassium rubidium calcium phosphorous caesium sulphuric trioxide


id: cord-016682-7eslhs77
type: CHEBI
entity:
  carbon monoxide ash participles methyl chloride methyl bromide polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons aldehydes


id: cord-298696-rsifxvtj
type: ORG
entity:
  Occupational and Environmental Medicine Transmission of the Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome on Aircraft Using


id: cord-298696-rsifxvtj
type: ORG
entity:
  the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention Institute for Bioethics World Health Organization Department of Communicable Disease Surveillance and Response Global Influenza Programme


id: cord-018760-blwguyl4
type: DISEASE
entity:
  allergic rhinitis lung inflammation pulmonary disorders cardiac arrhythmia ischemic cardiovascular events


id: cord-313825-bbjxd86y
type: GGP
entity:
  processes 3 4 7 14 24 Anthropogenic sources of outdoor PM are hightemperature processes e g welding smelting combustion e g power generation land traffic residential


id: cord-349807-ar77cnsa
type: PROTEIN
entity:
  nuclear factor kappa B 69 70 71 72 Antioxidants are scavengers of ROS and can be enzymatic or non enzymatic systems constitutive or de novo synthesized by activated gene


id: cord-349807-ar77cnsa
type: EVENT
entity:
  Air Pollution to Climate Change WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality Household Fuel Combustion World Health Organization Health Effects Institute State of Global Air Million


id: cord-291113-iizj932l
type: ORG
entity:
  Effectiveness of Titanium Dioxide Photocatalyst Filters for Controlling Bioaerosols Effectiveness of Photocatalytic Filter for Removing Volatile Organic Compounds


id: cord-292928-a4bn30ul
type: PROTEIN
entity:
  bacteria bacterial endotoxins mycotoxins peptidoglycans β 1 3 glucans viruses high molecular weight allergens pollens


id: cord-289138-33agf2j4
type: ORG
entity:
  Healthcare Infection Control Practices Advisory Committee Guidelines for Environmental Infection Control


id: cord-355567-60sfv60p
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Methods of Ventilation for Improving Closed Spaces with Poor Ventilation with Prevention of Heatstroke for Owners Using Air Conditioning System without Ventilation in Commercial Facilities


id: cord-344266-ug2uew71
type: WORK_OF_ART
entity:
  Toward Understanding the Risk of Secondary Airborne Infection Emission of Respirable Pathogens Environmental Transmission of SARS at Amoy Gardens Extensive Viable Middle East Respiratory Syndrome MERS Coronavirus Contamination in Air and Surrounding Environment


id: cord-295469-5an7836u
type: DISEASE
entity:
  Stachybotrys chartarum enteric viruses noro and rotaviruses respiratory viruses influenza and coronaviruses mycobacteria tuberculous


# bib

id: cord-002474-2l31d7ew
author: Lv, Yang
date: 2017-04-03
txt: ./txt/cord-002474-2l31d7ew.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-002474-2l31d7ew.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5377260/
doi: 10.1038/srep44190
summary:
  title: Actual measurement, hygrothermal response experiment and growth prediction analysis of microbial contamination of central air conditioning system in Dalian, China Based on the data of Cladosporium in hygrothermal response experiment, this paper used the logistic equation and the Gompertz equation to fit the growth predictive model of Cladosporium genera in different temperature and relative humidity conditions, and the square root model was fitted based on the two environmental factors. Besides, according to the tested microbial density and the identified genome sequence of collected microorganisms, the hygrothermal response experiment of dominant fungal was detected, and the fitting analysis was carried out based on the prediction model, followed by a series of statistical analysis. The unit A showed the obvious microbial contamination status, though all components and airborne microorganism meet the Hygienic specification of central air conditioning ventilation system in public buildings of China 22 .

title:
  Actual measurement, hygrothermal response experiment and growth prediction analysis of microbial contamination of central air conditioning system in Dalian, China

abstract:
  The microbial contamination of central air conditioning system is one of the important factors that affect the indoor air quality. Actual measurement and analysis were carried out on microbial contamination in central air conditioning system at a venue in Dalian, China. Illumina miseq method was used and three fungal samples of two units were analysed by high throughput sequencing. Results showed that the predominant fungus in air conditioning unit A and B were Candida spp. and Cladosporium spp., and two fungus were further used in the hygrothermal response experiment. Based on the data of Cladosporium in hygrothermal response experiment, this paper used the logistic equation and the Gompertz equation to fit the growth predictive model of Cladosporium genera in different temperature and relative humidity conditions, and the square root model was fitted based on the two environmental factors. In addition, the models were carried on the analysis to verify the accuracy and feasibility of the established model equation.


id: cord-003640-psnec2qp
title: Bioaerosols Play a Major Role in the Nasopharyngeal Microbiota Content in Agricultural Environment
author: Mbareche, Hamza
date: 2019-04-16
txt: ./txt/cord-003640-psnec2qp.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-003640-psnec2qp.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC6518280/
doi: 10.3390/ijerph16081375
summary:
  Results: A multivariate analysis showed air samples and nasopharyngeal flora of pig workers cluster together, compared to the non-exposed control group. An ecological analysis was conducted to reveal the variation in the community composition between the three sample groups (nasopharynx of pig farmers and non-exposed controls and air from pig farms). Given the observed difference in the number of bacterial OTUs, evenness, and evolutionary distance (alpha diversity) and in the bacterial community composition (beta diversity) in samples of the nasopharyngeal flora of farmers and non-exposed individuals and bioaerosols, collected in pig buildings, the next step was to reveal the taxonomic profiles of the three groups. Given the observed difference in the number of bacterial OTUs, evenness, and evolutionary distance (alpha diversity) and in the bacterial community composition (beta diversity) in samples of the nasopharyngeal flora of farmers and non-exposed individuals and bioaerosols, collected in pig buildings, the next step was to reveal the taxonomic profiles of the three groups.

abstract:
  Background: Bioaerosols are a major concern for public health and sampling for exposure assessment purposes is challenging. The nasopharyngeal region could be a potent carrier of long-term bioaerosol exposure agents. This study aimed to evaluate the correlation between nasopharyngeal bacterial flora of swine workers and the swine barns bioaerosol biodiversity. Methods: Air samples from eight swine barns as well as nasopharyngeal swabs from pig workers (n = 25) and from a non-exposed control group (n = 29) were sequenced using 16S rRNA gene high-throughput sequencing. Wastewater treatment plants were used as the industrial, low-dust, non-agricultural environment control to validate the microbial link between the bioaerosol content (air) and the nasopharynxes of workers. Results: A multivariate analysis showed air samples and nasopharyngeal flora of pig workers cluster together, compared to the non-exposed control group. The significance was confirmed with the PERMANOVA statistical test (p-value of 0.0001). Unlike the farm environment, nasopharynx samples from wastewater workers did not cluster with air samples from wastewater treatment plants. The difference in the microbial community of nasopharynx of swine workers and a control group suggest that swine workers are carriers of germs found in bioaerosols. Conclusion: Nasopharynx sampling and microbiota could be used as a proxy of air sampling for exposure assessment studies or for the determination of exposure markers in highly contaminated agricultural environments.


id: cord-005326-fsx6s913
title: Hospital ventilation simulation for the study of potential exposure to contaminants
author: Balocco, Carla
date: 2011-12-04
txt: ./txt/cord-005326-fsx6s913.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-005326-fsx6s913.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7090620/
doi: 10.1007/s12273-011-0019-6
summary:
  The present article investigates the airflow patterns, distribution and velocity, and the particulate dispersion inside an existing typical hospitalization room equipped with an HVAC, with variable air volume (VAV) primary air system, combined with a ceiling radiant panel, for immunesuppressed patients, never modelled before. Transient simulations, applied to a three-dimensional model of the room, considering most typical positions of two patients, investigated the airflow patterns associated with different cough conditions, in order to develop an understanding of the effects of these arrangements on the regions of droplet fallout. In the present paper the following conditions were taken into account: the negative pressure of the isolation room provides the airflow performance that effectively controls the mean free path and dispersion of particles with respect to the atmospheric standard pressure; the droplets are initially larger and the evaporation will reduce their dimension; the droplets contain glycol-proteins, lipid-proteins and lipid-glycids constituents of the mucous and also viral particles; these molecules are often very long, some of them reaching 2200 nm (Cunningham 1910; Marianne et al.

abstract:
  Airflow and ventilation are particularly important in healthcare rooms for controlling thermo-hygrometric conditions, providing anaesthetic gas removal, diluting airborne bacterial contamination and minimizing bacteria transfer airborne. An actual hospitalization room was the investigate case study. Transient simulations with computational fluid dynamics (CFD), based on the finite element method (FEM) were performed to investigate the efficiency of the existing heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) plant with a variable air volume (VAV) primary air system. Solid modelling of the room, taking into account thermo-physical properties of building materials, architectural features (e.g., window and wall orientation) and furnishing (e.g., beds, tables and lamps) arrangement of the room, inlet turbulence high induction air diffuser, the return air diffusers and two patients lying on two parallel beds was carried out. Multiphysics modelling was used: a thermo-fluidynamic model (convection-conduction and incompressible Navier-Stokes) was combined with a convection-diffusion model. Three 3D models were elaborated considering different conditions/events of the patients (i.e., the first was considered coughing and/or the second breathing). A particle tracing and diffusion model, connected to cough events, was developed to simulate the dispersal of bacteria-carrying droplets in the isolation room equipped with the existing ventilation system. An analysis of the region of droplet fallout and the dilution time of bacteria diffusion of coughed gas in the isolation room was performed. The analysis of transient simulation results concerning particle path and distance, and then particle tracing combined with their concentration, provided evidence of the formation of zones that should be checked by microclimatic and contaminant control. The present study highlights the fact that the CFD-FEM application is useful for understanding the efficiency, adequacy and reliability of the ventilation system, but also provides important suggestions for controlling air quality, patients’ comfort and energy consumption in a hospital.


id: cord-009825-6cargkwy
title: Indoor bioaerosol dynamics
author: Nazaroff, William W
date: 2014-12-27
txt: ./txt/cord-009825-6cargkwy.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-009825-6cargkwy.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7165847/
doi: 10.1111/ina.12174
summary:
  The review summarizes knowledge about size‐dependent particle deposition in different regions of the respiratory tract, techniques for measuring indoor bioaerosols, and evidence for diseases caused by airborne exposure to bioaerosols. Then, the article proceeds to discuss several additional processes that can affect indoor bioaerosol levels: deposition onto room surfaces, bioaerosol intrusion from outdoor air, indoor emission sources, and other factors, including bioaerosol control, airborne growth and decay, and indoor transport and mixing. In the summaries to follow, I highlight several field-sampling studies whose results provide important clues about bioaerosol concentrations, associated particle-size distributions, and potential influencing factors. The importance of deposition as a removal mechanism for airborne bioaerosol particles can be explored by comparing b to the air exchange rate. For these larger particles, deposition is an important mechanism influencing the fate of bioaerosols even for buildings with relatively high air exchange rates.

abstract:
  Inhaling indoor air is the primary means by which humans are exposed to bioaerosols. Considering bacteria, fungi, and viruses, this study reviews the dynamic processes that govern indoor concentrations and fates of biological particulate material. Bioaerosol behavior is strongly coupled to particle size; this study emphasizes the range 0.1–10 μm in aerodynamic diameter. The principle of material balance allows concentrations to be determined from knowledge of important source and removal processes. Sources reviewed here include outdoor air introduced by air exchange plus indoor emission from occupants, occupant activities, and moldy materials. Important mechanisms that remove bioaerosols from indoor air include air exchange, deposition onto indoor surfaces, and active filtration. The review summarizes knowledge about size‐dependent particle deposition in different regions of the respiratory tract, techniques for measuring indoor bioaerosols, and evidence for diseases caused by airborne exposure to bioaerosols. Future research challenges and opportunities are highlighted.


id: cord-011314-at65nvda
author: De Weerdt, Annick
date: 2020-03-17
txt: ./txt/cord-011314-at65nvda.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-011314-at65nvda.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7224020/
doi: 10.1007/s00134-020-05999-3
summary:
  For each patient''s home address, daily air pollutant exposure [particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM(2.5)) and ≤ 10 µm (PM(10)), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) and black carbon (BC)] up to 10 days prior to hospital admission was modeled using a high-resolution spatial–temporal model. In analogy with the recent finding that patient preadmission medical and sociodemographic characteristics (e.g., medication use, immune status, frailty) can influence the course and outcome and even the degree of respiratory failure during intensive care unit (ICU) admission [8] [9] [10] , we investigated the association between short-term exposure to residential ambient air pollution and the duration of mechanical ventilation in ICU patients. Short-term ambient particulate and gaseous air pollution exposure prior to ICU admission significantly prolongs the duration of mechanical ventilation irrespective of preexisting lung disease or ICU admission diagnosis.

title:
  Pre-admission air pollution exposure prolongs the duration of ventilation in intensive care patients

abstract:
  PURPOSE: Air pollutant exposure constitutes a serious risk factor for the emergence or aggravation of (existing) pulmonary disease. The impact of pre-intensive care ambient air pollutant exposure on the duration of artificial ventilation was, however, not yet established. METHODS: The medical records of 2003 patients, admitted to the intensive care unit (ICU) of the Antwerp University Hospital (Flanders, Belgium), who were artificially ventilated on ICU admission or within 48 h after admission, for the duration of at least 48 h, were analyzed. For each patient’s home address, daily air pollutant exposure [particulate matter with an aerodynamic diameter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM(2.5)) and ≤ 10 µm (PM(10)), nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)) and black carbon (BC)] up to 10 days prior to hospital admission was modeled using a high-resolution spatial–temporal model. The association between duration of artificial ventilation and air pollution exposure during the last 10 days before ICU admission was assessed using distributed lag models with a negative binomial regression fit. RESULTS: Controlling for pre-specified confounders, an IQR increment in BC (1.2 µg/m(3)) up to 10 days before admission was associated with an estimated cumulative increase of 12.4% in ventilation duration (95% CI 4.7–20.7). Significant associations were also observed for PM(2.5), PM(10) and NO(2), with cumulative estimates ranging from 7.8 to 8.0%. CONCLUSION: Short-term ambient air pollution exposure prior to ICU admission represents an unrecognized environmental risk factor for the duration of artificial ventilation in the ICU. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (10.1007/s00134-020-05999-3) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.


id: cord-013097-3ujnmxhx
author: Rufino de Sousa, Nuno
date: 2020-05-29
txt: ./txt/cord-013097-3ujnmxhx.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-013097-3ujnmxhx.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7544001/
doi: 10.1093/annweh/wxaa053
summary:
  A Coriolis modified with these operative and technical improvements was used to collect aerosols carrying microspheres released inside a Biosafety Level-3 laboratory during simulations of microbiological spills and aerosol dispersals. After completion of the aerosolization cycle, a collector cone was unsealed, loaded onto the Coriolis and the sampler operated at the manufacturer-designated flow rate of 300 L air min −1 . Despite the generation of few airborne particles from this simulation, it was nevertheless possible to use the Coriolis in conjunction with flow cytometry to detect FluoSpheres aerosolized from the spill (Fig. 5B ). In line, significant numbers of FluoSpheres were detected by Coriolis air sampling (Fig. 6B ) and followed the general decay of particles in the BSL-3 suite due to forced ventilation. We have recently used the HEPA-modified Coriolis with the cumulative sampling protocol in our aerosol chamber to investigate the performance of a portable electrostatic air sampler for tuberculosis (Rufino de Sousa et al., 2020) .

title:
  Operative and Technical Modifications to the Coriolis(®) µ Air Sampler That Improve Sample Recovery and Biosafety During Microbiological Air Sampling

abstract:
  Detecting infectious aerosols is central for gauging and countering airborne threats. In this regard, the Coriolis(®) µ cyclonic air sampler is a practical, commercial collector that can be used with various analysis methods to monitor pathogens in air. However, information on how to operate this unit under optimal sampling and biosafety conditions is limited. We investigated Coriolis performance in aerosol dispersal experiments with polystyrene microspheres and Bacillus globigii spores. We report inconsistent sample recovery from the collector cone due to loss of material when sampling continuously for more than 30 min. Introducing a new collector cone every 10 min improved this shortcoming. Moreover, we found that several surfaces on the device become contaminated during sampling. Adapting a high efficiency particulate air-filter system to the Coriolis prevented contamination without altering collection efficiency or tactical deployment. A Coriolis modified with these operative and technical improvements was used to collect aerosols carrying microspheres released inside a Biosafety Level-3 laboratory during simulations of microbiological spills and aerosol dispersals. In summary, we provide operative and technical solutions to the Coriolis that optimize microbiological air sampling and improve biosafety.


id: cord-014919-fne8p8h8
author: Wu, Yan
date: 2017-07-10
txt: ./txt/cord-014919-fne8p8h8.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-014919-fne8p8h8.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7090850/
doi: 10.1007/s12273-017-0388-6
summary:
  The effect of wind direction on inter-unit dispersion level is significant, and the presence of a contaminant source in the windward side results in the highest cross-infection risks in other adjacent units on the same floor. ( , 2011 further studied the characteristics of inter-unit dispersion induced by single-sided natural ventilation and the cross-contamination around a HRR building using CFD modeling approach and wind tunnel experiments. Mak (2014, 2016) systematically evaluated and improved the CFD methods for simulating the single-sided natural ventilation and inter-unit dispersion, especially in predicting of coupled indoor and outdoor airflow and dispersion, and it was found that not only vertically upward, but also vertically downward and horizontal transmission can occur under wind effects along the façade. To investigate the effect of air tightness on inter-unit pollutant dispersion and cross-infection, cases with different leakage data of windows and doors (representing external airflow path and internal airflow path, respectively) were calculated.

title:
  Air infiltration induced inter-unit dispersion and infectious risk assessment in a high-rise residential building

abstract:
  Identifying possible airborne transmission routes and assessing the associated infectious risks are essential for implementing effective control measures. This study focuses on the infiltration-induced inter-unit pollutant dispersion in a high-rise residential (HRR) building. The outdoor wind pressure distribution on the building facades was obtained from the wind tunnel experiments. And the inter-household infiltration and tracer gas transmission were simulated using multi-zone model. The risk levels along building height and under different wind directions were examined, and influence of component leakage area was analysed. It is found that, the cross-infection risk can be over 20% because of the low air infiltration rate below 0.7 ACH, which is significantly higher than the risk of 9% obtained in our previous on-site measurement with air change rate over 3 ACH. As the air infiltration rate increases along building height, cross-infection risk is generally higher on the lower floors. The effect of wind direction on inter-unit dispersion level is significant, and the presence of a contaminant source in the windward side results in the highest cross-infection risks in other adjacent units on the same floor. Properly improving internal components tightness and increasing air change via external components are beneficial to the control of internal inter-unit transmission induced by infiltration. However, this approach may increase the cross-infection via the external transmission, and effective control measures should be further explored considering multiple transmission routes.


id: cord-015906-69srun8l
title: Design Points for Negative Pressure Isolation Ward
author: Xu, Zhonglin
date: 2016-12-01
txt: ./txt/cord-015906-69srun8l.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-015906-69srun8l.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7120009/
doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-2923-3_7
summary:
  9. According to GB51039-2014 "Code for design of general hospital", for the return air grille in the HVAC system in the auxiliary room for isolation ward area, air filters with initial pressure drop less than 50 Pa, the one-pass penetration for microbes not larger than 10% and the one-pass arrestance for particles not larger than 5% should be installed. 4, the primary and secondary air supply outlets as shown in Fig. 7.3 should be chosen for the negative pressure isolation ward. The air return opening above the door of the buffer room can remove the pollutant from the airflow leaving the ward immediately, which is shown in Fig. 7 .8. For the ordinary negative pressure isolation ward, at least one buffer room should be set outside the ward based on the actual condition. Based on the data in Table 2 .4, For the ward where the door of the room is not air-tight, this flow rate of the exhaust air is equivalent to the pressure difference with value slightly more than 1 Pa indoors.

abstract:
  According to “Law of the People’s Republic of China on the Prevention and Control of Infectious Diseases” issued on December 1st in 2004, infectious diseases can be classified as the first class, the second class and the third class.


