Resuspension of biological particles from indoor surfaces: Effects of humidity and air swirl

Salimifard, Parichehr; Rim, Donghyun; Gomes, Celso; Kremer, Paul A.; Freihaut, James D.

doi:10.1016/j.scitotenv.2017.01.058

Cited by 50 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 31 publications

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“…In agreement with these findings are the results from a more recent chamber study [ 21 ] where the impact of humidity and air swirl on resuspension of various biological particles from different surface materials were investigated. They found that particle resuspension rate was dependent on particle size, the hydrophilic properties of the particles and relative humidity (RH).…”

Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

“…Most, but not all of these studies indicate that carpet flooring leads to increased amounts of such pollutants in indoor air compared to smooth floors, most likely through resuspension of deposited material [ 5 , 17 , 18 , 19 , 20 ]. Recent data indicates that for some types of such deposited material, the potential for resuspension depends on the relative humidity and hydrophobic properties of the material as well as particle size [ 21 ]. Furthermore, and most importantly, the peer-review literature provides no clear evidence for a dust-reducing effect of carpet flooring.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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Do Carpets Impair Indoor Air Quality and Cause Adverse Health Outcomes: A Review

Becher

Øvrevik

Schwarze

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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Several earlier studies have shown the presence of more dust and allergens in carpets compared with non-carpeted floors. At the same time, adverse effects of carpeted floors on perceived indoor air quality as well as worsening of symptoms in individuals with asthma and allergies were reported. Avoiding extensive carpet use in offices, schools, kindergartens and bedrooms has therefore been recommended by several health authorities. More recently, carpet producers have argued that former assessments were obsolete and that modern rugs are unproblematic, even for those with asthma and allergies. To investigate whether the recommendation to be cautious with the use of carpets is still valid, or whether there are new data supporting that carpet flooring do not present a problem for indoor air quality and health, we have reviewed the literature on this matter. We have not found updated peer reviewed evidence that carpeted floor is unproblematic for the indoor environment. On the contrary, also more recent data support that carpets may act as a repository for pollutants which may become resuspended upon activity in the carpeted area. Also, the use of carpets is still linked to perception of reduced indoor air quality as well as adverse health effects as previously reported. To our knowledge, there are no publications that report on deposition of pollutants and adverse health outcomes associated with modern rugs. However, due to the three-dimensional structure of carpets, any carpet will to some extent act like a sink. Thus, continued caution should still be exercised when considering the use of wall-to-wall carpeted floors in schools, kindergartens and offices, as well as in children’s bedrooms unless special needs indicate that carpets are preferable.

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Section: Resultssupporting

confidence: 83%

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Do Carpets Impair Indoor Air Quality and Cause Adverse Health Outcomes: A Review

Becher

Øvrevik

Schwarze

et al. 2018

IJERPH

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“…In addition to humidifiers, dehumidifiers, cooling devices, indoor A/C units are problematic for the growth of microorganisms (ECA 1989). Salimifard et al (2017) investigated the impacts of humidity and air swirl on the resuspension of biological particles (i.e., quartz, dust mite, cat fur, dog fur, and bacterial spore-Bacillus thuringiensis as an anthrax simulant) from floor and duct surfaces. The results showed that the particle property of being hydrophilic or hydrophobic plays an important role in the particle resuspension rate.…”

Section: Biological-physical Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…However, the resuspension rates of cat fur and dog fur particles that are hydrophobic are within the measurement error range (±15%) over 10-80% relative humidity. With regard to the resuspension of bacterial spores (Bacillus thuringiensis) from a duct surface, the resuspension rates are substantially affected by air swirl velocity and particle size (Salimifard et al 2017).…”

Section: Biological-physical Interactionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Interactions Among Health Risk Factors and Decision-Making Process in the Design of Built Environments

Dovjak

Kukec

2019

Creating Healthy and Sustainable Buildings

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The identification of interactions among parameters of health risk factors is a crucial step for the effective assessment and prevention of problems in unhealthy built environments. This chapter introduces the health risk management process in the context of the designs of healthy built environments (Sect. 4.1). In Sects. 4.2-4.3, comprehensive descriptions of all detected interactions among health risks and their parameters that have harmful impacts on user health and wellbeing are defined. Section 4.2 provides a detailed analysis of single group interactions between:

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“…Relative humidity (RH) is an important parameter and the detection and control of humidity is crucial for various important fields including agricultural (e.g., greenhouse), food (e.g., the agri‐food chain), new material development (e.g., novel layered double hydroxide, hydrophobic triphenylamine hole‐transport materials, single stranded DNA–functionalized graphene, the ambient degradation of few–layer black phosphorus), biology research and protection (e.g., human emissions of fluorescent biological aerosol particles, biology of Tuta absoluta (Meyrick), stem cell culture), physics applications (e.g., micro inverter reliability assessment, high energy physics applications), health services (e.g., resuspension of biological particles) . In these advanced scientific researches, highly sensitive humidity sensors are imperative.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Research Advances in Microfiber Humidity Sensors

Peng

Zhao

Chen

et al. 2018

Small

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An overview of the numerous latest research in microfiber humidity sensors is carried out with a specific focus on measurement methods, humidity sensitive materials, probe structures, and sensing properties of different sensors. First, five mainstream measurement structures, including taper, fiber grating, coupler, resonator, and interferometer are reviewed. It is concluded that these measurement structures sense the physicochemical property variations of microfibers or sensitive films and exhibit the change of optical signal when exposed to environment. Second, the basic preparation methods, humidity‐sensing properties, and their advantages and disadvantages as humidity sensitive material are addressed. Then, the advantages and disadvantages of all the above sensing structures are also discussed and compared. Finally, the main existing problems and potential solutions of microfiber humidity sensors are pointed out.

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Resuspension of biological particles from indoor surfaces: Effects of humidity and air swirl

Cited by 50 publications

References 31 publications

Do Carpets Impair Indoor Air Quality and Cause Adverse Health Outcomes: A Review

Do Carpets Impair Indoor Air Quality and Cause Adverse Health Outcomes: A Review

Interactions Among Health Risk Factors and Decision-Making Process in the Design of Built Environments

Research Advances in Microfiber Humidity Sensors

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