Alireza Afshari

Indoor aerosols: from personal exposure to risk assessment

Motivated by growing considerations of the scale, severity, and risks associated with human exposure to indoor particulate matter, this work reviewed existing literature to: (i) identify state-of-the-art experimental techniques used for personal exposure assessment; (ii) compare exposure levels reported for domestic/school settings in different countries (excluding exposure to environmental tobacco smoke and particulate matter from biomass cooking in developing countries); (iii) assess the contribution of outdoor background vs indoor sources to personal exposure; and (iv) examine scientific understanding of the risks posed by personal exposure to indoor aerosols. Limited studies assessing integrated daily residential exposure to just one particle size fraction, ultrafine particles, show that the contribution of indoor sources ranged from 19% to 76%. This indicates a strong dependence on resident activities, source events and site specificity, and highlights the importance of indoor sources for total personal exposure. Further, it was assessed that 10-30% of the total burden of disease from particulate matter exposure was due to indoor-generated particles, signifying that indoor environments are likely to be a dominant environmental factor affecting human health. However, due to challenges associated with conducting epidemiological assessments, the role of indoor-generated particles has not been fully acknowledged, and improved exposure/risk assessment methods are still needed, together with a serious focus on exposure control.

Measurement of ultrafine particles. A comparison of two handheld condensation particle counters

The objective of this study was to compare two real-time condensation particle counters for measurement of number concentrations of ultrafine particles (UFPs). The comparison is based on the data from side-by-side measurements conducted in several locations, both indoors and outdoors. CPC 3007 and P-Trak™ 8525 manufactured by TSI (instruments A and B, respectively) were used simultaneously. They measure particles in sizes from 0.01 to greater than 1 μ m and 0.02 to greater than 1 μ m, respectively. The results reveal a good correlation between the two instruments. The ratios of measured aerosol concentrations varied from 0.81 to 1.17, which implies that in all data sets the difference between the two instruments was less than ± 20%. About 63% of the results were in the range of ± 10%, and about 44% showed differences less than ± 5%. The maximum particle concentration detected by instrument A was approximately 105,000 particles cm − 3 and the minimum was about 230 particles cm − 3 . Because of the lower particle size threshold for instrument A, it was expected that this instrument should never show concentrations lower than those detected by instrument B. This was the case in most of the measurement series. The results revealed that the concentration of UFPs changes rapidly, especially in the presence of a local UFP source. A sampling interval of 1 min is sufficient to provide substantial information about the change in concentration level.

Characterisation of particle emissions from the driving car fleet and the contribution to ambient and indoor particle concentrations

Abstract The population is mainly exposed to high air pollution concentrations in the urban environment, where motor vehicle emissions constitute the main source of fine and ultrafine particles. These particles can penetrate deep into the respiratory system, and studies indicate that the smaller the particle, the larger the health impacts. The chemical composition, surface reactivity and physical properties are also important. However, the knowledge about chemical and physical properties of particles and the temporal and spatial variability of the smallest particles is still very limited. The present study summarises the first results of a larger project with the aims to improve the knowledge. The concentration and the emissions of ultrafine particles from petrol and diesel vehicles, respectively, have been quantified using Scanning Mobility Particle Sizer of ultrafine particles in the size range 6–700 nm and routine monitoring data from urban streets and urban background in Denmark. The quantification was carried out using receptor modelling. The number size distributions of petrol and diesel emissions showed a maximum at 20–30 nm and non-traffic at ≈100 nm. The contribution of ultrafine particles from diesel vehicles is dominating in streets. The same technique has been applied on PM 10 , and ≈50% contribution from non-traffic. The technique has also been introduced in relation to elemental and organic carbon, and the first data showed strong correlation between traffic pollution and elemental carbon. The outdoor air quality has a significant effect on indoor pollution levels, and we spend most of the time indoors. Knowledge about the influence of ambient air pollution on the concentrations in the indoor environment is therefore crucial for assessment of human health effects of traffic pollution. The results of our studies will be included in air quality models for calculation of human exposure. Preliminary results from our first campaign showed, that the deposition rate of particles in the apartment is negligible in the particle size range 100–500 nm. In the size range below 100 nm the deposition rate increases with decreasing particle diameter to a value of approximately 1 h −1 at 10 nm. The penetration efficiency shows a maximum of 60% at 100 nm. More detailed studies of exchange of particles in outdoor/indoor air and the transformation are planned to take place during three next campaigns.