id: cord-016682-7eslhs77
title: Air Pollution and Disasters
author: Chandrappa, Ramesha
date: 2015-08-22
txt: ./txt/cord-016682-7eslhs77.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-016682-7eslhs77.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7121041/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-21596-9_8
summary:
  This chapter elaborates major air pollution issues due to earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, epidemics, extreme temperature, insect infestation, mass movement, wars, and fire accidents. where, Q i release rate of pollutants into atmosphere M i measured air concentration of pollutants C i dilution factor (calculated under assumption of unit release rate) Total release of pollutant is calculated using following equation Most of the natural disasters in urban area trigger technological accidents. Disaster-related hazardous material releases may affect large areas and people. Air pollution in the affected areas due to the Great Hanshin Earthquake in Hyogo, Japan on 17th January 1995 resulted in maximum TSP concentration of 150 µg/m 3 at five locations (Gotoh et al. The Chernobyl disaster that occurred on 26th April 1986 at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant, Ukraine due to fire and explosion, resulted in release of radioactive material into the atmosphere that spread over western USSR and Europe.

abstract:
  Many disasters lead to air pollution and vice versa. This chapter elaborates major air pollution issues due to earthquake, tsunami, volcanic eruption, epidemics, extreme temperature, insect infestation, mass movement, wars, and fire accidents.


id: cord-016744-jzhuq4te
title: Noninvasive Mechanical Ventilation: Models to Assess Air and Particle Dispersion
author: Hui, David S. C.
date: 2013-05-29
txt: ./txt/cord-016744-jzhuq4te.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-016744-jzhuq4te.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7121120/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-7091-1496-4_2
summary:
  particles generated during tidal breathing [ 8 ] , NIV may disperse potentially infected aerosols, especially when patients cough and sneeze frequently, contributing to nosocomial transmission of infl uenza. As there is no reliable, safe marker that can be introduced into human lungs for experimental purposes, the laser smoke visualization method and the human patient simulator (HPS) model have been adopted as the method for studying exhaled air dispersion during application of various types of respiratory therapy in hospital medical wards, including the negative-pressure isolation room [ 10 -13 ] . Sections through the leakage jet plume were then revealed by a thin, green laser light sheet (532 nm wavelength, continuous-wave A laser beam located on the right side of the bed lateral to the human patient simulator illuminates the exhaled air particles leaking from the exhalation ports of the face mask in the coronal plane.

abstract:
  Respiratory failure is a major complication of viral infections such as severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS) [1], avian influenza H5N1 infection [2], and the 2009 pandemic influenza (H1N1) infection [3]. The course may progress rapidly to acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) and multi-organ failure, requiring intensive care. Noninvasive ventilation (NIV) may play a supportive role in patients with severe viral pneumonia and early ARDS/acute lung injury. It can act as a bridge to invasive mechanical ventilation, although it is contraindicated in critically ill patients with hemodynamic instability and multi-organ dysfunction syndrome [4]. Transmission of some of these viral infections can convert from droplets to airborne during respiratory therapy.


id: cord-016869-pzwlxtd6
title: The Lung and Its Transplantation and Artificial Replacement
author: Pal, Subrata
date: 2013-01-08
txt: ./txt/cord-016869-pzwlxtd6.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-016869-pzwlxtd6.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7121294/
doi: 10.1007/978-1-4614-6255-2_15
summary:
  The nasal cavity is divided into two portions by a cartilagenous septum and is lined by fine hairs that filter the dust particles from the air. The pulmonary artery from the heart containing impure blood enters the lungs and branches into minute capillaries that surround the alveoli. This air then enters the pharynx, then the larynx, and then into the trachea. Artificial lungs mimic the function of real lungs, adding oxygen to, and removing carbon dioxide from, the blood. On the other hand, current artificial lungs are only capable of a maximum gas exchange rate of 0.25-0.40 l/min, limiting their use to the short-term respiratory support for patients at rest. Silicone has been used as the membrane material in some commercially available artificial lungs due to its biocompatibility, durability, stability, and high permeability to oxygen and carbon dioxide.

abstract:
  The human thoracic cavity houses a pair of lungs, the left lung and the right lung. The left lung is slightly smaller (since the heart is placed a bit to the left in the body) and has two lobes, and the right lung is bigger, with three lobes. They are spongy and elastic organs that are broad at the bottom and taper at the top. They consist of air sacs, the alveoli. Many alveoli group together and open into a common space. From this space arise the alveolar ducts, which join together to form bronchioles. The bronchioles connect them to the respiratory tract. The lungs also have blood vessels, the branches of the pulmonary artery and veins (Fig. 15.1).


id: cord-017080-erbftqgh
title: Physical Environment of Tall Residential Buildings: The Case of Hong Kong
author: Lau, Stephen S.Y.
date: 2010-12-12
txt: ./txt/cord-017080-erbftqgh.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-017080-erbftqgh.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7121554/
doi: 10.1007/978-90-481-9738-5_3
summary:
  Recent study identifies the following urban design issues as a means to a better quality and comfortable urban environment: lack of breezeways air paths; tall and bulky buildings closely packed causing undesirable wind breaks to urban fabric; uniform building heights resulting in wind skimming over the top of buildings and not being re-routed into the fabric; tight narrow streets not aligned with prevailing wind with tall buildings resulting in urban canyons; lack of urban permeability-with few open spaces, minimal gaps between buildings, excessive podium structures reducing air volumes at ground levels; large building blocks forming wind barriers; projections from buildings and obstructions on narrow streets and general lack of soft landscaping, shading and greenery as contributing to poor air ventilation and environmental quality in high-rise, compact built areas (Chinese University of Hong Kong, 2005; Hong Kong Planning Department, 2006b) .

abstract:
  Increasing urban populations, scarcity of urban land, depletion in resources and severe impact of urban development on sustainability are critical contemporary issues. Such issues have vast implications on the desirability of compact, high-rise high-dense built forms. Yet, the environmental quality and social acceptance of these forms remain barely studied. This chapter reviews some of the critical environmental implications posed by the closely packed high-rise building and high urban densities.


id: cord-018095-for6qa1s
title: Major Issues of Air Pollution
author: Chandrappa, Ramesha
date: 2015-08-22
txt: ./txt/cord-018095-for6qa1s.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-018095-for6qa1s.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7122886/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-21596-9_1
summary:
  Issues like atmospheric brown cloud, climate change, hazardous air pollutants, black/muddy snow which are hardly discussed few decades back have now gaining importance. Air pollutant can affect plant physiological or biochemical processes resulting in significant loss of growth/yield as well as changes in nutritional quality (Ashmore and Marshall 1999) . The change in land use has also affected the production and transport of natural air pollutants like dust, pollen grains, spores, virus and bacteria. Health forests across the world is being affected by Air pollutants due to increasing tropospheric ozone concentrations, raise atmospheric carbon dioxide concentrations, as well as acidic precipitation. Crop failure can occur due to-(a) impact of air pollutants on crop''s health, (2) climate change, (3) UV ray penetration due to damage to ozone layer. Surface level Ozone is a secondary air pollutant created in the atmosphere from the oxidation of NO x under bright sunlight as well as volatile organic.

abstract:
  Environmental issues change from place to place and time to time. The issues include local as well as global issues. The understanding of issues is necessary to find solution. Air pollution issues have changed over a period of time. Issues like atmospheric brown cloud, climate change, hazardous air pollutants, black/muddy snow which are hardly discussed few decades back have now gaining importance. This chapter elaborates major issues due to air pollution.


id: cord-018303-dvuwhpyq
title: Aeromedical Evacuation of Patients with Contagious Infections
author: Garibaldi, Brian T.
date: 2019-02-27
txt: ./txt/cord-018303-dvuwhpyq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-018303-dvuwhpyq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7123148/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-030-15903-0_20
summary:
  Topics include a review of the ecology of aircraft cabins and engineering features of aircraft ventilation systems that minimize the risk of disease transmission; examples of point source outbreaks related to air travel; in-flight preventive measures including the use of patient isolators; and US military and international policy and legal aspects of transporting patients with communicable diseases. Examples include in-flight transmission of tuberculosis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), smallpox, and measles.The chapter will also discuss experience in transporting patients with contagious diseases including viral hemorrhagic fevers and new patient isolation technologies that were used for the long-distance transport of patients with Ebola virus disease during the 2014–2016 West African epidemic. In response to concerns generated by lethal viral hemorrhagic fevers, and a possible need to transport patients with these diseases by air, the ventilation and air-conditioning systems on pressurized, long-range transport aircraft were studied to evaluate the aerodynamics of aerosolized microorganisms [19] .

abstract:
  Most patients with infectious diseases, including biologic warfare casualties, can be safely transported by aeromedical evacuation (AE) using standard precautions. However, certain contagious diseases (e.g., tuberculosis, pneumonic plague, viral hemorrhagic fever) require transmission-based precautions to protect the other patients, medical personnel, and aircrew. AE planning for these patients must take into account international public health regulations. Given adequate resources, foresight, and expertise, the AE of infected patients and biologic warfare casualties can be safely accomplished. This chapter provides a review of the aeromedical evacuation of patients with communicable diseases. Topics include a review of the ecology of aircraft cabins and engineering features of aircraft ventilation systems that minimize the risk of disease transmission; examples of point source outbreaks related to air travel; in-flight preventive measures including the use of patient isolators; and US military and international policy and legal aspects of transporting patients with communicable diseases. Examples include in-flight transmission of tuberculosis, severe acute respiratory syndrome (SARS), smallpox, and measles.The chapter will also discuss experience in transporting patients with contagious diseases including viral hemorrhagic fevers and new patient isolation technologies that were used for the long-distance transport of patients with Ebola virus disease during the 2014–2016 West African epidemic.


id: cord-018760-blwguyl4
title: Health Effects of Changing Environment
author: Guleria, Randeep
date: 2019-03-22
txt: ./txt/cord-018760-blwguyl4.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-018760-blwguyl4.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7123724/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-319-99768-1_6
summary:
  Last two centuries have witnessed changes in global environmental factors such as rise in temperature leading to global warming, depletion of stratospheric ozone layer, loss of biodiversity and marked degradation in air and water quality due to atmospheric pollution, thereby causing upsurge in infectious and non-infectious diseases. Similarly, in India there is strong evidence linking lower respiratory tract infection to indoor air pollution caused by the use of solid fuels in household. Air pollution and occupational exposure may cause a variety of negative health outcomes, including reduced lung function in children as well as increased susceptibility to infections, airway inflammation and cardiovascular diseases. There should be general awareness of how changes in climate and environment lead to significant acute and chronic effects on human health.

abstract:
  Environment plays a crucial role in our economic, social and cultural behaviour as well as on health. However, since the beginning of industrialization era, focus on economic development has caused detrimental effects on the environment. Last two centuries have witnessed changes in global environmental factors such as rise in temperature leading to global warming, depletion of stratospheric ozone layer, loss of biodiversity and marked degradation in air and water quality due to atmospheric pollution, thereby causing upsurge in infectious and non-infectious diseases. Environmental health has emerged as an important part of medicine. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimates that 24% of global disease burden and 23% of all deaths can be attributed to environmental factors. Deaths from heart disease, cancer, respiratory disorders and many vector-borne diseases such as malaria, dengue, chikungunya and cholera have increased due to changes in climate, especially in developing countries. Besides limited attention to sanitation, hygiene, as well as quality of food and drinking water, factors such as deforestation, increasing vehicular traffic, migration from rural to urban areas, decreasing water resources and inadequate drainage systems contribute to increase incidence of diseases. The need of the hour is to sensitize ourselves about the way our ecology is being degraded and the health effects it is causing. A holistic view is needed to address the problem of environmental health where agriculture, animal husbandry, public health, water safety and air pollution need to be looked at in a combined manner for education, planning and resource allocation. Therefore, a close association between scientists, public health professionals and administrators is needed for integrated design and development of framework to attain harmony between man and nature.


id: cord-018902-oninjtsn
title: Commercial Buildings
author: Kowalski, Wladyslaw
date: 2009-07-09
txt: ./txt/cord-018902-oninjtsn.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-018902-oninjtsn.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7123903/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-01999-9_18
summary:
  Another alternative for improving air quality in office buildings and reducing the incidence of disease transmission between office workers is to locate recirculating UV units or Upper Room systems around the building to deal with local problems. Air disinfection systems that use UV have little or no effect on non-microbiological contaminants but if pathogens or allergens are the cause of the problem then UV systems may be applied to reduce the hazard. Many molds like Aspergillus and Penicillium are common contaminants of the outdoor and indoor air that can grow on food and although they are not food pathogens they are potential inhalation hazards for food industry workers. UV air disinfection systems may also be useful in controlling airborne hazards that result from hazards are created by industrial food processes that forcibly aerosolize contaminants.

abstract:
  Applications for UVGI systems in commercial buildings vary with the type of building, but virtually every type of building can benefit from the use of in-duct air disinfection and many buildings can benefit from the use of other types of UV systems. The health hazards and microbiological problems associated with various types of commercial buildings are often unique to the type of facility. The problem of air quality is paramount in commercial office buildings while the problem of biocontamination is of the highest concern in the food industry. Other types of buildings have their own microbial concerns and even their own standards. The pharmaceutical industry has the highest aerobiological air quality standards (and lowest airborne microbial levels) while the other extreme, the agricultural industry, has the highest airborne microbial levels and unique aerobiological concerns. The individual problems of these facilities are addressed in the following sections, and industry experience relating to UV applications are discussed, along with recommendations for how UV systems can be applied. The specific types of UVGI systems are described in previous chapters and these should be referred to for detailed information on such applications.


id: cord-021922-de9o76q0
title: Aircraft Cabin Environment
author: Bagshaw, Michael
date: 2009-05-15
txt: ./txt/cord-021922-de9o76q0.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-021922-de9o76q0.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7152217/
doi: 10.1016/b978-0-323-03453-1.10046-x
abstract: nan
summary:
  Two of six investigations conducted by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) between 1992 and 1995 have indicated that the transmission of TB from a symptomatic person to other passengers or crew members does occur during air travel. ▪ fitness to travel is in doubt as a result of recent illness, hospitalization, injury, surgery or instability of an acute or chronic medical condition ▪ special services are required (e.g. oxygen, stretcher or authority to carry or use accompanying medical equipment such as a ventilator or a nebulizer). Cabin crew members receive training in advanced first aid and basic life support and the use of the emergency medical equipment carried on board the aircraft. 2. One approved emergency medical kit shall be provided for each aircraft during each passenger flight and shall be located so as to be readily accessible to crew members.


id: cord-022155-9759i9wr
title: Sick Building Syndrome and Other Building-Related Illnesses
author: Nag, Pranab Kumar
date: 2018-08-18
txt: ./txt/cord-022155-9759i9wr.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-022155-9759i9wr.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7153445/
doi: 10.1007/978-981-13-2577-9_3
summary:
  The SBS is a complex spectrum of ill health symptoms, such as mucous membrane irritation, asthma, neurotoxic effects, gastrointestinal disturbance, skin dryness, sensitivity to odours that may appear among occupants in office and public buildings, schools and hospitals. The mechanisms and causative factors of SBS and illnesses include, for example, the oxidative stress resulting from indoor pollutants, VOCs, office work-related stressors, humidification, odours associated with moisture and bioaerosol exposure. Different research groups emphasized on the association of prevalence of SBS symptoms among the office workers with the organic floor dust concentration, the floor covering of the workplaces, the age of the building, and the kind of ventilation system in operation. The assertion from the BASE study of the association of SBS with the increasing difference in concentration of CO 2 between indoor and outdoor brings forward the suggestion that a relative increase in the ventilation rates per person in an office building may reduce the prevalence of SBS symptoms.

abstract:
  Sick building syndrome (SBS) and building-related illnesses are omnipresent in modern high-rise buildings. The SBS is a complex spectrum of ill health symptoms, such as mucous membrane irritation, asthma, neurotoxic effects, gastrointestinal disturbance, skin dryness, sensitivity to odours that may appear among occupants in office and public buildings, schools and hospitals. Studies on large office buildings from USA, UK, Sweden, Finland, Japan, Germany, Canada, China, India, Netherlands, Malaysia, Taiwan, and Thailand, substantiate the occurrence of SBS phenomena. The accumulated effects of a multitude of factors, such as the indoor environmental quality, building characteristics, building dampness, and activities of occupants attribute to SBS. A building occupant manifests at least one symptom of SBS, the onset of two or more symptoms at least twice, and rapid resolution of symptoms following moving away from the workstation or building may be defined as having SBS. Based on the peer-reviewed documentation, this chapter elaborates the magnitude of building-related health consequences due to measurable environmental causations, and the size of the population affected. The mechanisms and causative factors of SBS and illnesses include, for example, the oxidative stress resulting from indoor pollutants, VOCs, office work-related stressors, humidification, odours associated with moisture and bioaerosol exposure. Related regulatory standards and strategies for management of SBS and other illnesses are elaborated.


id: cord-024148-6ag1eskv
title: Three Misunderstandings for Design of Negative Pressure Ward
author: Xu, Zhonglin
date: 2016-12-01
txt: ./txt/cord-024148-6ag1eskv.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-024148-6ag1eskv.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7189958/
doi: 10.1007/978-981-10-2923-3_2
summary:
  Table 2 .5 shows the experimental data on the influence of the magnitude of the negative pressure difference on the outward leakage rate of pollution during the opening process of doors. In order to avoid the influence of supply air, indoor vortex and opening/closing of doors on the measurement of pressure difference, which should be paid attention to especially for small room, exterior hood should be placed at the original test hole and the vent hole should be set beneath the hood, which is shown in Fig. 2.4 . It is shown in this figure that with the increase of the negative pressure difference value indoors, the number of particles dispersed outwards during opening and closing of doors reduces slightly. Even though the pressure difference indoors is positive and the door is air-tight, exchange of pollution airflow cannot be prevented during dynamic condition, such as opening and closing of doors.

abstract:
  With the severe situation for the appearance of SARS and the fear for the resultant consequence, at the early stage of the outbreak event wards were reconstructed with a simple way. Newly constructed isolation wards were designed according to related literatures issued by CDC in 1994, and the corresponding requirements were elevated blindly. In literatures, the technical measures related to negative pressure isolation ward was inclined to adopt high negative pressure, air-tight door and all fresh air, where it was considered safe only to increase the negative pressure as high as possible, to install air-tight door without infiltration air and to provide all fresh air.


id: cord-032157-q1sbvjvx
title: Calculation Theory of Nonuniform Distribution in Cleanroom
author: Xu, Zhonglin
date: 2013-08-14
txt: ./txt/cord-032157-q1sbvjvx.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-032157-q1sbvjvx.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7498884/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-39374-7_11
summary:
  In general, the larger the nonuniform distributions of indoor airflow and dust particles are, the larger the difference between the measured values and the calculated values according to the uniform distribution theory will be. It can be seen from Table 11 .1 that with the same filters and air change rate, the lesser the number of air supply outlet is, the higher the average indoor particle concentration is, when it is compared with the calculated value by the uniform distribution method. In order to make the airflow and particle concentration fields uniform, there must be sufficient air flow rate to dilute, and the dilution area should be as large as possible, until the whole room. For a small number of air change rate, the measured particle concentration is higher than the calculated value. For a large number of air change rate, the measured particle concentration is lower than calculated value.

abstract:
  Due to the nonuniform distributions of airflow and dust particles, particles in cleanroom are actually not evenly distributed. This chapter will focus on the calculation theory of three-zone nonuniform distribution.


id: cord-032165-nyj72o21
title: Movement of Indoor Fine Particle
author: Xu, Zhonglin
date: 2013-08-08
txt: ./txt/cord-032165-nyj72o21.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-032165-nyj72o21.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7498892/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-39374-7_6
summary:
  So the total deposition amount of particles on the surface with area 1 cm 2 per hour can be obtained in the cleanroom, where the airborne particle concentration is 1,000 pc/L and the air velocity is 0.3 m/s. Table 6 .11 shows the comparison of measured data and calculated data about the deposition amount of particles on the surface with unit area in the room with air supply. In the flowing air, small particles will follow the movement of airflow with the same velocity [10] . From the above analysis, when there is air supply with a certain speed in the room where the indoor area is very small, the buoyant flow generated will cause very large influence, when the fluorescent lamp was installed at a relative high position of the vertical wall (such as above 1.5 m).

abstract:
  Only when indoor airborne particles move towards the nearby of the precision product and then deposit onto the sensitive area, damage may be caused for the product. So it is important to understand the mechanism of particle movement and deposition for the control of environment.


id: cord-032188-y02b92pe
title: Characteristics of Air Filters
author: Xu, Zhonglin
date: 2013-08-14
txt: ./txt/cord-032188-y02b92pe.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-032188-y02b92pe.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7498932/
doi: 10.1007/978-3-642-39374-7_4
summary:
  When the air filter is operated under lower flow rate, the efficiency increases and the pressure drop decreases. This is because the dust deposited is comparatively large for air filters with low efficiency and the filter medium is sparse, which will cause particles to penetrate when pressure drop increases and cause deposited particles to rebound and resuspend. Particle counting efficiency of glass fibrous medium-efficiency air filter (d f ¼ 16 μm, H ¼ 20 mm, α ¼ 0.037, v ¼ 0.28 m/s) with atmospheric dust was performed at Institute of HVAC of China Academy of Building Research, which is shown in Table 4 .13. The pressure drop of nuclear microporous membrane is large, so it is not suitable for common air filter, but it is very useful for special filtration (for the application field where particles with diameter larger than certain value are not allowed to penetrate).

abstract:
  Air filter is the main equipment in the field of air cleaning technology, and it is an indispensible equipment to create the clean air environment. So it is necessary to know the characteristic of air filters and its design principle so as to use it correctly and effectively.


id: cord-032752-9ighp3gx
title: Effects of ventilation on the indoor spread of COVID-19
author: Bhagat, Rajesh K.
date: 2020-09-28
txt: ./txt/cord-032752-9ighp3gx.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-032752-9ighp3gx.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC7520710/
doi: 10.1017/jfm.2020.720
abstract: [Figure: see text]
summary:
  Increased rates of transmission occur not only for buildings, but also on public transportation where people are likely to be in the presence of an infected person in a crowded indoor space for relatively long periods of time and, therefore, exposed to airborne particles (e.g. Hu et al. Since carbon dioxide is also exhaled and carried by the ventilation flow we propose that concentration levels of CO 2 can be used to indicate the potential presence of SARS-CoV-2 in the air, and that high levels should trigger remedial action to reduce the risk of infection. The additional ventilation rate needed to ensure a lower layer of the same height can be calculated by considering the combined effect of two unequal plumes (Cooper & Linden 1996) and is a factor of approximately 1 + (W ex /W) 1/3 ((h − h M )/(h − h V )) 5/3 , where W ex is the heat flux in the exhaled breath, h M the height of the mouth.


id: cord-102285-ca74vhq3
author: Pařil, Vilém
date: 2020-07-15
txt: ./txt/cord-102285-ca74vhq3.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-102285-ca74vhq3.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0959652620331565
doi: 10.1016/j.jclepro.2020.123111
summary:
  This paper aims to assess one aspect of a negative externality of transport related to air pollution from particulate matter up to 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) and its impact on human health, using the example of the key Czech Republic highway D1. In order to determine the health impacts on the population of the Czech Republic living near the D1 motorway with a focus on acute and chronic morbidity and the resulting monetary valuation, we selected three European studies to which we assigned the exposure-response function (ERF cases / (year · person · μg / m 3 )], and used their monetary valuation per case or per day based on individual health effects and risk groups (see Table A -HEATCO -Developing harmonized European approaches for transport costing and project assessment, 2006 (Bickel et al., 2006) .

title:
  Assessment of the burden on population due to transport-related air pollution: The Czech core motorway network

abstract:
  Abstract Negative externalities of transport are a crucial issue in environmental discussion and policy. The mobility of our society is responsible for many negative environmental impacts, both on our planet and on human health. This paper aims to assess one aspect of a negative externality of transport related to air pollution from particulate matter up to 10 micrometers in diameter (PM10) and its impact on human health, using the example of the key Czech Republic highway D1. The assessment method precisely follows the geographical routing of this motorway through varying elevations in which different buffer zones are identified to assess PM10 concentration changes according to distance from the road in the 2007–2016 period. The resulting relation between PM10 and highway proximity is then discussed in an econometric analysis of the entire road transport network of the Czech Republic. In the final step, we assess the size and demographic structure of the population affected by the highway PM10 pollution problem, and we compare several methods to assess economically related morbidity. The results show falling levels of PM10 pollution, not only with increasing distance but also in intertemporal comparison, with concentrations lower by 2μg.m3 in the 2012–2016 period than in 2007–2011 despite increasing road traffic on the highway. This means a very significant reduction in the number of cases and economic value for all analysed endpoints between EUR 485,056 and 842,891.


id: cord-103972-kbv9kh6z
title: Air Pollution Increases Influenza Hospitalizations
author: Singer, Gregor
date: 2020-04-10
txt: ./txt/cord-103972-kbv9kh6z.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-103972-kbv9kh6z.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.07.20057216
doi: 10.1101/2020.04.07.20057216
summary:
  We show robustness to (i) different weather controls, (ii) additional fixed effects, (iii) multilevel clustering of standard errors, (iv) different winsorization and interpolation of the raw AQI data, (v) including out-state patients at hospitals, (vi) focusing on states with a long time series only, (vii) using missing values instead of zeros for county-months with no hospital admissions, and (viii) using a linear ordinary least squares instead of a Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood estimator. We use the standard deviation of the AQI during the influenza season (12.79) as well as the average inpatient hospitalization numbers (3.01) for the calculation of absolute effects based on our Poisson Pseudo-Maximum Likelihood estimation. We estimate the relationship between influenza-related inpatient hospitalizations H cym and the lagged air quality index AQI cym−1 at the county c by calendar month m by year y level using a Poisson model:

abstract:
  Seasonal influenza is a recurring health burden shared widely across the globe. We study whether air quality affects the occurrence of severe influenza cases that require inpatient hospitalization. Using longitudinal information on local air quality and hospital admissions across the United States, we find that poor air quality increases the incidence of significant influenza hospital admissions. Effects diminish in years with greater influenza vaccine effectiveness. Apart from increasing vaccination rates, improving air quality may help reduce the spread and severity of influenza.


id: cord-129086-ra2njvcz
author: Kumar, Sanjay
date: 2020-10-10
txt: ./txt/cord-129086-ra2njvcz.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-129086-ra2njvcz.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2010.06385v1.pdf
doi: nan
summary:
  However, in more recent times, the focus has shifted towards the theoretical investigations of fluid flow mechanisms involved in the virus-laden particles prevention by facemasks. 44 While these experimental studies are essential for the broad characterization and design evaluation of respiratory facemasks, further theoretical and numerical methods and algorithm-based investigations provide a better insight into the facemask''s fluid flow dynamics and the droplet leakage through the facemask openings. The computational fluid flow models have shown their potentials in an improved prediction of the spreading of respiratory virus-laden droplets and aerosols, sensitive to the ambient environment, and crucial to the public health responses. The results revealed that the small droplets travel a larger distance and remain suspended in the air for a longer time under the influence of airflow, supporting the mandatory use of facemasks to prevent the virus. In recent years, the respiratory droplets flow behavior through the facemasks has typically well-predicted using the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) techniques.

title:
  The perspective of fluid flow behavior of respiratory droplets and aerosols through the facemasks in context of SARS-CoV-2

abstract:
  In the unfortunate event of current ongoing pandemic COVID-19, where vaccination development is still at the initial stage, several preventive control measures such as social distancing, hand-hygiene, and personal protective equipment have been recommended by health professionals and organizations. Among them, the safe wearing of facemasks has played a vital role in reducing the likelihood and severity of infectious respiratory disease transmission. The reported research in facemasks has covered many of their material types, fabrication techniques, mechanism characterization, and application aspects. However, in more recent times, the focus has shifted towards the theoretical investigations of fluid flow mechanisms involved in the virus-laden particles prevention by facemasks. This exciting research domain aims to address the complex fluid transport that led to designing a facemask with a better performance. This review paper discusses the recent updates on fluid flow dynamics through the facemasks. Key design aspects such as thermal comfort and flow resistance are discussed. Furthermore, the recent progress in the investigations on the efficacy of facemasks for prevention of COVID 19 spread and the impact of wearing facemasks are presented. Finally, the potential research directions for analyzing the fluid flow behavior are highlighted.


id: cord-199268-fue7ri4h
title: Covid-19 impact on air quality in megacities
author: Schafer, Benjamin
date: 2020-07-01
txt: ./txt/cord-199268-fue7ri4h.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-199268-fue7ri4h.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2007.00755v1.pdf
doi: nan
summary:
  In London, despite smaller average concentrations, we still observe high-pollutant states and an increased tendency towards extreme events (a higher kurtosis during lockdown). In contrast to previous studies on air pollution during Covid-19 lockdown, such as [15] [16] [17] , we investigate the detailed probability distributions of different pollutants, analysing various locations within the cities. Before moving on to probability distributions and moments,we have to point out that Delhi has a much higher concentration of P M 10 due to its sub-tropical climate and the high frequency of dust storms [13, 21, 22] but also the decrease due to the lockdown is much more impressive than in the overall less-polluted London. The picture for Delhi is quite different: Without a lockdown, the pollutant concentrations are regularly 3 to 5 times as high as in London, indicating a much worse air quality in general.

abstract:
  Air pollution is among the highest contributors to mortality worldwide, especially in urban areas. During spring 2020, many countries enacted social distancing measures in order to slow down the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic. A particularly drastic measure, the"lockdown", urged people to stay at home and thereby prevent new Covid-19 infections. In turn, it also reduced traffic and industrial activities. But how much did these lockdown measures improve air quality in large cities, and are there differences in how air quality was affected? Here, we analyse data from two megacities: London as an example for Europe and Delhi as an example for Asia. We consider data during and before the lockdown and compare these to a similar time period from 2019. Overall, we find a reduction in almost all air pollutants with intriguing differences between the two cities. In London, despite smaller average concentrations, we still observe high-pollutant states and an increased tendency towards extreme events (a higher kurtosis during lockdown). For Delhi, we observe a much stronger decrease of pollution concentrations, including high pollution states. These results could help to design rules to improve long-term air quality in megacities.


id: cord-223292-ct8xyntw
title: The seasonal flight of influenza: a unified framework for spatiotemporal hypothesis testing
author: Lemey, Philippe
date: 2012-10-22
txt: ./txt/cord-223292-ct8xyntw.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-223292-ct8xyntw.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/1210.5877v1.pdf
doi: nan
summary:
  Because passenger flux emerged as the main predictor in our phylogeographic model (see 3.3.1), we also identified discrete air communities in the worldwide air transportation network (see 3.2.1) and applied these as location states to our sequence sample. We integrate genetic, spatial and air transportation data within a single full probabilistic evolutionary model and simultaneously estimate the parameters of phylogeographic diffusion using Markov chain Monte Carlo (MCMC) analysis implemented in BEAST [23] . To test the impact of sampling effects, we considered origin and destination sample sizes (number of H3N2 sequences included per discrete location state in the phylogeographic analysis) as separate predictors. To identify key factors in seasonal influenza dispersal, we inferred the phylogeographic history of globally sampled A/H3N2 viruses between 2002 and 2007, while simultaneously evaluating the contribution of several potential diffusion predictors using a novel Bayesian model selection procedure.

abstract:
  Global mobility flow data are at the heart of spatial epidemiological models used to predict infectious disease behavior but this wealth of data on human mobility has been largely neglected by reconstructions of pathogen evolutionary dynamics using viral genetic data. Although stochastic models of viral evolution may potentially be informed by such data, a major challenge lies in deciding which mobility processes are critical and to what extent they contribute to shaping contemporaneous distributions of pathogen diversity. Here, we develop a framework to integrate predictors of viral diffusion with phylogeographic inference and estimate human influenza H3N2 migration history while simultaneously testing and quantifying the factors that underly it. We provide evidence for air travel governing the global dynamics of human influenza whereas other processes act at a more local scale.


id: cord-233294-jnic4o2j
author: Ravazi, Maryam
date: 2020-08-19
txt: ./txt/cord-233294-jnic4o2j.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-233294-jnic4o2j.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://arxiv.org/pdf/2008.10998v1.pdf
doi: nan
summary:
  We studied the effects of air purification (on/off), door condition (open/close), and particle sizes on the temporal concentration distribution of particles. Furthermore, research on the effects of air purifiers is needed to develop guidelines and protocols to reduce waiting time between patients and ensure the safe operation of dental offices. Figure 4a shows the lowest particle concentrations in the room when the high-speed air purifier is running from the beginning of the operation. The particle removal time varies with particle size although the air purifier and open door help reduce the concentration of all-size particles in the generation zone. • In the worst-scenario scenario with no protection system in the closed-door office and continuous high-speed drilling, it takes 95 min for 0.5 m particles to return to background level and that it takes a shorter time for particles larger than 0.5 m to be removed from the air. Running high-speed air purifier at the beginning of the operation is the most effective scenario in reducing airborne particle concentrations.

title:
  In situ Measurement of Airborne Particle Concentration in a Real Dental Office: Implications for Disease Transmission

abstract:
  Recent guidelines by WHO recommend delaying non-essential oral health care amid COVID-19 pandemic and call for research on aerosol generated during dental procedures. Thus, this study aims to assess the mechanisms of dental aerosol dispersion in dental offices and to provide recommendations based on a quantitative study to minimize infection transmission in dental offices. The spread and removal of aerosol particles generated from dental procedures in a dental office are measured near the source and at the corner of the office. We studied the effects of air purification (on/off), door condition (open/close), and particle sizes on the temporal concentration distribution of particles. The results show that in the worst-scenario scenario it takes 95 min for 0.5 um particles to settle, and that it takes a shorter time for the larger particles. The indoor air purifier tested expedited the removal time at least 6.3 times faster than the scenario air purifier off. Airborne particles may be transported from the source to the rest of the room, even when the particle concentrations in the generation zone return to the background level. These results are expected to be valuable to related policy making and technology development for infection disease control in dental offices and similar built environments.


id: cord-254758-ubw0chrf
author: Newbold, Stephen C.
date: 2020-08-04
txt: ./txt/cord-254758-ubw0chrf.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-254758-ubw0chrf.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32836854/
doi: 10.1007/s10640-020-00440-1
summary:
  Using recent estimates of the association between airborne particulate matter and the virulence of COVID-19, we find that accounting for air pollution co-benefits can significantly increase the intensity and duration of the optimal physical distancing policy. We develop an integrated epidemiological-economic model that includes a standard model of disease transmission, the monetized value of COVID-19 deaths averted and lives saved from exposure to air pollution, and the short-and long-run costs of physical distancing. Initial results of these studies suggest that airborne particulate matter could have a significant positive mediating influence on COVID-19 fatalities, so we use our model to explore the potential effect of this link on the optimal physical distancing policy. To examine the potential importance of such a link for the optimal physical distancing policy, we include an interaction between air pollution and the COVID-19 case fatality ratio, which appears in Eq.

title:
  Effects of Physical Distancing to Control COVID-19 on Public Health, the Economy, and the Environment

abstract:
  Physical distancing measures are important tools to control disease spread, especially in the absence of treatments and vaccines. While distancing measures can safeguard public health, they also can profoundly impact the economy and may have important indirect effects on the environment. The extent to which physical distancing measures should be applied therefore depends on the trade-offs between their health benefits and their economic costs. We develop an epidemiological-economic model to examine the optimal duration and intensity of physical distancing measures aimed to control the spread of COVID-19. In an application to the United States, our model considers the trade-off between the lives saved by physical distancing—both directly from stemming the spread of the virus and indirectly from reductions in air pollution during the period of physical distancing—and the short- and long-run economic costs that ensue from such measures. We examine the effect of air pollution co-benefits on the optimal physical distancing policy and conduct sensitivity analyses to gauge the influence of several key parameters and uncertain model assumptions. Using recent estimates of the association between airborne particulate matter and the virulence of COVID-19, we find that accounting for air pollution co-benefits can significantly increase the intensity and duration of the optimal physical distancing policy. To conclude, we broaden our discussion to consider the possibility of durable changes in peoples’ behavior that could alter local markets, the global economy, and our relationship to nature for years to come.


id: cord-255036-vpw40g40
title: Thermodynamic modeling of a novel air dehumidification system
author: Zhang, L.Z.
date: 2004-08-14
txt: ./txt/cord-255036-vpw40g40.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-255036-vpw40g40.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0378778804002002
doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2004.06.019
summary:
  The proposed system incorporates a membrane-based total heat exchanger into a mechanical air dehumidification system, where the fresh air flows through the enthalpy exchanger, the evaporator and the condenser subsequently. In this manner, the total heat or enthalpy from the exhaust is recovered, and both the temperature and the humidity of the fresh air are decreased, which results in energy saving. Even though more detailed models are proposed by some authors, see [7, 8] , they are compli-List of symbols A tot total exchange area (m 2 ) C 0 constants in sorption curves COP coefficient of performance c p specific heat (kJ kg À1 K À1 ) D wm water diffusivity in membrane (kg m À1 s À1 ) h specific enthalpy (kJ/kg) k s convective mass transfer coefficient in supply side (kg m À2 s À1 ) m_ mass flow rate (kg/s) Dp total pressure rise (Pa) q heat (kW) cated and case-sensitive.

abstract:
  A novel air dehumidification system is proposed. The proposed system incorporates a membrane-based total heat exchanger into a mechanical air dehumidification system, where the fresh air flows through the enthalpy exchanger, the evaporator and the condenser subsequently. Thermodynamic model for the performance estimation of the combined system is investigated. Processes of the fresh air and the refrigerant are studied. Two additional specific programs are devised to calculate the psychrometrics and the thermodynamic properties of the refrigerant R134a. Annual energy requirement is 4.15 × 10(6) kJ per person, or 33% saving from a system without energy saving measures.


id: cord-257875-6lgn6u38
author: Liu, Tiantian
date: 2020-06-26
txt: ./txt/cord-257875-6lgn6u38.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-257875-6lgn6u38.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32838281/
doi: 10.1016/j.bsheal.2020.06.002
summary:
  The wind-curtain can significantly block the exhale air of patient being transmitted to the respiratory area of doctor setting in the opposite of AIP desk. In order to prevent and control NIs, it is vital for hospitals to take necessary procedures to isolate sources of infections and transmissions to ensure the quality of medical care and protection of vulnerable patients and medical personnel. We recently designed an air isolation and purification (AIP) desk integrated air isolation and air filtration/purification functions for the purpose of reducing hospital NIs. Computational fluid dynamics (CFD) model which usually used to assess the effectiveness of hospital ultraviolet germicidal irradiation devices and ventilation systems for the purpose of infection control [20] [21] [22] was adopted in the AIP desk. The air purification efficacy of the AIP desk in a contaminated room was assessed using cigarette smoke to simulate particulate pollution. Thus, the wind-curtain formed by AIP desk can effectively block smoke particulates and the aerosol pathogen from the patient''s area to the doctor''s area.

title:
  Design of an air isolation and purification (AIP) deskfor medical use and characterization of its efficacy in ambient air isolation and purification

abstract:
  The incidences of nosocomial infections (NIs) are increasing throughout the world, especially for those airborne diseases caused by pathogens or air particulates that float in air. In this study, we designed and manufactured a desk for clinic consultation room air purification and air isolation between doctor and patient. The air isolation and purification (AIP) desk has a high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter on the tope and several primary efficiency filters on the sides for air purification. The air circulating between inlet and outlet forms a wind-curtain between doctor and patient. The Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was used to calculate the speed of the air flow and the angle of sampler. We tested the air purification function of the AIP desk in rooms sized about 3.6 × 2.8 × 2.8 m (L × W × H) and found that the AIP desk could significantly remove the tested air pollutants like smoke particulates and microorganisms like Staphylococcus albus (S. albus)and human adenovirus type 5 (HAdV-5). The wind-curtain can significantly block the exhale air of patient being transmitted to the respiratory area of doctor setting in the opposite of AIP desk. Thus, the AIP desk can be used in hospital setting to reduce the risk of NIs and protect both doctors and patients.


id: cord-261736-jlwctmxw
title: Bacteria emitted in ambient air during bronchoscopy—a risk to health care workers?
author: Marchand, Geneviève
date: 2016-12-01
txt: ./txt/cord-261736-jlwctmxw.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-261736-jlwctmxw.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2016.04.241
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.04.241
summary:
  The aim of this study was to qualify and quantify bioaerosol concentrations during bronchoscopy to evaluate the occupational risk to HCWs. Knowing the real exposure is essential to encouraging HCWs to implement better prevention protocols and wear personal protective equipment if needed. The average concentrations (colony forming units/meters 3 of air) and the standard deviations of the culturable bacteria measured in the 2 bronchoscopy rooms are presented in Table 1 . To our knowledge, this is the first study to measure and identify the actual bacterial flora present in the ambient air of a room while bronchoscopies are being performed on patients. The identification of Streptococcus pneumoniae, Neisseria sp, and Corynebacterium sp shows that culturable bacteria from oral, nasal, and pulmonary flora were present in the air of the rooms during bronchoscopy procedures. It provides clear evidence of the presence of culturable opportunistic bacteria originating from the respiratory tract of patients in the air of bronchoscopy rooms.