Effect of Aluminum Substrate Surface Modification on Wettability and Freezing Delay of Water Droplet at Subzero Temperatures

In this study, we have investigated the freezing delay of a water droplet on precooled substrates of an aluminum alloy that is commonly used for heat-exchanger fins. The surfaces of the substrates were modified to obtain surfaces with different hydrophilicity/hydrophobicity and different surface chemistry but without significantly modifying the surface topography. The freezing delays and water contact angles were measured as a function of the substrate temperature and the results were compared to the predictions of the heterogeneous ice nucleation theory. Although the trends for each sample followed the trend in this theory, the differences in the extents of freezing delays were in apparent disagreement with the predictions. Concretely, a slightly hydrophilic substrate modified by (3-aminopropyl) triethoxysilane (APTES) showed longer freezing delays than both more hydrophilic and more hydrophobic substrates. We suggest that this is because this particular surface chemistry prevents ice formation at the interface of the substrate, prior to the deposition of the water droplet. On the basis of our results, we suggest that not only wettability and topography but also the concrete surface chemistry plays a significant role in the kinetics of the ice formation process when a water droplet is placed on a precooled substrate.

Humidity as a Control Parameter for Ventilation

The objective of this study was to develop energy efficient ventilation strategies that will provide both a healthy and comfortable indoor climate and reduce energy consumption compared to present ventilation standards. Humidity was used as a control parameter for the ventilation. Four different ventilation strategies were tested in a test apartment. The results of the experiments indicated that humidity can be used as a control parameter for ventilation and that energy can be saved without compromising indoor air quality.

Evaluation of air cleaning technologies existing in the Danish market: Experiments in a duct and in a test room

Five portable air cleaning technologies including one new technology were evaluated to find their effectiveness in removing ultrafine particles. Measurements were carried out both in a duct and in a test room. The results showed that the technologies that use/create ozone to clean air can increase the ozone level significantly in the room. Moreover, they can cause generation of ultrafine particles and consequently increase ultrafine particle concentration in the room. The study suggests using a mechanical filter with low pressure drop as a recommended air cleaning technology in order to remove ultrafine particles efficiently from the indoor environment.

Evaluation of building materials individually and in combination using odour threshold

This paper presents results of an experimental procedure to observe the impact of building materials on perceived air quality. An untrained panel of 25 adult subjects perceived the quality of polluted air in small-scale chamber settings. The air pollution was generated by emissions from individual materials, by combinations of these materials and by mixtures of emissions from single materials. The results showed that the exposure response relationship varies for one of the tested materials compared with the others. The study also confirmed that interaction among building materials is often negligible from the perception point of view, which is in contradiction with the findings published in the literature. Further analysis of data indicated that linear addition of olfs of single materials is still a permissible simplified method to estimate the sensory pollution load in the presence of combinations of building materials in the absence of any other practical technique.

Deposition of fine and ultrafine particles on indoor surface materials

The aim of this study was the experimental determination of particle deposition for both different particle size fractions and different indoor surface materials. The selected surface materials were glass, gypsum board, carpet, and curtain. These materials were tested vertically in a full-scale test chamber. Experiments took place in a 32 m3 chamber with walls and ceiling made of glass. Prior to each experiment the chamber was flushed with outdoor air to reach an initial particle concentration typical of indoor air in buildings with natural ventilation. The decay of particle concentrations was monitored. Seven particle size fractions were studied. These comprised ultrafine and fine particles. Deposition was higher on carpet and curtain than on glass and gypsum board. Particles ranging from 0.3 to 0.5μm had the lowest deposition. This fraction also has the highest penetration into buildings and its indoor concentration is expected to be closest to outdoor concentrations.

Performance and Effectiveness of Portable Air Cleaners in an Office Room: An Experimental Study

Nowadays, many people work in an office environment. Air pollutants, including particles and gases, are generated by humans and by different devices that are used in offices. Pollutants can also enter an office room with the air supplied from outdoors. It has been established that air pollutants have adverse health effects on human body. Air cleaning devices are commonly marketed as being beneficial for the health by removing air pollutants and consequently improving indoor air quality. The performance of five air cleaning technologies was tested in order to determine the generation of ozone and particles in an office room. The particle removal effectiveness of the technologies was also determined in order to clarify their ability to remove UFPs (ultrafine particles) in the office room. The tested five air cleaning technologies are non-thermal plasma, corona discharge ionizer, portable air purifier, electrostatic fibrous filter and three-dimensional fibrous filter. The interior surfaces of the office room emit low levels of volatile organic compounds, since the office room has not been refurbished for about two decades. The results showed that the particle removal effectiveness of the technologies was ranged between 0.2 and 0.45 for the office room. The three technologies using/generating ozone significantly increased the ozone level in the office room. However, no increase of the UFP concentration was detected.

Aluminium Alloy 8011: Surface Characteristics

Aluminium alloys are the predominant materials in modern industries. Increased knowledge about the surface characteristics of bare aluminium can enhance the understanding about how to optimize the working conditions for the equipment involving aluminium parts. This work focusses on the properties of native surface of aluminium alloy 8011, which is the main construction material for the production of air-to-air heat exchanger fins. In this study, we address its water wettability, surface roughness and frost formation in different psychometric parameters. The contact angle measurements revealed that this aluminium alloy exhibits a relatively high contact angle of about 78 degree, i.e. is not wetted completely. AFM measurements revealed significant surface roughness of typical heat exchanger fins. The thickness of formed frost was studied in relation to the wettability, humidity and the cold surface temperature.