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Health care workers are at risk of occupational infections, and some procedures are known to increase this risk. The aim of this study was to qualify and quantify bioaerosol concentrations during bronchoscopy to estimate the occupational risk. METHODS: Full-day sampling was conducted in 2 rooms while bronchoscopies were performed on patients. Two microbial air samplers were used, a wet wall cyclonic sampler and an impactor, on culture media. Identification of the culturable bacterial flora was performed with chromatographic analysis of cellular fatty acid of the isolated strain and additional biochemical tests if needed. Specific polymerase chain reaction analysis was completed on wet wall cyclonic samples for the detection of influenza A and B and Mycobacterium spp. RESULTS: A wide variety of bacteria were collected from the ambient air. All samples yielded at least 1 Staphylococcus species. Although most of the culturable bacteria identified were normal nonpathogenic flora, such as Streptococcus spp, Neisseria spp, and Corynebacterium spp, some opportunistic pathogens, such as Streptococcus pneumoniae, were found. Neither Mycobacterium spp nor influenza virus was detected with the polymerase chain reaction method during this study. CONCLUSIONS: Culturable bacteria from oral, nasal, and pulmonary flora are aerosolized during bronchoscopy and could be inhaled by medical staff. The potential presence of pathogens in those aerosols could represent an occupational infection risk.


id: cord-263537-sh8julcb
author: Dutheil, Frédéric
date: 2020-04-10
txt: ./txt/cord-263537-sh8julcb.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-263537-sh8julcb.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32283062/
doi: 10.1016/j.chest.2020.03.062
abstract: nan
summary:
  [1] [2] [3] [4] The World Health Organization estimates that ambient air pollution causes 25% of COPD cases (ie, 65 million cases) and 26% of respiratory infection deaths (ie, 600,000 preventable deaths per year). 5 Air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide, is also associated with asthma 6 and pneumonia 7 prevalence among children. 13 The public health benefit of the world''s efforts to reduce transmission of COVID-19 may have indirect health benefits by lowering the impact of air pollution. Association of particulate matter air pollution and hospital visits for respiratory diseases: a time-series study from Air pollution and noncommunicable diseases: a review by the Forum of International Respiratory Societies'' Environmental Committee, Part 2: air pollution and organ systems Short-term association between ambient air pollution and pneumonia in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis of time-series and casecrossover studies

title:
  The Indirect Benefit on Respiratory Health From the World’s Effort to Reduce Transmission of SARS – CoV-2


id: cord-266478-642m488a
author: Gino, Bruno
date: 2020-07-11
txt: ./txt/cord-266478-642m488a.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-266478-642m488a.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32789074/
doi: 10.7759/cureus.9134
summary:
  title: Automated Inflating Resuscitator (AIR): Design and Development of a 3D-Printed Ventilator Prototype and Corresponding Simulation Scenario Based on the Management of a Critical COVID-19 Patient The aim of this technical report is twofold: first, to describe the design and manufacturing process of the automated inflating resuscitator (AIR), a 3D-printed ventilator training device which operates on the principle of pushing a bag valve mask; second, to present a simulation scenario that can be used for training health professionals how to use this and similar, low-cost, 3D-printed ventilators in the context of ventilator shortages caused by COVID-19. In addition to the description of the ventilator, we also present a simulation case using AIR to train safety, operational ability, crisis resource management, and communication skills. If there is a limited supply of participants, the paramedics team can only be reported by the facilitators, as the main objective of this simulation is training with the use of AIR and care involving a patient with COVID-19.

title:
  Automated Inflating Resuscitator (AIR): Design and Development of a 3D-Printed Ventilator Prototype and Corresponding Simulation Scenario Based on the Management of a Critical COVID-19 Patient

abstract:
  Recent surges in COVID-19 cases have generated an urgent global demand for ventilators. This demand has led to the development of numerous low-cost ventilation devices, but there has been less emphasis on training health professionals to use these new devices safely. The aim of this technical report is twofold: first, to describe the design and manufacturing process of the automated inflating resuscitator (AIR), a 3D-printed ventilator training device which operates on the principle of pushing a bag valve mask; second, to present a simulation scenario that can be used for training health professionals how to use this and similar, low-cost, 3D-printed ventilators in the context of ventilator shortages caused by COVID-19. To this end, the AIR was designed in an expedient manner in accordance with basic functionality established by the Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (United Kingdom) for provisional clinical use in light of COVID-19.


id: cord-274355-6hiutrct
author: Satheesan, Manoj Kumar
date: 2020-02-22
txt: ./txt/cord-274355-6hiutrct.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-274355-6hiutrct.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0623-4
doi: 10.1007/s12273-020-0623-4
summary:
  This study investigates the transport mechanism and deposition patterns of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) within a typical six bedded general inpatient ward cubicle through numerical simulation. Although it is widely assumed that increasing the air change rate (ACH) can reduce infection risks, it was shown that the risk of exposure to pathogens could increase with an increased ventilation rate under certain circumstances BUILD SIMUL https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0623-4 Satheesan et al. As the number of research studies on ventilation systems for general inpatient wards with respect to air change rate and exhaust airflow rate is limited, this study evaluates the combined impacts of these two parameters on the airflow as well as infection risk distributions of droplet nuclei of size 0.167 μm (i.e. MERS-CoV) within an air-conditioned general inpatient ward cubicle. Furthermore, the randomness associated with particle deposition rates (r w , r c , and r f ) under different air change rate conditions can be attributed to the asymmetric airflow distribution patterns and locations of the infected patients.

title:
  A numerical study of ventilation strategies for infection risk mitigation in general inpatient wards

abstract:
  Aerial dispersion of human exhaled microbial contaminants and subsequent contamination of surfaces is a potential route for infection transmission in hospitals. Most general hospital wards have ventilation systems that drive air and thus contaminants from the patient areas towards the corridors. This study investigates the transport mechanism and deposition patterns of Middle East Respiratory Syndrome Coronavirus (MERS-CoV) within a typical six bedded general inpatient ward cubicle through numerical simulation. It demonstrates that both air change and exhaust airflow rates have significant effects on not only the airflow but also the particle distribution within a mechanically ventilated space. Moreover, the location of an infected patient within the ward cubicle is crucial in determining the extent of infection risk to other ward occupants. Hence, it is recommended to provide exhaust grilles in close proximity to a patient, preferably above each patient’s bed. To achieve infection prevention and control, high exhaust airflow rate is also suggested. Regardless of the ventilation design, all patients and any surfaces within a ward cubicle should be regularly and thoroughly cleaned and disinfected to remove microbial contamination. The outcome of this study can serve as a source of reference for hospital management to better ventilation design strategies for mitigating the risk of infection.


id: cord-274520-c674wkmt
author: Moelling, Karin
date: 2020-05-28
txt: ./txt/cord-274520-c674wkmt.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-274520-c674wkmt.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1155/2020/1646943
doi: 10.1155/2020/1646943
summary:
  title: Air Microbiome and Pollution: Composition and Potential Effects on Human Health, Including SARS Coronavirus Infection e authors concluded that there was likely no risk for contracting infectious diseases from pollutant-associated microbes, but they recommended fixing soil by vegetation to reduce the amount of airborne microbes originating from fecal and terrestrial sources, including potential allergens [31] . As observed in the New York City subway, bacterial communities showed significant similarities with those of outdoor air samples, with some human skin-associated bacteria also being present. ere is evidence that people exposed to severe air pollution are more susceptible to infection with the present SARS-CoV-2 pandemic virus and experience stronger symptoms, not only in large cities of China but also in other parts of the world [46] [47] [48] [49] [50] [51] . Potential human pathogens are typically below the detection limit in air samples even from closed environments such as subway systems, which means that there is not likely a significant risk for infection [31, 32, [34] [35] [36] [37] .

title:
  Air Microbiome and Pollution: Composition and Potential Effects on Human Health, Including SARS Coronavirus Infection

abstract:
  Polluted air poses a significant threat to human health. Exposure to particulate matter (PM) and harmful gases contributes to cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, including allergies and obstructive lung disease. Air pollution may also be linked to cancer and reduced life expectancy. Uptake of PM has been shown to cause pathological changes in the intestinal microbiota in mice and humans. Less is known about the effects of pollution-associated microbiota on human health. Several recent studies described the microbiomes of urban and rural air samples, of the stratosphere and sand particles, which can be transported over long distances, as well as the air of indoor environments. Here, we summarize the current knowledge on airborne bacterial, viral, and fungal communities and discuss their potential consequences on human health. The current data suggest that bacterial pathogens are typically too sparse and short-lived in air to pose a significant risk for infecting healthy people. However, airborne fungal spores may exacerbate allergies and asthma. Little information is available on viruses including phages, and future studies are likely to detect known and novel viruses with a yet unknown impact on human health. Furthermore, varying experimental protocols have been employed in the recent microbiome and virome studies. Therefore, standardized methodologies will be required to allow for better comparisons between studies. Air pollution has been linked to more severe outcomes of SARS (severe acute respiratory syndrome) coronavirus (SARS-CoV) infections. This may have contributed to severe SARS-CoV-2 outbreaks, especially those in China, Northern Italy, Iran, and New York City.


id: cord-277147-k11rl70f
title: Elevated serum levels of IL-6 and CXCL9 in autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) patients
author: Detrick, Barbara
date: 2018-03-15
txt: ./txt/cord-277147-k11rl70f.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-277147-k11rl70f.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0165572817302692
doi: 10.1016/j.jneuroim.2017.12.014
summary:
  title: Elevated serum levels of IL-6 and CXCL9 in autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) patients Twenty-four serum samples from 18 AIR patients were initially analyzed by a multiplex immunoassay system for the presence of 5 cytokines and 1 chemokine. A comparison of CXCL9 levels detected in the sera from AIR patients and normal individuals is shown in Table 2 . The third patient also had severe disease that was associated with a high level of IL-6 (1 out of 2 samples) but normal levels of CXCL9. Although the presence of CXCL9 and IL-6 was not always detected in the same serum sample, patients with severe disease more frequently had elevated CXCL9, IL-6 or both cytokines in their sera. Clearly, the presence of IL-6 and CXCL9 in AIR patients is not specific to this disease since these molecules can be identified in systemic inflammatory and autoimmune processes.

abstract:
  Abstract Autoimmune retinopathy (AIR) is a rare immune-mediated retinopathy associated with circulating antiretinal antibodies (ARAs). Other prominent features of AIR include visual field deficits and photoreceptor dysfunction in the setting of progressive unexplained vision loss. The role of inflammation is poorly understood in AIR. Since cytokines play a central role in the initiation and development of inflammation, we evaluated the presence of proinflammatory cytokines and chemokines in AIR patient sera. We demonstrate that IL-6 and CXCL9 are both elevated in AIR patient sera. Moreover, the presence and concentration of these 2 molecules appear to correlate with AIR patient disease severity. This cytokine profile, IL-6 and CXCL9, has been described to participate in a variety of autoimmune and inflammatory diseases. Our study provides support for an activated inflammatory process in AIR and identifies possible mechanisms that can drive autoimmunity in this disease.


id: cord-277425-ttfmm946
author: Nenna, Raffaella
date: 2017-07-03
txt: ./txt/cord-277425-ttfmm946.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-277425-ttfmm946.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0013935117306710
doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2017.06.014
summary:
  A regional agency network collected meteorological data (mean temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity) and the following air pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, benzene and suspended particulate matter measuring less than 10 µm (PM(10)) and less than 2.5 µm (PM(2.5)) in aerodynamic diameter. To achieve this, we analyzed epidemiological data for 14 respiratory viruses detected in nasal washing samples and mean weekly data for weather conditions (temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity) along with air pollutant concentrations from the regional agency for environmental protection (ARPA) network (http://www.arpalazio.net/ main/aria/doc/pubblicazioni). In this prospective study enrolling infants hospitalized for acute viral bronchiolitis during 10 seasonal epidemics in Rome, Italy we found a strong correlation between peak RSV activity (but not peak activity for the other 13 viruses investigated) and cold temperatures, higher relative humidity and air pollutants, especially benzene.

title:
  Respiratory syncytial virus bronchiolitis, weather conditions and air pollution in an Italian urban area: An observational study

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: In this study we sought to evaluate the association between viral bronchiolitis, weather conditions, and air pollution in an urban area in Italy. METHODS: We included infants hospitalized for acute bronchiolitis from 2004 to 2014. All infants underwent a nasal washing for virus detection. A regional agency network collected meteorological data (mean temperature, relative humidity and wind velocity) and the following air pollutants: sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxide, carbon monoxide, ozone, benzene and suspended particulate matter measuring less than 10 µm (PM(10)) and less than 2.5 µm (PM(2.5)) in aerodynamic diameter. We obtained mean weekly concentration data for the day of admission, from the urban background monitoring sites nearest to each child's home address. Overdispersed Poisson regression model was fitted and adjusted for seasonality of the respiratory syncytial virus (RSV) infection, to evaluate the impact of individual characteristics and environmental factors on the probability of a being positive RSV. RESULTS: Of the 723 nasal washings from the infants enrolled, 266 (68%) contained RSV, 63 (16.1%) rhinovirus, 26 (6.6%) human bocavirus, 20 (5.1%) human metapneumovirus, and 16 (2.2%) other viruses. The number of RSV-positive infants correlated negatively with temperature (p < 0.001), and positively with relative humidity (p < 0.001). Air pollutant concentrations differed significantly during the peak RSV months and the other months. Benzene concentration was independently associated with RSV incidence (p = 0.0124). CONCLUSIONS: Seasonal weather conditions and concentration of air pollutants seem to influence RSV-related bronchiolitis epidemics in an Italian urban area.


id: cord-282346-y5zm7z3y
author: Ma, Qingxin
date: 2020-07-19
txt: ./txt/cord-282346-y5zm7z3y.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-282346-y5zm7z3y.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0013935120308446
doi: 10.1016/j.envres.2020.109949
summary:
  Encouragingly, the current mass reduction-oriented pollution control is making substantial achievements, as the data from Chinese Environmental Monitoring Stations show a significant drop in the annual average concentrations of particulate matters (i.e., PM(10) and PM(2.5)) and SO(2). On one hand, long-term health impacts of fine air particles have to be closely probed through both epidemiological and laboratory studies, and the toxic effects owing to the interactions between particles and associated chemical pollutants should be differentially teased out. Although significant achievements have been reached due to the efforts in improving air quality in recent decades, there still exist many hurdles with respect to health issues to be addressed, e.g., geographical differences in pathophysiological responses to air pollution, insufficient long-term epidemiological data, uncertainty on the divergent toxicities due to the complicated interactions among versatile environmental factors from different sources, and previously neglected or underestimated adverse effects.

title:
  Understanding the knowledge gaps between air pollution controls and health impacts including pathogen epidemic

abstract:
  Sustainable development calls for a blue sky with quality air. Encouragingly, the current mass reduction-oriented pollution control is making substantial achievements, as the data from Chinese Environmental Monitoring Stations show a significant drop in the annual average concentrations of particulate matters (i.e., PM(10) and PM(2.5)) and SO(2). But many challenges and knowledge gaps are still confronted nowadays. On one hand, long-term health impacts of fine air particles have to be closely probed through both epidemiological and laboratory studies, and the toxic effects owing to the interactions between particles and associated chemical pollutants should be differentially teased out. On the other hand, due to sole mass control, there are significant changes of overall pollutant fingerprint, such as the increase of ground-level ozone concentration, which should be taken into account for altered health effects relative to the past. Moreover, the interplays with air pollutants and air-borne pathogens should be scrutinized in more details. In other words, it is worth investigating likely spread of pathogens (even for SARS-CoV-2) with aid of aerosols. Here, we recapitulate the current knowledge gaps between air pollution controls and health impacts including pathogen epidemic, and we also propose future research directions to support policy making in balance mass control and health impacts.


id: cord-283377-uifevl1o
author: Ye, Jin
date: 2020-06-26
txt: ./txt/cord-283377-uifevl1o.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-283377-uifevl1o.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12273-020-0649-7
doi: 10.1007/s12273-020-0649-7
summary:
  For the supply air velocity 3 m/s, strong turbulence was observed behind the patient at supply air angle 20° shown in Figure 4 (f), which enhanced mixing airflow in the consulting ward and increases the doctor''s exposure to the patient exhaled pollutants. Thus, most of the patient exhaled pollutants were controlled in a circular range and the mass fraction of tracer gas near the doctor''s mouth was lower than that at supply air angle 20°. Compared with the consulting desk with supply air velocity 2 m/s and supply air angle 0°, stable air curtain was observed in front of the doctor shown in Figure 5 (b), preventing the patient exhaled flow from directly flowing to the doctor breath zone. Though the patient exhaled flow first moved vertically towards the ceiling but then moved horizontally towards the doctor''s area in a certain height, the pollutant concentration in the head and breath zone of the doctor were kept at a lower level compared to the consulting desk without air curtain in Figure 5(a) .

title:
  Using air curtains to reduce short-range infection risk in consulting ward: A numerical investigation

abstract:
  Air curtains is promising in reducing the short-range infection risk in hospitals. To quantitatively evaluate its performance, this paper explores air curtains equipped on normal consulting desk to avoid doctor’s direct exposure to the patient exhaled pollutants. A numerical investigation is conducted to evaluate the effects of supply air velocity and angle on cutting off performance. Simulation results show that the average mass fraction of exhaled pollutants decreases significantly (70%–90%) in the consulting ward, indicating satisfying performance of air curtains. Increasing supply air velocity is demonstrated to be conducive in forming full air curtains, whereas an excessively high supply air velocity may be of adverse effects by entraining exhaled flow. Besides, the supply air angle is also critical due to its coupling with supply air velocity. It is found that larger angle (0°–40°) is better where velocity is less than 3 m/s, otherwise a small angle (20°) is preferable where velocity is larger than 3 m/s. Exhaled flow could be well suppressed at the supply air angle 20° but moves over air curtains at 40°. This study can provide effective and intuitive guidance in applying air curtains in consulting wards. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL (ESM): supplementary material is available in the online version of this article at 10.1007/s12273-020-0649-7. The ESM files include the animation of patient exhaled droplets from the droplet birth at 0 s to 5 s under the supply air angle 0°, 20°, 40°, at supply air velocity 3 m/s.


id: cord-284820-29uiq6at
title: Heterogeneous Effects of COVID-19 Lockdown Measures on Air Quality in Northern China
author: Wang, Junfeng
date: 2020-11-11
txt: ./txt/cord-284820-29uiq6at.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-284820-29uiq6at.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0306261920315828?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.apenergy.2020.116179
summary:
  We found that the traffic restrictions, especially the restriction of intra-city travel intensity (TI), exhibited a significant heterogeneous effect on NO(2) with a decrease of approximately 13.6%, and every one-unit increase in control measures intensity reduced the concentration of air pollutants by approximately 2–4%. Our study chose data including daily air pollutant concentrations and weather conditions in the BTH region and designed a DID model to quantitatively identify the effect of control measures on air pollution during the COVID-19 outbreak. Here, real-time monitoring data from China''s air pollution monitoring stations were used to demonstrate air pollutant concentration trends before and after the COVID-19 outbreak, and a DID model was used to estimate the causal effect of the implementation of lockdown measures on air quality, controlling for the interference of meteorological, vacation, and other important factors. The implementation of control measures reduced air pollution, which provided empirical evidence on the identification of the causal effect of lockdown measures on air quality during the COVID-19 outbreak.

abstract:
  In response to the spread of COVID-19, China implemented a series of control measures. The causal effect of these control measures on air quality is an important consideration for extreme air pollution control in China. Here, we established a difference-in-differences model to quantitatively estimate the lockdown effect on air quality in the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei (BTH) region. We found that the lockdown measures did have an obvious effect on air quality. The air quality index (AQI) was reduced by 15.2%, the concentration of NO(2), PM10, PM2.5, and CO were reduced by 37.8%, 33.6%, 21.5%, and 20.4% respectively. At the same time, we further explored the heterogeneous effects of travel restrictions and the control measure intensity on air quality. We found that the traffic restrictions, especially the restriction of intra-city travel intensity (TI), exhibited a significant heterogeneous effect on NO(2) with a decrease of approximately 13.6%, and every one-unit increase in control measures intensity reduced the concentration of air pollutants by approximately 2–4%. This study not only provides a natural, experimental basis for control measures on air quality but also indicates an important direction for future control strategies. Importantly, determining the estimated effect helps formulate accurate and effective intervention measures on the differentiated level of air pollution, especially on extreme air pollution.


id: cord-284880-xsh3wkqy
title: The Fate of Mengovirus on Fiberglass Filter of Air Handling Units
author: Bandaly, Victor
date: 2017-06-28
txt: ./txt/cord-284880-xsh3wkqy.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-284880-xsh3wkqy.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s12560-017-9310-8
doi: 10.1007/s12560-017-9310-8
summary:
  The aim of this work is to study the characterization of viral bioaerosols in indoor environments and to understand the fate of mengovirus eukaryote RNA virus on glass fiber filter F7 used in AHU. Regarding the virus infectivity on the filter under a constant air flow, mengovirus was remained infectious during 10 h after aerosolization. From an average of 4.43 9 10 8 PFU L -1 of initial solution of virus aerosolized, 3.43 9 10 2 PFU cm -2 of infectious mengovirus was detected after 25 min of air flow. With a continuous air flow in the system, the persistence of mengovirus was assessed at different times and showed infectivity on the filter up to 10 h after aerosolization (Fig. 7) . Thus, time has an effect on the infectivity of the virus; this study showed that, with a continuous air flow in the 

abstract:
  One of the most important topics that occupy public health problems is the air quality. That is the reason why mechanical ventilation and air handling units (AHU) were imposed by the different governments in the collective or individual buildings. Many buildings create an artificial climate using heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. Among the existing aerosols in the indoor air, we can distinguish the bioaerosol with biological nature such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Respiratory viral infections are a major public health issue because they are usually highly infective. We spend about 90% of our time in closed environments such as homes, workplaces, or transport. Some studies have shown that AHU contribute to the spread and transport of viral particles within buildings. The aim of this work is to study the characterization of viral bioaerosols in indoor environments and to understand the fate of mengovirus eukaryote RNA virus on glass fiber filter F7 used in AHU. In this study, a set-up close to reality of AHU system was used. The mengovirus aerosolized was characterized and measured with the electrical low pressure impact and the scanner mobility particle size and detected with RT-qPCR. The results about quantification and the level of infectivity of mengovirus on the filter and in the biosampler showed that mengovirus can pass through the filter and remain infectious upstream and downstream the system. Regarding the virus infectivity on the filter under a constant air flow, mengovirus was remained infectious during 10 h after aerosolization.


id: cord-286563-pv974q32
author: Kuo, Nae-Wen
date: 2007-12-20
txt: ./txt/cord-286563-pv974q32.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-286563-pv974q32.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/18095180/
doi: 10.1007/s10661-007-0105-5
summary:
  Indoor air quality (IAQ) has begun to surface as an important issue that affects the comfort and health of people; however, there is little research concerned about the IAQ monitoring of hotels up to now. Hotels, one type commercial buildings, are designed to provide high levels of comfort for guests; however, the thermal comfort and inadequate indoor air quality are often complaints (Bohdanowicz and Martinac 2002) . Moreover, space conditioning (heating, cooling, and ventilation for the purpose of maintaining high standards of air quality and thermal comfort) typically accounts for about half the total energy consumed in hotels (Rada 1996) . In addition, the indoor air quality of hotel buildings affects the health of guests especially in bacteria sector. The recommended values of exposure for carbon monoxide should not exceed 2.0 ppm in Taiwan Chiang 2004) and Hong Kong (Indoor Air Quality Management Group 2003) .

title:
  Development and application of an integrated indoor air quality audit to an international hotel building in Taiwan

abstract:
  Indoor air quality (IAQ) has begun to surface as an important issue that affects the comfort and health of people; however, there is little research concerned about the IAQ monitoring of hotels up to now. Hotels are designed to provide comfortable spaces for guests. However, most complaints related to uncomfortable thermal environment and inadequate indoor air quality appear. In addition, microbial pollution can affect the health of tourists such as the Legionnaire’s disease and SARS problems. This study is aimed to establish the comprehensive IAQ audit approach for hotel buildings with portable equipments, and one five-star international hotel in Taiwan was selected to exam this integrated approach. Finally, four major problems are identified after the comprehensive IAQ audit. They are: (1) low room temperature (21.8°C), (2) insufficient air exchange rate (<1.5 h(−1)), (3) formaldehyde contamination (>0.02 ppm), and (4) the microbial pollution (total bacteria: 2,624–3,799 CFU/m(3)). The high level of formaldehyde may be due to the emission from the detergent and cleaning agents used for housekeeping.


id: cord-289138-33agf2j4
author: Ciofi-Silva, Caroline Lopes
date: 2016-09-01
txt: ./txt/cord-289138-33agf2j4.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-289138-33agf2j4.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/27598374/
doi: 10.1590/1518-8345.1140.2781
summary:
  OBJECTIVE: to analyze the scientific evidence on aerosols generated during cleaning activities of health products in the Central Service Department (CSD) and the impact of the negative pressure of the ambient air in the cleaning area to control the dispersion of aerosols to adjacent areas. RESULTS: the five technical documents reviewed recommend that the CSD cleaning area should have a negative differential ambient air pressure, but scientific articles on the impact of this intervention were not found. Thus, the objective of this systematic literature review was to analyze the scientific evidence for the formation of aerosols during the MD cleaning activities in CSD and the impact of negative air pressure, or to the safety of the material to be sterilized, and for health professionals in the adjacent areas too. About the size of the particles, it was evidenced in this review that the aerosol generated after the use of pressurized water surface cleaning devices were smaller than 5μm (13, 16) .

title:
  Negative pressure of the environmental air in the cleaning area of the materials and sterilization center: a systematic review

abstract:
  OBJECTIVE: to analyze the scientific evidence on aerosols generated during cleaning activities of health products in the Central Service Department (CSD) and the impact of the negative pressure of the ambient air in the cleaning area to control the dispersion of aerosols to adjacent areas. METHOD: for this literature systematic review the following searches were done: search guidelines, manuals or national and international technical standards given by experts; search in the portal and databases PubMed, Scopus, CINAHL and Web of Science; and a manual search of scientific articles. RESULTS: the five technical documents reviewed recommend that the CSD cleaning area should have a negative differential ambient air pressure, but scientific articles on the impact of this intervention were not found. The four articles included talked about aerosols formed after the use of a ultrasonic cleaner (an increased in the contamination especially during use) and pressurized water jet (formation of smaller aerosols 5μm). In a study, the aerosols formed from contaminated the hot tap water with Legionella pneumophila were evaluated. CONCLUSIONS: there is evidence of aerosol formation during cleanup activities in CSD. Studies on occupational diseases of respiratory origin of workers who work in CSD should be performed.


id: cord-289340-scwhwurr
author: Zhu, Shengwei
date: 2010-03-17
txt: ./txt/cord-289340-scwhwurr.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-289340-scwhwurr.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0360132310000831
doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2010.03.004
summary:
  The thrust of this investigation is two-fold: (a) develop and use a CFD model to understand the bus micro-environmental conditions, especially the ventilation effectiveness and air distribution system, and how they may affect the dilution and removal of any internally generated air pollutant; (b) perform an extensive field campaign using the Harvard University shuttle bus system and monitor continuously the indoor environmental quality as well as the personal exposure levels of passengers for a variety of air pollutants including CO, CO 2 , and particulate matter in its various respirable size fractions such as PM 2.5 , PM 10 and ultrafine particles (UFPs). Air temperature, relative humidity and the concentration levels of CO 2 , CO and particulate matters in three size fractions, PM 10 and PM 2.5 , and ultrafine particles (UFPs) were continuously measured in the bus.

title:
  Experimental and numerical investigation of micro-environmental conditions in public transportation buses

abstract:
  This study examines both numerically and experimentally the micro-environmental conditions in public transportation buses. A Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) model was developed and experimentally validated. The developed CFD model was used to calculate the spatial distributions of the mean age and mean residual lifetime of air in the bus environment and evaluate the efficiency of the bus ventilation system. Additionally, the passengers’ exposures to a variety of environmental conditions were experimentally monitored in “real world” field campaigns using the Harvard University shuttle bus system. Real time continuous monitoring systems were used to assess indoor environmental quality in the buses. It was found that CO levels were very low, while the levels of particulate matter varied and were influenced by the ambient air penetrated into the bus through the operation of the doors and the ventilation system. The CO(2) level was found elevated and greatly affected by occupancy conditions. The elevated CO(2) level indicates that the current bus ventilation is insufficient to dilute air pollutants in the bus especially under heavy occupancy conditions. This lack of sufficient ventilation indicates an elevated risk for airborne transmitted diseases in such a popular public transportation system.


id: cord-289541-y7lewk1t
author: Zhang, Li-Zhi
date: 2006-05-01
txt: ./txt/cord-289541-y7lewk1t.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-289541-y7lewk1t.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.memsci.2005.09.035
doi: 10.1016/j.memsci.2005.09.035
summary:
  The membrane is composed of three layers: two hydrophobic protective layers and a sandwiched hydrophilic support layer in which LiCl solution is immobilized to facilitate water vapor transfer. Further, the supported liquid layer only accounts for 12% of the total moisture transfer resistance in the cell, indicating that there is much potential for further performance improvement. The core material of an MTHR ventilator are vapor-permeable membranes, therefore both heat and moisture are transferred between these two air streams when they flow through the unit. However, moisture diffusion coefficients in such polymer membranes are usually very low, in the order of 10 −12 to 10 −13 m 2 s −1 [11, 18] , while MTHR ventilators only have limited transmembrane vapor partial pressure difference, consequently performances are quite limited currently. To improve the performances of MTHR ventilators, in this study, a novel membrane, a composite SLM, which employs LiCl liquid solution immobilized in a porous support membrane to facilitate the transport of moisture, is prepared.

title:
  Fabrication of a lithium chloride solution based composite supported liquid membrane and its moisture permeation analysis

abstract:
  A novel composite supported liquid membrane has been prepared for ventilation air moisture recovery. The membrane is composed of three layers: two hydrophobic protective layers and a sandwiched hydrophilic support layer in which LiCl solution is immobilized to facilitate water vapor transfer. A test is conducted to measure the moisture permeation rate through the composite membrane. Various resistances in the cell and in the composite membrane are clarified. Linear equilibrium relations between humidity, temperature, and LiCl concentration in the liquid solution layer are obtained to aid in the model set-up. It has been found that the mean moisture permeation rate through the composite membrane is around 1.14 × 10(−4) kg m(−2) s(−1), almost two times higher than that through a solid hydrophilic cellulose acetate membrane with comparative thickness. Further, the supported liquid layer only accounts for 12% of the total moisture transfer resistance in the cell, indicating that there is much potential for further performance improvement.


id: cord-291113-iizj932l
title: Alternative Methods of Sterilization in Dental Practices Against COVID-19
author: Cumbo, Enzo
date: 2020-08-08
txt: ./txt/cord-291113-iizj932l.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-291113-iizj932l.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17165736
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17165736
summary:
  It is time to consider a dental practice quite similar to a hospital surgery room, where particular attention should be paid to problems related to the spread of infections caused by air and surface contaminations, especially a time when viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 have emerged as an important public health problem due to their ability to spread through close person-to-person contact. Ultraviolet light has proven effective against corona viruses and, therefore, could be used against COVID-19 both in the case of bioaerosols and in the sterilization of contaminated environmental surfaces in which this microorganism is present-in particular, on products of unstable composition that cannot be treated by conventional means [62, 63] . Now that the risk of spreading COVID-19 is very high, it is necessary to pay particular attention to all the sterilization procedures that should be reviewed, improved, and perhaps used in combinations to obtain a final result that aims to complete the sterilization of all structures present in the operating room, including air, which for some dangerous diseases, such as SARS-CoV-2, is the transmission route.

abstract:
  SARS-CoV-2, and several other microorganisms, may be present in nasopharyngeal and salivary secretions in patients treated in dental practices, so an appropriate clinical behavior is required in order to avoid the dangerous spread of infections. COVID-19 could also be spread when patients touches a contaminated surface with infected droplets and then touch their nose, mouth, or eyes. It is time to consider a dental practice quite similar to a hospital surgery room, where particular attention should be addressed to problems related to the spreading of infections due to air and surface contamination. The effectiveness of conventional cleaning and disinfection procedures may be limited by several factors; first of all, human operator dependence seems to be the weak aspect of all procedures. The improvement of these conventional methods requires the modification of human behavior, which is difficult to achieve and sustain. As alternative sterilization methods, there are some that do not depend on the operator, because they are based on devices that perform the entire procedure on their own, with minimal human intervention. In conclusion, continued efforts to improve the traditional manual disinfection of surfaces are needed, so dentists should consider combining the use of proper disinfectants and no-touch decontamination technologies to improve sterilization procedures.


id: cord-292928-a4bn30ul
author: Ghosh, Bipasha
date: 2015-10-03
txt: ./txt/cord-292928-a4bn30ul.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-292928-a4bn30ul.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.envint.2015.09.018
doi: 10.1016/j.envint.2015.09.018
summary:
  This review also provides the information on the concentration levels of various airborne microorganisms in different indoor environments, their associated health effects as well as various bioaerosol control mechanisms worked upon till now. A recently developed electrostatic precipitator had no charging unit in the inlet while the physical collection efficiency strongly depended on the precipitation voltage which eventually depended on the charge present on the airborne microbes naturally due to aerosolization (Kunkel, 1950; Flagan, 2001 ) thereby making collection possible by differentiating between the positively and negatively charged microorganisms by adding a signature to the bioaerosol particle sampled (Lee et al., 2004a; ; Lee et al., 2004b) . Whole genome sequencing has also been applied to study the airborne microbial community in various indoor and outdoor environments of NYC after collecting air samples using a Wet Cyclone Portable Air Sampler at the flow rate of 450 L/min (Yooseph et al., 2013) .

title:
  Review of bioaerosols in indoor environment with special reference to sampling, analysis and control mechanisms

abstract:
  Several tiny organisms of various size ranges present in air are called airborne particles or bioaerosol which mainly includes live or dead fungi and bacteria, their secondary metabolites, viruses, pollens, etc. which have been related to health issues of human beings and other life stocks. Bio-terror attacks in 2001 as well as pandemic outbreak of flue due to influenza A H1N1 virus in 2009 have alarmed us about the importance of bioaerosol research. Hence characterization i.e. identification and quantification of different airborne microorganisms in various indoor environments is necessary to identify the associated risks and to establish exposure threshold. Along with the bioaerosol sampling and their analytical techniques, various literatures revealing the concentration levels of bioaerosol have been mentioned in this review thereby contributing to the knowledge of identification and quantification of bioaerosols and their different constituents in various indoor environments (both occupational and non-occupational sections). Apart from recognition of bioaerosol, developments of their control mechanisms also play an important role. Hence several control methods have also been briefly reviewed. However, several individual levels of efforts such as periodic cleaning operations, maintenance activities and proper ventilation system also serve in their best way to improve indoor air quality.


id: cord-295469-5an7836u
author: Ijaz, M. Khalid
date: 2016-09-02
txt: ./txt/cord-295469-5an7836u.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-295469-5an7836u.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ajic.2016.06.008
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.06.008
summary:
  The following groups of human pathogens are covered because of their known or potential airborne spread: vegetative bacteria (staphylococci and legionellae), fungi (Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium spp and Stachybotrys chartarum), enteric viruses (noroand rotaviruses), respiratory viruses (influenza and coronaviruses), mycobacteria (tuberculous and nontuberculous), and bacterial spore formers (Clostridium difficile and Bacillus anthracis). The following groups of human pathogens are covered because of their known or potential airborne spread: vegetative bacteria (staphylococci and legionellae), fungi (Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium spp and Stachybotrys chartarum), enteric viruses (noro-and rotaviruses), respiratory viruses (influenza and coronaviruses), mycobacteria (tuberculous and nontuberculous), and bacterial spore formers (Clostridium difficile and Bacillus anthracis). 71 Based on our considerable experience in the study of airborne human pathogens, 13, 25, 39, 43, 72 we have built an aerobiology chamber (Fig 2) designed to meet the requirements of the EPA guidelines and have used this to study the effects that a variety of air decontamination technologies have on the airborne survival and inactivation of vegetative bacteria, viruses (bacteriophage), and bacterial spore-formers (Sattar et al, unpublished data) .

title:
  Generic aspects of the airborne spread of human pathogens indoors and emerging air decontamination technologies

abstract:
  Indoor air can be an important vehicle for a variety of human pathogens. This review provides examples of airborne transmission of infectious agents from experimental and field studies and discusses how airborne pathogens can contaminate other parts of the environment to give rise to secondary vehicles leading air-surface-air nexus with possible transmission to susceptible hosts. The following groups of human pathogens are covered because of their known or potential airborne spread: vegetative bacteria (staphylococci and legionellae), fungi (Aspergillus, Penicillium, and Cladosporium spp and Stachybotrys chartarum), enteric viruses (noro- and rotaviruses), respiratory viruses (influenza and coronaviruses), mycobacteria (tuberculous and nontuberculous), and bacterial spore formers (Clostridium difficile and Bacillus anthracis). An overview of methods for experimentally generating and recovering airborne human pathogens is included, along with a discussion of factors that influence microbial survival in indoor air. Available guidelines from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and other global regulatory bodies for the study of airborne pathogens are critically reviewed with particular reference to microbial surrogates that are recommended. Recent developments in experimental facilities to contaminate indoor air with microbial aerosols are presented, along with emerging technologies to decontaminate indoor air under field-relevant conditions. Furthermore, the role that air decontamination may play in reducing the contamination of environmental surfaces and its combined impact on interrupting the risk of pathogen spread in both domestic and institutional settings is discussed.


id: cord-297840-z5l6vdsr
title: Air Travel and Respiratory Disease
author: Río, Francisco García
date: 2007-02-28
txt: ./txt/cord-297840-z5l6vdsr.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-297840-z5l6vdsr.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S1579212907600317
doi: 10.1016/s1579-2129(07)60031-7
abstract: nan
summary:
  57 In any case, to establish a medical opinion on risk in air travel, the type, reversibility, and degree of functional impairment caused by the disease must be assessed along with the tolerance of the patient for the predicted flight altitude and the length of exposure. Supplementary oxygen is recommended during air travel for patients who have an estimated in-flight PaO 2 of less then 50 mm Hg obtained with prediction equations or, preferably, a hypoxic challenge test ( Figure 6 ). It also seems wise to extend that treatment option to those cases and in which the in-flight cabin pressure corresponds to an altitude of greater than 2438 m (8000 feet) and the patient has very severe COPD (FEV 1 ≤30%), where limitations may be present in the mechanisms of compensation for hypoxemia, or diseases that alter oxygen transport.


id: cord-298696-rsifxvtj
title: Global response to pandemic flu: more research needed on a critical front
author: Lim, Meng-Kin
date: 2006-10-13
txt: ./txt/cord-298696-rsifxvtj.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-298696-rsifxvtj.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/17038194/
doi: 10.1186/1478-4505-4-8
summary:
  Given that air transportation is the one feature that most differentiates present day transmission scenarios from those in 1918, our present inability to prevent spread of influenza by international air travel, as reckoned by the World Health Organization, constitutes a major weakness in the current global preparedness plan against pandemic flu. Alas, the 2005 WHO report Avian influenza: assessing the pandemic has dismally concluded that "If only a few countries are affected, travel-related measures, such as exit screening for persons departing from affected areas, might delay international spread somewhat, but cannot stop it. Against a conservatively estimated US$800 billion a year that a human pandemic of avian influenza could cost the global economy [24] , not to mention the incalculable cost in terms of human lives [25] , it seems incredible that the aviation lessons of SARS have not led to an acceleration of scientific research and health policy evaluation aimed at strengthening public health defenses on the air transportation front.

abstract:
  If and when sustained human-to-human transmission of H5N1 becomes a reality, the world will no longer be dealing with sporadic avian flu borne along migratory flight paths of birds, but aviation flu – winged at subsonic speed along commercial air conduits to every corner of planet Earth. Given that air transportation is the one feature that most differentiates present day transmission scenarios from those in 1918, our present inability to prevent spread of influenza by international air travel, as reckoned by the World Health Organization, constitutes a major weakness in the current global preparedness plan against pandemic flu. Despite the lessons of SARS, it is surprising that aviation-related health policy options have not been more rigorously evaluated, or scientific research aimed at strengthening public health measures on the air transportation front, more energetically pursued.


id: cord-301067-wk3cf0b7
author: Corpus-Mendoza, Asiel N.
date: 2020-11-01
txt: ./txt/cord-301067-wk3cf0b7.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-301067-wk3cf0b7.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143382
doi: 10.1016/j.scitotenv.2020.143382
summary:
  As a consequence of the prevention measures implemented to contain the virus, cities around the world are experiencing a decrease in urban mobility and electricity demand that have positively affected the air quality. At the same time, we analyse the evolution of confirmed COVID-19 cases and compare them with the start of prevention measures and changes in sectors affected in different countries to discuss the effectiveness in time in which they are applied. These measures are classified in 5 categories in the original dataset, however, we reclassify them and discuss them in terms of their effects on health, and economy, but mainly on the environment by analysing changes in mobility, electricity generation, and air quality index (AQI) before and after the pandemic. At the same time, the analysis of changes in mobility and electricity demand along the evaluation of T D and I CR from the I C curves allow to discuss the timely execution of the prevention measures, which works as a feedback to consider and plan actions for the current pandemic or future global events.

title:
  Decrease of mobility, electricity demand, and NO2 emissions on COVID-19 times and their feedback on prevention measures

abstract:
  The spread of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on 2020 has affected human activities in a way never documented in modern history. As a consequence of the prevention measures implemented to contain the virus, cities around the world are experiencing a decrease in urban mobility and electricity demand that have positively affected the air quality. The most extreme cases for cities around the world show a decrease of 90, 40, and 70 % in mobility, electricity demand, and NO2 emissions respectively. At the same time, the inspection of these changes along the evaluation of COVID-19 incidence curves allow to obtain feedback about the timely execution of prevention measures for this and future global events. In this case, we identify and discuss the early effort of Latin-American countries to successfully delay the spread of the virus by implementing prevention measures before the fast growth of COVID-19 cases in comparison to European countries.


id: cord-304013-nzigx0k0
author: Lipinski, Tom
date: 2020-09-13
txt: ./txt/cord-304013-nzigx0k0.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-304013-nzigx0k0.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S266620272030032X
doi: 10.1016/j.ijft.2020.100045
summary:
  This paper will discuss the factors affecting air particle properties in-terms of flow dynamics and critically analyse current ventilation strategies and mechanisms and identify areas for improvement in the search for the reduction of indoor infections. The study by the University of Oregon [54, 58] observed that Natural Ventilation with a plentiful supply of fresh air dilutes and removes contaminated air much more effectively than fan driven, recirculated air movement, significantly reducing the risk of infection, as shown in Figure 17 . Displacement ventilation with a generously sized natural inlet is preferred as it can move stale, contaminated air directly to the exhaust of the room in a laminar fashion whilst the concentration of small droplets and airborne particles in the indoor air is significantly reduced.

title:
  Review of ventilation strategies to reduce the risk of disease transmission in high occupancy buildings

abstract:
  An unforeseen pandemic is facing the world caused by a corona virus known as SARS-CoV-2. Numerous measures are being put in place to try and reduce the spread of this deadly disease, with the most effective response to the outbreak being mass quarantines, a public health technique borrowed from the Middle Ages. The widely accepted main transmission mechanism is through droplet borne pathways. However, many researchers and studies are considering that this virus can also spread via the airborne route and remain for up to three hours in the air. This is leading to questions as to whether enough is being done regarding ventilation to reduce the risk of the spread of this or other diseases that may be air borne. Ventilation and air conditioning systems are the main focus when it comes to the transmission of such deadly pathogens and should be appropriately designed and operated. This paper reviews and critically evaluates the current ventilation strategies used in buildings to assess the state of the art and elaborates if there is room for further development, especially for high occupancy buildings, to reduce or eradicate the risk of pathogen transmission and adapt ventilation measures to new threats posed by pandemics.


id: cord-304031-poh3te9j
title: Respiratory infections during air travel
author: Leder, K.
date: 2005-01-13
txt: ./txt/cord-304031-poh3te9j.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-304031-poh3te9j.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/15667469/
doi: 10.1111/j.1445-5994.2004.00696.x
summary:
  Issues regarding cabin air quality and the potential risks of transmission of respiratory infections during flight have been investigated and debated previously, but, with the advent of severe acute respiratory syndrome and influenza outbreaks, these issues have recently taken on heightened importance. Confined space, limited ventilation, prolonged exposure times and recirculating air, all common to air travel, are demonstrated risk factors for the transmission of upper respiratory tract infections in other settings and create the potential for the spread of respiratory pathogens during flight. Aspects of the aircraft cabin environment that influence the potential transmission of respiratory pathogens on airplanes will be outlined here and then the Internal Medicine Journal 2005; 35: 50-55 evidence for the occurrence of outbreaks of respiratory illness among airline passengers will be reviewed. The majority of patients (68%) had recently completed a series of commercial aircraft flights, and the authors concluded that air travel played a role in the transmission of disease among the 60 infected persons.

abstract:
  An increasing number of individuals undertake air travel annually. Issues regarding cabin air quality and the potential risks of transmission of respiratory infections during flight have been investigated and debated previously, but, with the advent of severe acute respiratory syndrome and influenza outbreaks, these issues have recently taken on heightened importance. Anecdotally, many people complain of respiratory symptoms following air travel. However, studies of ventilation systems and patient outcomes indicate the spread of pathogens during flight occurs rarely. In the present review, aspects of the aircraft cabin environment that affect the likelihood of transmission of respiratory pathogens on airplanes are outlined briefly and evidence for the occurrence of outbreaks of respiratory illness among airline passengers are reviewed. (Intern Med J 2005; 35: 50–55)


id: cord-305810-e3lf2ddk
title: Climate and clean air responses to COVID-19: a comment
author: Arafat, S. M. Yasir
date: 2020-06-24
txt: ./txt/cord-305810-e3lf2ddk.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-305810-e3lf2ddk.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32583010/
doi: 10.1007/s00038-020-01415-1
abstract: nan
summary:
  Administration (NASA) and the European Space Agency (ESA) had released images suggesting an improvement of the environmental quality and reduction of the emission of NO 2 up to 30% post-lockdown in China (Muhammad et al. A call for comments has been made in regard to the climate and clean air responses to COVID-19 so that the proper attention could be warranted to sustain the improved air quality during the busy days of life (Agrawala et al. So far as the air pollution is concerned, the current COVID-19 related lockdown has been proved to be a blessing in disguise. All the countries should develop the air pollution surveillance system to measure, monitor, and regulate the air quality level (Kutlar Joss et al. Call for comments: climate and clean air responses to covid-19 COVID-19 pandemic: impacts on the air quality during the partial lockdown in São Paulo state The New Indian Express (2020) Air pollution levels in Delhi drop by 49% post-lockdown


id: cord-308833-ei1faruy
author: Zheng, Xiaohong
date: 2004
txt: ./txt/cord-308833-ei1faruy.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-308833-ei1faruy.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32214716/
doi: 10.1007/bf03182817
summary:
  In this research, high voltage static electricity and ultraviolet technologies were integrated to an air purifying device which can be used to trap and kill airborne bacteria and viruses in central air-conditioning systems. This provides a basis for using this particular phage strain as a viral simulant in place of SARS CoV and other airborne viruses in the tests for evaluation of bioaerosol removal and inactivation by different types of air purifiers. Fig. 4(a) shows that the plaques formed on a GSM plate were used to sample the airflow containing phage aerosol generated with a source suspension with 10 5 pfu/mL when the integrated air purifier was turned off. In addition to particle removal test, airborne bacteria were also sampled in the experimental room with the integrated air purifier. Based upon the integrated technology of high voltage electric field, ultraviolet ray, composite silver material, and activated carbon fibers, an air purifying device has been developed to prevent airborne bacteria and virus spread through central air-conditioning system.

title:
  Experimental investigation of integrated air purifying technology for bioaerosol removal and inactivation in central air-conditioning system

abstract:
  In this research, high voltage static electricity and ultraviolet technologies were integrated to an air purifying device which can be used to trap and kill airborne bacteria and viruses in central air-conditioning systems. An experimental platform was built to mimic the central air system, in which the efficacy of the newly built device was examined. In addition to the standard physical and chemical tests, bacteriophages were used to simulate airborne viruses in the experimental system. The bacteriophage suspension was aerosolized into the air with ultrasonic wave atomization. The result showed that more than 86% removal efficiency of micro-particles (<10 micron in diameter) were removed after the device was in operation in a building and more than 95% of bacteriophages in the experimental system. It is concluded that the integrated air purifier is suitable for controlling air quality and preventing virus transmission through the central air system.


id: cord-313825-bbjxd86y
author: Xia, Tian
date: 2016-10-08
txt: ./txt/cord-313825-bbjxd86y.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-313825-bbjxd86y.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1093/nsr/nww064
doi: 10.1093/nsr/nww064
summary:
  The lung is the first target organ for air pollution and PM exposure is associated with reduced lung function, increased lung inflammation, asthma, respiratory infections, lung cancer and exacerbation of COPD, which lead to systemic inflammation and oxidative stress affecting blood, vasculature, heart and brain, ultimately contribute to the premature mortality ( Fig. 2) [3, 8, 14, 16] . These specific features of UFPs can significantly contribute to the adverse effects through ROS over-production by the redox-active organic chemicals and metals on particle surface, resulting in cellular oxidative stress [18, 19, 21, 44, 48] . These include: (i) carbon core of PM and UFPs could induce ROS generation and oxidative stress; (ii) catalytic conversion of PAHs to quinones by cytochrome P450 in the endoplasmic reticulum; (iii) quinone redox cycling by NADPH-dependent P450 reductase in microsomes; (iv) mitochondrial perturbation leading to electron leakage in the inner membrane; and (v) NADPH oxidase activity in the macrophage surface membrane and associated phagosomes.

title:
  Pulmonary diseases induced by ambient ultrafine and engineered nanoparticles in twenty-first century

abstract:
  Air pollution is a severe threat to public health globally, affecting everyone in developed and developing countries alike. Among different air pollutants, particulate matter (PM), particularly combustion-produced fine PM (PM(2.5)) has been shown to play a major role in inducing various adverse health effects. Strong associations have been demonstrated by epidemiological and toxicological studies between increases in PM(2.5) concentrations and premature mortality, cardiopulmonary diseases, asthma and allergic sensitization, and lung cancer. The mechanisms of PM-induced toxicological effects are related to their size, chemical composition, lung clearance and retention, cellular oxidative stress responses and pro-inflammatory effects locally and systemically. Particles in the ultrafine range (<100 nm), although they have the highest number counts, surface area and organic chemical content, are often overlooked due to insufficient monitoring and risk assessment. Yet, ample studies have demonstrated that ambient ultrafine particles have higher toxic potential compared with PM(2.5). In addition, the rapid development of nanotechnology, bringing ever-increasing production of nanomaterials, has raised concerns about the potential human exposure and health impacts. All these add to the complexity of PM-induced health effects that largely remains to be determined, and mechanistic understanding on the toxicological effects of ambient ultrafine particles and nanomaterials will be the focus of studies in the near future.


id: cord-314048-1dp4zkus
author: Nwanaji-Enwerem, Jamaji C.
date: 2020-07-08
txt: ./txt/cord-314048-1dp4zkus.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-314048-1dp4zkus.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32641763/
doi: 10.1038/s41370-020-0247-x
summary:
  After the emergence of the respiratory virus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), many exposure and environmental health scientists promptly recognized the potentially catastrophic public health ramifications of concurrent infectious and air pollution-mediated disease. Hence, poor household indoor air quality is a long-standing public health issue with even greater relevance now that many individuals are spending more time at home. At present, the Environmental Protection Agency does not regulate indoor air, and state-level legislation has resulted in a patchwork of national coverage. Rather, similar to efforts drawing attention to increases in domestic abuse and the mental health consequences of isolation [8, 9] , it is an opportunity to name poor household indoor air quality as a long-standing public health issue with increased relevance during the present pandemic. Furthermore, efforts to make homes airtight to improve energy efficiency have created buildings with reduced outdoor ventilation rates resulting in the buildup of indoor pollutants to harmful levels that would be otherwise unacceptable outdoors [11, 12] .

title:
  Another invisible enemy indoors: COVID-19, human health, the home, and United States indoor air policy

abstract:
  After the emergence of the respiratory virus SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), many exposure and environmental health scientists promptly recognized the potentially catastrophic public health ramifications of concurrent infectious and air pollution-mediated disease. Nevertheless, much of this attention has been focused on outdoor interactions. Each year, 3.8 million people worldwide prematurely die from illnesses attributable to indoor air. Hence, poor household indoor air quality is a long-standing public health issue with even greater relevance now that many individuals are spending more time at home. At present, the Environmental Protection Agency does not regulate indoor air, and state-level legislation has resulted in a patchwork of national coverage. Here, we describe common sources of indoor air pollution, the health impacts of indoor pollutants, and populations disparately impacted by COVID-19 and poor indoor air quality. Furthermore, we detail the need for better legislation that promotes the integrity of the indoor air environment, and what individuals can do to personally protect themselves as we await more comprehensive indoor air legislation.


id: cord-316201-08pyx98r
author: Grout, Andrea
date: 2017-02-01
txt: ./txt/cord-316201-08pyx98r.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-316201-08pyx98r.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/s1473-3099(16)30476-5
doi: 10.1016/s1473-3099(16)30476-5
summary:
  2 Aircraft can now travel to almost any part of the world within 24 h, and can enable spread of infection either by inflight infection transmission or by transporting infectious passengers or vectors-eg, malaria-infected mosquitoes-from endemic to non-endemic regions, thus putting populations in destination countries at risk. 5 To reduce the risk of on-board disease transmission, the US Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) provides cabin crews with information on general infection control measures and guidelines to identify ill and potentially infectious passengers. 4 Management of the risk of transporting infected passengers requires knowledge of transmission dynamics and the potential effectiveness of airport entry and exit screening measures, the ability to appropriately isolate or quarantine individual passengers on an aircraft, and adequately trained aircrew who are able to identify signs of infection and take appropriate measures.

title:
  Guidelines, law, and governance: disconnects in the global control of airline-associated infectious diseases

abstract:
  International air travel is increasingly affecting the epidemiology of infectious diseases. A particular public health, economic, and political concern is the role of air travel in bringing infectious passengers or vectors to previously non-endemic areas. Yet, little research has been done to investigate either the infection risks associated with air travel or the empirical evidence for the effectiveness of infection control measures on aircraft and at borders. We briefly review the interface between international and national legislation, policy, and guidelines in the context of existing infection risks and possible scenarios. We have found that public health guidance and legislation, which airlines are required to follow, are often contradictory and confusing. Infection control measures for air travel need to be underpinned by coherent and enforceable national and international legislation that is based on solid epidemiological evidence. We recommend further research investment into more effective on-board vector control, health screening, and risk communications strategies, and the development of enforceable and harmonised international legislation.


id: cord-321657-2s1npse5
author: Du, Sean Quan
date: 2020-05-13
txt: ./txt/cord-321657-2s1npse5.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-321657-2s1npse5.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32356908/
doi: 10.1002/jmv.25866
summary:
  4 In this paper, we used mathematical modeling to investigate the dynamics of the viral infection/replication inside a human host, in particular, the influenza and the SARS-CoV-2 virus, as well as the interactions of target cells with the innate and AIRs. Our model suggests that most of the differences between the two types of infections can potentially be attributed to the timing mismatch between the two immune responses. More specifically, influenza is a very acute infection; all vulnerable cells are completely depleted and viruses are more or less cleared by the innate immune response, before the adaptive immune response (AIR), which has a transient nature, reaches a significant level. We proposed an immune-suppressing treatment based on the leanings of our modeling study, which is to apply immunosuppressive drugs during the early phase of infection to reduce the AIRs to a level low enough not to interfere with the innate immune response.

title:
  Mathematical modeling of interaction between innate and adaptive immune responses in COVID‐19 and implications for viral pathogenesis

abstract:
  We have applied mathematical modeling to investigate the infections of the ongoing coronavirus disease‐2019 (COVID‐19) pandemic caused by SARS‐CoV‐2 virus. We first validated our model using the well‐studied influenza viruses and then compared the pathogenesis processes between the two viruses. The interaction between host innate and adaptive immune responses was found to be a potential cause for the higher severity and mortality in COVID‐19 patients. Specifically, the timing mismatch between the two immune responses has a major impact on disease progression. The adaptive immune response of the COVID‐19 patients is more likely to come before the peak of viral load, while the opposite is true for influenza patients. This difference in timing causes delayed depletion of vulnerable epithelial cells in the lungs in COVID‐19 patients while enhancing viral clearance in influenza patients. Stronger adaptive immunity in COVID‐19 patients can potentially lead to longer recovery time and more severe secondary complications. Based on our analysis, delaying the onset of adaptive immune responses during the early phase of infections may be a potential treatment option for high‐risk COVID‐19 patients. Suppressing the adaptive immune response temporarily and avoiding its interference with the innate immune response may allow the innate immunity to more efficiently clear the virus.


id: cord-322364-uo49h1ku
title: The economics of Africa''s floriculture air-cargo supply chain
author: Button, Kenneth
date: 2020-07-06
txt: ./txt/cord-322364-uo49h1ku.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-322364-uo49h1ku.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102789
doi: 10.1016/j.jtrangeo.2020.102789
summary:
  Air transportation often plays a critical role when the supply-chain involves high-value, non-durable, relatively light-weight, and compact consignments such as flowers, and geographically when regions are difficult to access by other trunk modes. (2014) , using South Africa''s international trade data, shows air transportation generally has a comparative advantage when the trunk-haul movement is over relatively long distances, the perishables involved are light weight, low volume and high value items, and especially if the shelf-life of the product is short. 34 As a consequence, about 10% of the flowers are moved through Kilimanjaro International Airport which can only offer belly-hold space, with the remainder being exported through Nairobi which also has easier, if longer, surface transportation access as well as significantly more air cargo capacity, South Africa is the most mature producer of floriculture products in Africa, with an industry dating back to the 1920s and 1930s.

abstract:
  This article examines the economics of Africa's emerging air cargo supply chains, taking floriculture as a case study. Floriculture is an important employer, and earner of foreign exchange for several regions of central/southern and eastern Africa including more recently Ethiopia. Air transportation often plays a critical role when the supply-chain involves high-value, non-durable, relatively light-weight, and compact consignments such as flowers, and geographically when regions are difficult to access by other trunk modes. The success of air cargo chains, however, depend as much on the quality of surface modes serving various “last mile” access and egress functions, as well as efficient nodal interchange points and the availability of suitable airport and airline capacity. The last, because of the important role of belly-hold space, includes consideration of passenger as well as cargo specific services. To meet the needs of Africa's floriculture sector, a variety of supply-chain models have emerged that embrace air and surface links, as well as storage at various points in the chain. The paper considers the nature of these chains, the reason d'être for their structures, and their limitations.


id: cord-325388-xs9lot5s
title: Delivering oxygen-enriched CPAP respiratory support using a non-invasive ventilation device
author: Culmer, P.
date: 2020-04-11
txt: ./txt/cord-325388-xs9lot5s.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-325388-xs9lot5s.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.04.06.20055665
doi: 10.1101/2020.04.06.20055665
summary:
  title: Delivering oxygen-enriched CPAP respiratory support using a non-invasive ventilation device Our intention is to maximise use of existing resources available to HCPs, as NIV and sleep apnoea (CPAP) machines are widely available, to deliver therapeutic benefit and potentially avoid the need for positive pressure ventilation during the COVID-19 pandemic. This offers the possibility to entrain O2 either at the system''s low pressure air inlet, or in the pressurised air-stream near the ventilation mask as shown in Figure 1 . . is representative of the relative performance of these two configurations and suggests that relatively low flow-rates of oxygen can be used to obtain therapeutic FiO2 levels. In conclusion, positive pressure ventilators can provide an effective means to deliver CPAP with oxygen-enriched air for therapeutic intervention using standard equipment and fittings, whilst minimising the oxygen demands on hospital infrastructure when treating large numbers of patients.

abstract:
  Here we report an investigation to adapt existing non-invasive ventilators (NIV) capable of delivering CPAP for use with oxygen to deliver enriched ventilation of 40%+ FiO2. Our intention is to maximise use of existing resources available to HCPs, as NIV and sleep apnoea (CPAP) machines are widely available, to deliver therapeutic benefit and potentially avoid the need for positive pressure ventilation during the COVID-19 pandemic.


id: cord-325565-cz9f65ca
author: Heederik, Dick J.J.
date: 2020-06-25
txt: ./txt/cord-325565-cz9f65ca.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-325565-cz9f65ca.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1183/13993003.01361-2020
doi: 10.1183/13993003.01361-2020
summary:
  The second study used European data and, based on simple correlation analyses, associated long term (Jan-Feb 2020) exposure to nitrogen oxides (NOx) in the troposphere (resolution ~7*3.5km), assessed using satellite data, and absolute numbers of COVID-19-related deaths. [5] Positive associations were seen between levels of nitrogen dioxide and nitrogen oxide and increased COVID-19 mortality and reported number of cases, without adjustment for population size, age distribution or other confounding variables. In particular the two ecological studies which crudely correlate reported numbers of COVID-19 cases or mortality to regional air pollution levels ignored the time of introduction of COVID-19 in the different areas, did not take into account disease dynamics in any way, and ignored basic epidemiologic principles by using inadequate measures of disease frequency. The effect of air pollution on disease prognosis can be studied using more conventional approaches after COVID-19 infection.

title:
  Go slow to go fast: A plea for sustained scientific rigor in air pollution research during the COVID-19 pandemic

abstract:
  Present studies on the role of air pollution and COVID-19 spread and prognosis in patients do not fulfill quality criteria and are at present not sufficiently informative.


id: cord-326396-ngez3hwb
author: D''Agostino, D.
date: 2020-10-03
txt: ./txt/cord-326396-ngez3hwb.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-326396-ngez3hwb.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378778820324944?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.enbuild.2020.110517
summary:
  Earth-to-air heat exchanger is a very promising technology but mandatory is the optimization of the system to the purpose of appropriately setting the design parameters (such as diameter, length and number of tubes, displacements of the tubes, air velocity), according to the installations specifics and limits as well as to the geographical zone, in order to let the EAHX system showing the highest energy performances [14] . [23] that, with their one dimensional CFD transient model of EAHX experimentally validated, asserted that with reference to Egyptian weather: i) the larger are duct diameter, length and distance, the higher is the inlet-outlet temperature span; ii) greater air flow velocities reduce the inlet-outlet temperature span; iii) the duct material does not affect significantly the heat exchange between the air and the ground.

title:
  The employment of an earth-to-air heat exchanger as pre-treating unit of an air conditioning system for energy saving: a comparison among different worldwide climatic zones

abstract:
  A great fraction (20-40%) of primary energy is required for building air conditioning, so the use of renewable energy sources is increasing. The geothermal energy for Heating, Ventilating and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems can be used considering an Earth-to-Air Heat eXchanger (EAHX). This work analyses the performance of an EAHX through a mathematical model (2D), as a function of diameter and length of the air ducts. The problem is solved with finite element method. A case study office building is analyzed. The air conditioning plant is characterized by fan-coil units and primary air; the EAHX is positioned upstream the Air Handling Unit (AHU) to pre-cool/pre-heat the air. The building is virtually placed initially in six Italian cities (different climatic zones according to Italian regulation DPR 412/93) and subsequently in eight worldwide cities according to Köppen climate classification. The following parameters are calculated: air temperature variation and thermal efficiency of the EAHX; the decreasing of cooling and heating capacity of the coils into the AHU. The best results refer to a duct length of 100 m for Ottawa (warm-summer humid continental climate, 65% capacity reduction), the worst ones for Rio de Janeiro (tropical wet and dry climate, maximum 24% reduction).


id: cord-328182-z094b51b
author: Lim, Taesub
date: 2011-04-21
txt: ./txt/cord-328182-z094b51b.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-328182-z094b51b.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.04.015
doi: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2011.04.015
summary:
  Thus research has been preceded scrutinizing stack effect on the indoor airborne virus transmission in large hospitals by conducting both the field measurement and numerical analysis according to the outdoor temperature and the releasing vertical points of the tracer gas assumed as a viral contaminant. A sample high-rise hospital was selected, and pressure difference measurements related to the stack effect were carried out for the entire building in order to examine general airflow patterns. Even though the time of measurement was in April when the inside and outside temperature difference was comparatively smaller than in December, in the upper section of the building, an air flow with unpleasantly high wind speed was flowing out from the elevator shaft when the elevator doors were opened. When the elevator doors are operating under normal conditions, the initial simulation estimates that were used to analyze the air movements in the test hospital showed that the pressure differences in the first and second basement floors were about 8 Pa greater than the actual pressure difference measurements.

title:
  Predictions and measurements of the stack effect on indoor airborne virus transmission in a high-rise hospital building

abstract:
  As the viral diseases such as Severe Acute Respiratory Syndrome (SARS) and Influenza A (H1N1) occur in many countries recently, the epidemic of those influenza viruses causes many human casualties. Moreover, the second infection from infected patients particularly within general hospitals frequently takes places due to improperly hospitalized and/or quarantined patients. Accordingly, it becomes a great concern to accommodate safer ventilation system in general hospital wards against such airborne transmitted viruses. It is also a recent trend that many urban general hospitals are designed and constructed as high-rises. If a virus is transmitted through uncontrolled air movement within a hospital and then infected other patients or healthy visitors, it might be impossible to control the spread of the disease. Thus research has been preceded scrutinizing stack effect on the indoor airborne virus transmission in large hospitals by conducting both the field measurement and numerical analysis according to the outdoor temperature and the releasing vertical points of the tracer gas assumed as a viral contaminant. In the field measurement of a high-rise hospital, the indoor airflow was affected by the stack effect of vertical chute of the building. The numerical simulation was verified by comparing its prediction results and the field measurement data. In result, very high possibility has witnessed that the airborne contaminant emitted from the infected patients in the lower floors could be transported to the higher floors through the airflow driven by the stack effect.


id: cord-329135-g8fuax6p
title: Bioaerosol sampling: sampling mechanisms, bioefficiency and field studies
author: Haig, C.W.
date: 2016-04-01
txt: ./txt/cord-329135-g8fuax6p.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-329135-g8fuax6p.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0195670116300044
doi: 10.1016/j.jhin.2016.03.017
summary:
  Numerous successful studies are described that point to best practice in bioaerosol sampling, from the use of small personal samplers to monitor workers'' pathogen exposure through to large static samplers collecting airborne microbes in various healthcare settings. 11, 53 If the target microbe is unknown and a general assessment of bioaerosol particles present in an environment is sought, then the use of different types of sampling devices will mitigate the limitations of individual samplers, making a comprehensive study more likely. Correlation between active and passive sampling was also described during a study comparing different ventilation regimes in OTs. 12 Using a Surface Air System sampler (SAS, International Pbi, Milan, Italy) operating at 180 L/min and settle plates, both with tryptic soy agar, the study showed that unidirectional airflows within OTs did not guarantee low counts of airborne bacteria. Effect of sampling time and air humidity on the bioefficiency of filter samplers for bioaerosol collection

abstract:
  Investigations into the suspected airborne transmission of pathogens in healthcare environments have posed a challenge to researchers for more than a century. With each pathogen demonstrating a unique response to environmental conditions and the mechanical stresses it experiences, the choice of sampling device is not obvious. Our aim was to review bioaerosol sampling, sampling equipment, and methodology. A comprehensive literature search was performed, using electronic databases to retrieve English language papers on bioaerosol sampling. The review describes the mechanisms of popular bioaerosol sampling devices such as impingers, cyclones, impactors, and filters, explaining both their strengths and weaknesses, and the consequences for microbial bioefficiency. Numerous successful studies are described that point to best practice in bioaerosol sampling, from the use of small personal samplers to monitor workers' pathogen exposure through to large static samplers collecting airborne microbes in various healthcare settings. Of primary importance is the requirement that studies should commence by determining the bioefficiency of the chosen sampler and the pathogen under investigation within laboratory conditions. From such foundations, sampling for bioaerosol material in the complexity of the field holds greater certainty of successful capture of low-concentration airborne pathogens. From the laboratory to use in the field, this review enables the investigator to make informed decisions about the choice of bioaerosol sampler and its application.


id: cord-329414-zueqafmn
author: Mallet, Marc Daniel
date: 2020-08-17
txt: ./txt/cord-329414-zueqafmn.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-329414-zueqafmn.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S130910422030221X?v=s5
doi: 10.1016/j.apr.2020.08.001
summary:
  title: Meteorological normalisation of PM(10) using machine learning reveals distinct increases of nearby source emissions in the Australian mining town of moranbah Here, two machine learning algorithms (gradient boosted regression and random forest) have been implemented to model and then meteorologically normalise PM(10) mass concentrations measured in Moranbah. The objective of this study is to exploit the recent advances in machine learn-88 ing to investigate the trends in PM 10 in Moranbah and assess the impact of 89 changes in local industrial actions on air quality using open-access datasets 90 and techniques. The secondary intent is to establish a methodology for this meteorological 95 normalisation that accounts for the influence of nearby fires, which are an 96 important source of particulate matter in the Australian dry season, as well 97 as other environmental factors such as soil water content.

title:
  Meteorological normalisation of PM(10) using machine learning reveals distinct increases of nearby source emissions in the Australian mining town of moranbah

abstract:
  The impacts of poor air quality on human health are becoming more apparent. Businesses and governments are implementing technologies and policies in order to improve air quality. Despite this the PM(10) air quality in the mining town of Moranbah, Australia, has worsened since measurements commenced in 2011. The annual average PM(10) concentrations during 2012, 2017, 2018 and 2019 have all exceeded the Australian National Environmental Protection Measure's standard, and there has been an increase in the frequency of exceedances of the daily standard. The average annual increase in PM(10) was 1.2 [Formula: see text] 0.5 μg [Formula: see text] between 2011 and 2019 and has been 2.5 [Formula: see text] 1.2 μg [Formula: see text] since 2014. The cause of this has not previously been established. Here, two machine learning algorithms (gradient boosted regression and random forest) have been implemented to model and then meteorologically normalise PM(10) mass concentrations measured in Moranbah. The best performing model, using the random forest algorithm, was able to explain 59% of the variance in PM(10) using a range of meteorological, environmental and temporal variables as predictors. An increasing trend after normalising for these factors was found of 0.6 [Formula: see text] 0.5 μg [Formula: see text] since 2011 and 1.7 [Formula: see text] 0.3 μg [Formula: see text] since 2014. These results indicate that more than half of the increase in PM(10) is due to a rise in local emissions in the region. The remainder of the rise in PM(10) was found to be due to a decrease of soil water content in the surrounding region, which can facilitate higher dust emissions. Whether the presence of open-cut coal mines exacerbated the role of soil water content is unclear. Although fires can have drastic effects on the local air quality, changes in fire patterns are not responsible for the rising trend. PM(10) composition measurements or more detailed data relating to local sources is still needed to better isolate these emissions. Nonetheless, this study highlights the need and potential for action by industry and government to improve the air quality and reduce health risks for the nearby population.


id: cord-330463-j4cf7vzs
title: Indoor air as a vehicle for human pathogens: Introduction, objectives, and expectation of outcome
author: Sattar, Syed A.
date: 2016-09-02
txt: ./txt/cord-330463-j4cf7vzs.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-330463-j4cf7vzs.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0196655316305387
doi: 10.1016/j.ajic.2016.06.010
summary:
  In this international workshop, a panel of 6 experts will expound on the following: (1) the potential for indoor air to spread a wide range of human pathogens, plus engineering controls to reduce the risk for exposure to airborne infectious agents; (2) the behavior of aerosolized infectious agents indoors and the use of emerging air decontamination technologies; (3) a survey of quantitative methods to recover infectious agents and their surrogates from indoor air with regard to survival and inactivation of airborne pathogens; (4) mathematical models to predict the movement of pathogens indoors and the use of such information to optimize the benefits of air decontamination technologies; and (5) synergy between different infectious agents, such as legionellae and fungi, in the built environment predisposing to possible transmission-related health impacts of aerosolized biofilm-based opportunistic pathogens.

abstract:
  Airborne spread of pathogens can be rapid, widespread, and difficult to prevent. In this international workshop, a panel of 6 experts will expound on the following: (1) the potential for indoor air to spread a wide range of human pathogens, plus engineering controls to reduce the risk for exposure to airborne infectious agents; (2) the behavior of aerosolized infectious agents indoors and the use of emerging air decontamination technologies; (3) a survey of quantitative methods to recover infectious agents and their surrogates from indoor air with regard to survival and inactivation of airborne pathogens; (4) mathematical models to predict the movement of pathogens indoors and the use of such information to optimize the benefits of air decontamination technologies; and (5) synergy between different infectious agents, such as legionellae and fungi, in the built environment predisposing to possible transmission-related health impacts of aerosolized biofilm-based opportunistic pathogens. After the presentations, the panel will address a set of preformulated questions on selection criteria for surrogate microbes to study the survival and inactivation of airborne human pathogens, desirable features of technologies for microbial decontamination of indoor air, knowledge gaps, and research needs. It is anticipated that the deliberations of the workshop will provide the attendees with an update on the significance of indoor air as a vehicle for transmitting human pathogens with a brief on what is currently being done to mitigate the risks from airborne infectious agents.


id: cord-332365-20u06444
author: Raciti, Loredana
date: 2020-06-27
txt: ./txt/cord-332365-20u06444.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-332365-20u06444.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S0306987720316248
doi: 10.1016/j.mehy.2020.110058
summary:
  We suppose that ash and gases emitted from the Mount Etna contributed to air pollution, potentially favouring the major contagion of COVID-19 in the eastern flank of the mountain, as in Catania city. Heavy metals have been dosed in the groundwater of the Etna (used for water plants or to drink), especially in the eastern and southern sectors of the volcano, and they are believed to contribute to intoxication of public health and to pulmonary or neurodegenerative diseases [12, 14, 15] . This is the first paper that elaborates the hypothesis of a potential role of volcanic gases and heavy metals-related air pollution, combined to specific climatic conditions and regional topography, in favouring severe COVID-19 diffusion in Sicily. This is the first paper that elaborates the hypothesis of a potential role of volcanic gases and heavy metals-related air pollution, combined to specific climatic conditions and regional topography, in favouring severe COVID-19 diffusion in Sicily.

title:
  Can volcanic trace elements facilitate Covid-19 diffusion? A hypothesis stemming from the Mount Etna area, Sicily

abstract:
  In December 2019, severe cases of pneumonia of unknown aetiology were reported in Wuhan city, in China. Lately, the pneumonia was related to the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus-2 (SARS-CoV-2), and the diseases was termed coronavirus disease-2019 (COVID-19). At the end of January 2020, the infection spread all over Italy, but with high infection rates and mortality in the northern part, especially in Lombardy, the most industrialized and polluted region of the country. It is noteworthy that a strong association between severe viral respiratory disease and air pollution has been described. Air pollutant could be solid particles, liquid droplets, or gases and can be of natural origin (such as ash from a volcanic eruption) or released from motor vehicle depletes (carbon monoxide gas) or factories (sulfur dioxide). Volcanic eruptions release large amounts of sulphuric acid, hydrogen sulfide, and hydrochloric acid into the atmosphere. Pulmunary diseases spread by means of small droplets in the breath, also called aerosols, and air pollution may facilitate the outside survival of viruses. We suppose that ash and gases emitted from the Mount Etna contributed to air pollution, potentially favouring the major contagion of COVID-19 in the eastern flank of the mountain, as in Catania city. In fact, ash and gases (with regard to radon) are usually particularly intense in winter, with a reduction of emission of specific metals with warmer weather. This is the first paper that elaborates the hypothesis of a potential role of volcanic gases and heavy metals-related air pollution, combined to specific climatic conditions and regional topography, in favouring severe COVID-19 diffusion in Sicily. Clinical and epidemiological studies are needed to support the hypothesis and plan the due prevention and awareness-raising campaigns.


id: cord-333078-8cto831y
author: Kruizinga, Matthijs D.
date: 2020-07-08
txt: ./txt/cord-333078-8cto831y.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-333078-8cto831y.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32592537/
doi: 10.1002/ppul.24932
summary:
  title: Technical validity and usability of a novel smartphone‐connected spirometry device for pediatric patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis The average difference between the Air Next and conventional spirometry was 40 mL for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and 3 mL for forced vital capacity (FVC). CONCLUSION: The Air Next device shows validity for the measurement of FEV1 and FVC in a pediatric patient population. 2, 3 Researchers have investigated the clinical value of home-based measurements of several devices for pediatric asthma and cystic fibrosis (CF). The aim of this study is to determine the agreement between the Air Next spirometer and conventional spirometry and to evaluate the usability of the device for children and parents when used at home. A total of 2047 spirometry measurements were performed with the Air Next device during the course of the study, resulting in an average compliance of 78%.

title:
  Technical validity and usability of a novel smartphone‐connected spirometry device for pediatric patients with asthma and cystic fibrosis

abstract:
  BACKGROUND: Diagnosis and follow‐up of respiratory diseases traditionally rely on pulmonary function tests (PFTs), which are currently performed in hospitals and require trained personnel. Smartphone‐connected spirometers, like the Air Next spirometer, have been developed to aid in the home monitoring of patients with pulmonary disease. The aim of this study was to investigate the technical validity and usability of the Air Next spirometer in pediatric patients. METHODS: Device variability was tested with a calibrated syringe. About 90 subjects, aged 6 to 16, were included in a prospective cohort study. Fifty‐eight subjects performed conventional spirometry and subsequent Air Next spirometry. The bias and the limits of agreement between the measurements were calculated. Furthermore, subjects used the device for 28 days at home and completed a subject‐satisfaction questionnaire at the end of the study period. RESULTS: Interdevice variability was 2.8% and intradevice variability was 0.9%. The average difference between the Air Next and conventional spirometry was 40 mL for forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) and 3 mL for forced vital capacity (FVC). The limits of agreement were −270 mL and +352 mL for FEV1 and −403 mL and +397 mL for FVC. About 45% of FEV1 measurements and 41% of FVC measurements at home were acceptable and reproducible according to American Thoracic Society/European Respiratory Society criteria. Parents scored difficulty, usefulness, and reliability of the device 1.9, 3.5, and 3.8 out of 5, respectively. CONCLUSION: The Air Next device shows validity for the measurement of FEV1 and FVC in a pediatric patient population.


id: cord-337316-ialg7d7e
title: Risk Perception of Air Pollution: A Systematic Review Focused on Particulate Matter Exposure
author: Cori, Liliana
date: 2020-09-03
txt: ./txt/cord-337316-ialg7d7e.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-337316-ialg7d7e.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17176424
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17176424
summary:
  To systematically examine the articles selected, the explored dimensions of perception (understanding/sensorial perception; reactions/psychological consequences; reactions/physical consequences; behaviors) were categorized by 20 features (awareness; belief; knowledge; concern; risk perception; worry; fear; outrage; familiarity; trust; annoyance; anxiety; life quality change; self-reported health symptoms; avoidance of the problem; search for information; exposure reduction; proactivity; request for action; and acceptance). Cross-sectional study by questionnaire to evaluate relationships between concern on health effects of air pollution and personal and environmental factors. The results of this analysis, presented in Table 2 , showed that for "understanding" (44) , most of the articles focused on awareness (32); for "reactions/psychological" (48), more represented risk perception (23); for "reactions/physical" (44) , the declared symptoms were most represented (26); and for "behaviours" (38) , exposure reduction (13) and search for information (12) were the most represented. People, place and pollution: Investigating relationships between air quality perceptions, health concerns, exposure, and individual-and area-level characteristics

abstract:
  The adverse health effects of exposure to air pollutants, notably to particulate matter (PM), are well-known, as well as the association with measured or estimated concentration levels. The role of perception can be relevant in exploring effects and pollution control actions. The purpose of this study was to explore studies that analyse people’s perception, together with the measurement of air pollution, in order to elucidate the relationship between them. We conducted a systematic review in accordance with the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA) guidelines. In March 2020, PubMed, EMBASE, and Scopus databases were explored in an attempt to search for studies published from 2000 to 2020. The review included 38 studies, most of which were conducted in China (n = 13) and the United States (n = 11) and published over the last four years (n = 26). Three studies were multicenter investigations, while five articles were based on a national-level survey. The air quality (AQ) was assessed by monitoring stations (n = 24) or dispersion models (n = 7). Many studies were population questionnaire-based, air monitoring and time-series studies, and web-based investigations. A direct association between exposure and perception emerged in 20 studies. This systematic review has shown that most of the studies establish a relationship between risk perception measurement. A broad spectrum of concepts and notions related to perception also emerged, which is undoubtedly an indicator of the wealth of available knowledge and is promising for future research.


id: cord-339540-qvub5v2e
author: Chen, Chun
date: 2018-03-17
txt: ./txt/cord-339540-qvub5v2e.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-339540-qvub5v2e.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32218904/
doi: 10.1007/s12273-018-0441-0
summary:
  After analyzing the data, a simple method was developed to differentiate direct and indirect exposure in mixing and displacement ventilated rooms. Therefore, we used the local air velocity (U) at the center of the target person''s breathing zone calculated by the model above as an indicator to differentiate the direct and indirect exposure to exhaled contaminants. Therefore, the threshold local air velocity was set at 0.05 m/s in the method for differentiating the direct and indirect exposure to exhaled contaminants in mixing ventilated rooms. The proposed method was used to differentiate the direct and indirect exposure to exhaled contaminants for the 133 mixing ventilation cases. Therefore, the threshold local air velocity was set at 0.07 m/s in the method for differentiating the direct and indirect exposure to exhaled contaminants in displacement ventilated rooms. (3) The proposed method can reasonably differentiate direct and indirect exposure to exhaled contaminants in both mixing and displacement ventilated rooms.

title:
  A simple method for differentiating direct and indirect exposure to exhaled contaminants in mechanically ventilated rooms

abstract:
  Many airborne infectious diseases can be transmitted via exhaled contaminants transported in the air. Direct exposure occurs when the exhaled jet from the infected person directly enters the breathing zone of the target person. Indirect exposure occurs when the contaminants disperse in the room and are inhaled by the target person. This paper presents a simple method for differentiating the direct and indirect exposure to exhaled contaminants in mechanically ventilated rooms. Experimental data for 191 cases were collected from the literature. After analyzing the data, a simple method was developed to differentiate direct and indirect exposure in mixing and displacement ventilated rooms. The proposed method correctly differentiated direct and indirect exposure for 120 out of the 133 mixing ventilation cases and 47 out of the 58 displacement ventilation cases. Therefore, the proposed method is suitable for use at the early design stage to quickly assess whether there will be direct exposure to exhaled contaminants in a mechanically ventilated room.


id: cord-340421-i0fjr2vw
author: Cho, Yu Sung
date: 2019-04-01
txt: ./txt/cord-340421-i0fjr2vw.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-340421-i0fjr2vw.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32288254/
doi: 10.1016/j.snb.2018.12.155
summary:
  Based on a high air-to-liquid-flow-rate ratio (∼ 1.4 × 10(5)) and a stable liquid thin film within a wet-cyclone, the system achieved excellent sampling performance as indicated by the high concentration and viability of bioaerosols (> 95% collection efficiency for > 0.5-μm-diameter particles, > 95% biological collection efficiency for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus). Considerable research has focused on the development of wet-cyclone bioaerosol samplers [26] [27] [28] [29] [30] ; however, these have a large particle cut-off diameter, and a low particle collection efficiency and aerosol-to-liquid transfer rate; furthermore, the twophase flow operation is unstable and few fully integrated bioaerosol sampling systems are capable of continuous real-time sampling. For real-time continuous particle sampling with a high concentration ratio, the liquid sampling medium should form a stable film on the wall of the cyclone under the high air flow rate condition.

title:
  Development of an automated wet-cyclone system for rapid, continuous and enriched bioaerosol sampling and its application to real-time detection

abstract:
  We present a novel bioaerosol sampling system based on a wet-cyclone for real-time and continuous monitoring of airborne microorganisms. The Automated and Real-time Bioaerosol Sampler based on Wet-cyclone (ARBSW) continuously collects bioaerosols in a liquid medium and delivers the samples to a sensing device using a wireless remote control system. Based on a high air-to-liquid-flow-rate ratio (∼ 1.4 × 10(5)) and a stable liquid thin film within a wet-cyclone, the system achieved excellent sampling performance as indicated by the high concentration and viability of bioaerosols (> 95% collection efficiency for > 0.5-μm-diameter particles, > 95% biological collection efficiency for Staphylococcus epidermidis and Micrococcus luteus). Furthermore, the continuous and real-time sampling performance of the ARBSW system under test-bed conditions and during a field test demonstrated that the ARBSW is capable of continuously monitoring bioaerosols in real time with high sensitivity. Therefore, the ARBSW shows promise for continuous real-time monitoring of bioaerosols and will facilitate the management of bioaerosol-related health and environmental issues.


id: cord-341644-egbahelm
author: Benmarhnia, Tarik
date: 2020-07-17
txt: ./txt/cord-341644-egbahelm.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-341644-egbahelm.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1093/aje/kwaa148
doi: 10.1093/aje/kwaa148
summary:
  In this commentary, methodological challenges and opportunities regarding the links between air pollution and COVID-19 are discussed with a focus on: i) the role of differential exposure to air pollution across populations and explain spatio-temporal variability of the epidemic spread and resultant mortality; ii) the indirect impacts of interventions treated as natural experiments to control COVID-19 person-to-person spread on air pollution and population health. I first discuss the potential mechanisms between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 and the opportunity to clearly formulate causal questions of interest through the target trial framework. Such environmental justice issues are critical and may contribute to explain the reported differential impacts of COVID-19 on race/ethnic communities in the US Occupational health (59, 60) can also provide critical actionable evidence by identifying highrisk workers given that some workplace conditions (e.g. health care providers and caregivers; water and wastewater sector; construction workers…) may increase severity of health outcomes or interact with other risks such as extreme heat (61) .

title:
  Linkages Between Air Pollution and the Health Burden from COVID-19: Methodological Challenges and Opportunities

abstract:
  The COVID-19 pandemic revealed and exacerbated existing social and economic health disparities and actionable epidemiological evidence is needed to identify potential vulnerability factors to help inform targeted responses. In this commentary, methodological challenges and opportunities regarding the links between air pollution and COVID-19 are discussed with a focus on: i) the role of differential exposure to air pollution across populations and explain spatio-temporal variability of the epidemic spread and resultant mortality; ii) the indirect impacts of interventions treated as natural experiments to control COVID-19 person-to-person spread on air pollution and population health. I first discuss the potential mechanisms between exposure to air pollution and COVID-19 and the opportunity to clearly formulate causal questions of interest through the target trial framework. Then, I discuss challenges regarding the use of quasi-experimental designs that capitalize on the differential timing of COVID-19 policies including the selection of control groups and potential violations of the common shock assumption. Finally, I discuss environmental justice implications of this many-headed beast of a crisis.


id: cord-344266-ug2uew71
title: The SARS-COV-2 outbreak around the Amazon rainforest: the relevance of the airborne transmission
author: Crema, E.
date: 2020-08-07
txt: ./txt/cord-344266-ug2uew71.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-344266-ug2uew71.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: http://medrxiv.org/cgi/content/short/2020.08.06.20169433v1?rss=1
doi: 10.1101/2020.08.06.20169433
summary:
  Currently, this phenomenon has gained tragic relevance due to the uncontrolled dispersion of the Covid-19 throughout the planet, since airborne transmission is one of the forms of viral contamination, as well as the direct reception of drops exhaled by a contaminated person and the contact with infected surfaces. A relevant study issued in the journal Nature revealed the existence of the RNA of the SARS-COV-2 in aerosols collected from the air of several closed environments and open places of two hospitals in Wuhan dedicated only to patients infected with Covid-19 (12) . This indication is based only on old studies about the direct transmission by larger drops, dangerously ignoring the contamination by the virus airborne in droplets that remain suspended in the air for several hours, and even days after the environment has been visited by an infected person.

abstract:
  Background This paper presents a global analysis of the SARS-COV-2 outbreak in Brazil. Amazonian States have a much higher contamination rate than the southern and southeastern States. So far, no explanation has been provided for this striking difference that can shed light on the airborne transmission of the virus. Minimizing airborne transmission, health authorities recommend two meters as a safe distance. However, recent experiments reveal that this can be the main form of contagion. There is a lack of theoretical explanation on how airborne transmission works. Methods To investigate the spread of SARS-COV-2 in different macro environments, we analyzed the daily official data on the evolution of COVID-19 in Brazil. We compared our epidemiologic results obtained in States with very different climatic characteristics, and that had adopted, almost simultaneously, similar social isolation measures. To understand the virus spread, it was necessary to calculate theoretically the movement and behavior in the air of saliva droplets. Findings The transmission of SARS-COV-2 is much faster in the Amazon rainforest region. Our theoretical calculations explain and support the empirical results observed in recent experiments that demonstrate the relevance of aerial transmission of the coronavirus. Interpretation An onset of collective immunity may have been achieved with a contamination rate of about 15% of the Amazonian population. If confirmed, this result will have an essential impact on the management of the pandemic across the planet. The airborne transmission played a decisive role in the striking difference in the evolution of the pandemic among Brazilian regions. Air humidity is the most important climatic factor in viral spreading, while usual ambient temperatures do not have strong influence. There is no safe indoor distance for the coronavirus transmission. So, mask and eye protection are essential.


id: cord-346751-x3gd19kq
title: Air Pollution and Asthma: Critical Targets for Effective Action
author: Kelly, Frank J.
date: 2020-11-08
txt: ./txt/cord-346751-x3gd19kq.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-346751-x3gd19kq.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1007/s41030-020-00138-1
doi: 10.1007/s41030-020-00138-1
summary:
  There is now consistent evidence that exposure to traffic-related air pollution (TRAP; particularly nitrogen dioxide [NO 2 ]) is associated with an increased risk of developing asthma across the entire life course, and evidence is accumulating for a link between poor indoor air quality and new cases [5, 6] . However, whilst largescale LEZs can deliver improvements in urban air quality, data suggest that, at least in densely populated European cities, more ambitious schemes are required to meet legislative limits and deliver improvements to childhood respiratory health, including asthma symptoms [35] . The introduction and rigorous evaluation of zones with greater reductions in pollutant concentrations are clearly warranted and may benefit from adjuvant clean air zones that introduce no vehicle idling areas, minimise congestion and support active and low-emission travel through the integration of public transport networks, including park-and-ride schemes.

abstract:
  Evidence to advocate for cleaner air for people with asthma is not in short supply. We know that air pollution is associated with the development and worsening of the condition and that mitigating interventions can improve respiratory outcomes. We have clear targets, particularly traffic emissions, especially in urban areas, and plenty of potentially effective actions. Road traffic must be reduced, and what remains should be cleaner and greener. Urban green spaces, safe cycle networks and wider pavements will promote active travel and leisure time exercise. Healthcare professionals must ensure people are aware of their air quality, its impact on asthma and the appropriate behaviour to safeguard health. What remains are realistic policies and effective measures, based on the correct scientific evidence, to be taken forth with political courage and investment so that air pollution no longer contributes to the development or worsening of respiratory ill health.


id: cord-348994-ly2fop7d
author: Faustini, Annunziata
date: 2020-06-23
txt: ./txt/cord-348994-ly2fop7d.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-348994-ly2fop7d.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.3390/ijerph17124512
doi: 10.3390/ijerph17124512
summary:
  It also summarizes the ongoing discussion about the designs and methods for assessing the air pollution impact with particular attention to improvements due to spatio-temporal analysis and other new approaches, such as studying short term effects in cohorts, and the still discussed methods of predicting the values of attributable risk (AR). The most important problems with these studies were recognized by the researchers themselves, i.e., (1) not having studied other factors potentially responsible for the effects, including air pollutants other than particulate matter (PM), (2) not having individual measurements of exposure, which could prefigure exposure measurement errors, (3) having measured mortality that was premature only by a few days, which is an effect of limited public-health impact, (4) having used different methods to study this association in different cities.

title:
  Attributable Risk to Assess the Health Impact of Air Pollution: Advances, Controversies, State of the Art and Future Needs

abstract:
  Despite the increased attention given to the health impact assessment of air pollution and to the strategies to control it in both scientific literature and concrete interventions, the results of the implementations, especially those involving traffic, have not always been satisfactory and there is still disagreement about the most appropriate interventions and the methods to assess their effectiveness. This state-of-the-art article reviews the recent interpretation of the concepts that concern the impact assessment, and compares old and new measurements of attributable risk and attributable fraction. It also summarizes the ongoing discussion about the designs and methods for assessing the air pollution impact with particular attention to improvements due to spatio-temporal analysis and other new approaches, such as studying short term effects in cohorts, and the still discussed methods of predicting the values of attributable risk (AR). Finally, the study presents the more recent analytic perspectives and the methods for directly assessing the effects of not yet implemented interventions on air quality and health, in accordance with the suggestion in the strategic plan 2020−2025 from the Health Effect Institute.


id: cord-349807-ar77cnsa
title: Immunopathological features of air pollution and its impact on inflammatory airway diseases (IAD)
author: Rouadi, Philip W.
date: 2020-10-05
txt: ./txt/cord-349807-ar77cnsa.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-349807-ar77cnsa.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://api.elsevier.com/content/article/pii/S1939455120303707
doi: 10.1016/j.waojou.2020.100467
summary:
  79 InIn-vivovivo studies in both human and animal models suggest pollutant exposure induces inflammatory changes in normal, chronically diseased and allergic nasal and sinonasal tissues ( Table 1 ). 160 Moreover, in vitro studies suggest air pollution may suppress innate and adaptive immunity and increases susceptibility to bacterial and viral respiratory infections in both human and animal clinical models, following short-or long-term exposure (see Table 2 ). 161 Also, in vitro Rrhinovirus (RV) 16 infectivity following nitrogen oxide and ozone exposure in human respiratory epithelial cells Loss of low-level DEP-exposed MDMf along their differentiation into macrophages likely due to dysfunctional (loss of mitochondrial membrane electrical potential and lysosomal function) and phenotypic (TLRmediated reduction in CD14 and CD11 surface marker expression) structural changes in MDMf of healthy exposed individuals. We reviewed evidence for the involvement of oxidative stress pathways and their nature in healthy individuals and patients with inflammatory airway diseases following exposure to a spectrum of important chemical, allergic and infectious air contaminants.

abstract:
  Air pollution causes significant morbidity and mortality in patients with inflammatory airway diseases (IAD) such as allergic rhinitis (AR), chronic rhinosinusitis (CRS), asthma, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). Oxidative stress in patients with IAD can induce eosinophilic inflammation in the airways, augment atopic allergic sensitization, and increase susceptibility to infection. We reviewed emerging data depicting the involvement of oxidative stress in IAD patients. We evaluated biomarkers, outcome measures and immunopathological alterations across the airway mucosal barrier following exposure, particularly when accentuated by an infectious insult.


id: cord-351180-g13zteit
author: Park, Kyu-Tae
date: 2014-08-31
txt: ./txt/cord-351180-g13zteit.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-351180-g13zteit.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/32226084/
doi: 10.1016/j.carbon.2014.04.019
summary:
  Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were coated on a sample of glass fiber air filter medium at atmospheric pressure and room temperature using electro-aerodynamic deposition (EAD). Using CNT-coated filter samples, virus aerosol filtration and anti-viral tests were carried out using the aerosol number counting method and the plaque counting method, respectively. Using CNT coated filter samples, virus aerosol filtration and anti-viral tests were carried out using the aerosol number counting technique and the plaque counting method, respectively. Materials and methods After compressed air was passed through a clean air supply consisting of an oil trap, diffusion dryer, and high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filter, the particle-free compressed air entered a Collison type atomizer (9302, TSI Inc., USA), which was filled with 9 ml of de-ionized water and 1 ml of 1% CNT solution. Fabrication of a multi-walled carbon nanotube-deposited glass fiber air filter for the enhancement of nano and submicron aerosol particle filtration and additional antibacterial efficacy

title:
  Filtration and inactivation of aerosolized bacteriophage MS2 by a CNT air filter fabricated using electro-aerodynamic deposition

abstract:
  Abstract Carbon nanotubes (CNTs) were coated on a sample of glass fiber air filter medium at atmospheric pressure and room temperature using electro-aerodynamic deposition (EAD). In the EAD method, CNTs (diameter: 50nm, length: 2–3μm) were aerosolized, electrically charged, and injected through a nozzle. A voltage was applied externally between the ground nozzle and a planar electrode on which the sample was located. The charged CNTs were deposited on the sample in a vertically standing posture even at a low flow velocity. Before the deposition experiment, a calculation was performed to determine the applied voltage by simulating the electric field, flow field, and particle trajectory. Using CNT-coated filter samples, virus aerosol filtration and anti-viral tests were carried out using the aerosol number counting method and the plaque counting method, respectively. For this purpose, bacteriophage MS2 was aerosolized with an atomizer. The particle filtration efficiency was increased to 33.3% in the most penetration particle size zone (100nm) and the antiviral efficiency of the CNT filter was 92% when the coating areal density was 1.5×109 #/cm2. The susceptibility constant of virus to CNTs was 0.2cm2/μg.


id: cord-353209-qkhfp66l
author: Steiner, Daniel J.
date: 2020-06-16
txt: ./txt/cord-353209-qkhfp66l.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-353209-qkhfp66l.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1101/2020.06.15.153064
doi: 10.1101/2020.06.15.153064
summary:
  We report a multiplex label-free antigen microarray on the Arrayed Imaging Reflectometry (AIR) platform for detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, MERS, three circulating coronavirus strains (HKU1, 229E, OC43) and three strains of influenza. Aminereactive substrates for fabrication of AIR arrays were provided by Adarza BioSystems, Inc. For ELISA assays, SARS-CoV-2 full-length spike and RBD were produced in-house using a mammalian expression system, 20,21 as was influenza A/H1N1/California 2009 hemagglutinin. To that end, we have presented preliminary data on a 15-plex array on the AIR platform, developed in response to the need to study SARS-CoV-2 but incorporating antigens for other coronaviruses and influenza. Responses to SARS-CoV-2 antigens on the array effectively discriminated between serum samples from uninfected and COVID-19 convalescent subjects, with generally good correlation to ELISA data.

title:
  Array-based analysis of SARS-CoV-2, other coronaviruses, and influenza antibodies in convalescent COVID-19 patients

abstract:
  Detection of antibodies to upper respiratory pathogens is critical to surveillance, assessment of the immune status of individuals, vaccine development, and basic biology. The urgent need for antibody detection tools has proven particularly acute in the COVID-19 era. We report a multiplex label-free antigen microarray on the Arrayed Imaging Reflectometry (AIR) platform for detection of antibodies to SARS-CoV-2, SARS-CoV-1, MERS, three circulating coronavirus strains (HKU1, 229E, OC43) and three strains of influenza. We find that the array is readily able to distinguish uninfected from convalescent COVID-19 subjects, and provides quantitative information about total Ig, as well as IgG- and IgM-specific responses.


id: cord-355567-60sfv60p
author: Azuma, Kenichi
date: 2020-11-03
txt: ./txt/cord-355567-60sfv60p.txt
cache: ./cache/cord-355567-60sfv60p.txt
extension: .txt
mime: text/plain
url: https://doi.org/10.1186/s12199-020-00904-2
doi: 10.1186/s12199-020-00904-2
summary:
  Recently, 36 researchers insisted on the potential risk of indoor airborne transmission of SARS-CoV-2 and the importance of sufficient and effective ventilation, particle filtration, and air sterilization as infection control measures inside buildings [43] . Therefore, the MHLW published a document titled "Prevention of the COVID-19 Clusters" Abbreviation: SARS-CoV severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus Fig. 1 Traditional Japanese office building HVAC systems: a a centralized HVAC system; and b a centralized ventilation system with an individual air-conditioning system on March 1, 2020 [94] , showing the need for adequate ventilation in buildings because a ventilation standard for infection control has not been established in general buildings in Japan and the characteristics of indoor spaces where the clusters occurred might include poor ventilation and crowding.

title:
  Environmental factors involved in SARS-CoV-2 transmission: effect and role of indoor environmental quality in the strategy for COVID-19 infection control

abstract:
  The severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2), a new zoonotic agent that emerged in December 2019, causes coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). This infection can be spread by asymptomatic, presymptomatic, and symptomatic carriers. SARS-CoV-2 spreads primarily via respiratory droplets during close person-to-person contact in a closed space, especially a building. This article summarizes the environmental factors involved in SARS-CoV-2 transmission, including a strategy to prevent SARS-CoV-2 transmission in a building environment. SARS-CoV-2 can persist on surfaces of fomites for at least 3 days depending on the conditions. If SARS-CoV-2 is aerosolized intentionally, it is stable for at least several hours. SARS-CoV-2 is inactivated rapidly on surfaces with sunlight. Close-contact aerosol transmission through smaller aerosolized particles is likely to be combined with respiratory droplets and contact transmission in a confined, crowded, and poorly ventilated indoor environment, as suggested by some cluster cases. Although evidence of the effect of aerosol transmission is limited and uncertainty remains, adequate preventive measures to control indoor environmental quality are required, based on a precautionary approach, because COVID-19 has caused serious global damages to public health, community, and the social economy. The expert panel for COVID-19 in Japan has focused on the “3 Cs,” namely, “closed spaces with poor ventilation,” “crowded spaces with many people,” and “close contact.” In addition, the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare of Japan has been recommending adequate ventilation in all closed spaces in accordance with the existing standards of the Law for Maintenance of Sanitation in Buildings as one of the initial political actions to prevent the spread of COVID-19. However, specific standards for indoor environmental quality control have not been recommended and many scientific uncertainties remain regarding the infection dynamics and mode of SARS-CoV-2 transmission in closed indoor spaces. Further research and evaluation are required regarding the effect and role of indoor environmental quality control, especially ventilation.


