Distribution of five SVOCs in a model room: effect of vacuuming and air cleaning measures

Uhde, Erik; Varol, Deniz; Mull, Birte; Salthammer, Tunga

doi:10.1039/c9em00121b

Cited by 10 publications

(14 citation statements)

References 44 publications

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“…A study that focused solely on the temperature effect was published by Uhde et al 431 The concentrations of various SVOCs in a test house were examined over a period of 184 days with a constant air exchange of 0.3 h −1 . Figure 28 shows the concentration profile for diisobutyl adipate (DiBA) and the temperature profile of the room.…”

Section: How Temperature and Humidity Influence Indoor Chemistry Emis...mentioning

confidence: 99%

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Temperature and indoor environments

Salthammer

Morrison

2022

Indoor Air

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From the thermodynamic perspective, the term temperature is clearly defined for ideal physical systems: A unique temperature can be assigned to each black body via its radiation spectrum, and the temperature of an ideal gas is given by the velocity distribution of the molecules. While the indoor environment is not an ideal system, fundamental physical and chemical processes, such as diffusion, partitioning equilibria, and chemical reactions, are predictably temperature‐dependent. For example, the logarithm of reaction rate and equilibria constants are proportional to the reciprocal of the absolute temperature. It is therefore possible to have non‐linear, very steep changes in chemical phenomena over a relatively small temperature range. On the contrary, transport processes are more influenced by spatial temperature, momentum, and pressure gradients as well as by the density, porosity, and composition of indoor materials. Consequently, emergent phenomena, such as emission rates or dynamic air concentrations, can be the result of complex temperature‐dependent relationships that require a more empirical approach. Indoor environmental conditions are further influenced by the thermal comfort needs of occupants. Not only do occupants have to create thermal conditions that serve to maintain their core body temperature, which is usually accomplished by wearing appropriate clothing, but also the surroundings must be adapted so that they feel comfortable. This includes the interaction of the living space with the ambient environment, which can vary greatly by region and season. Design of houses, apartments, commercial buildings, and schools is generally utility and comfort driven, requiring an appropriate energy balance, sometimes considering ventilation but rarely including the impact of temperature on indoor contaminant levels. In our article, we start with a review of fundamental thermodynamic variables and discuss their influence on typical indoor processes. Then, we describe the heat balance of people in their thermal environment. An extensive literature study is devoted to the thermal conditions in buildings, the temperature‐dependent release of indoor pollutants from materials and their distribution in the various interior compartments as well as aspects of indoor chemistry. Finally, we assess the need to consider temperature holistically with regard to the changes to be expected as a result of global emergencies such as climate change.

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Section: How Temperature and Humidity Influence Indoor Chemistry Emis...mentioning

confidence: 99%

“…The cold period was February 19 – March 04, 2018, and the warm period was May 25–31, 2018. The figure was adopted from Uhde et al 431 …”

Section: How Temperature and Humidity Influence Indoor Chemistry Emis...mentioning

confidence: 99%

Temperature and indoor environments

Salthammer

Morrison

2022

Indoor Air

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“…A wide range of SVOCs sorb effectively to clothing textiles, and by extension, to carpet textiles [ 55 , 56 ]. Carpets are known to be a strong sink for low volatility compounds such as nicotine and phenanthrene [ 47 , 57 ], organophosphorus flame retardants [ 57 ], as well as phthalates and adipates [ 58 ]. These SVOCs may then be slowly re-emitted from carpets to the indoor space over periods of years or more, perhaps for the remaining life of the carpet.…”

Section: Ten Questionsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Ten questions concerning the implications of carpet on indoor chemistry and microbiology

Haines

Adams

Boor

et al. 2020

Building and Environment

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Carpet and rugs currently represent about half of the United States flooring market and offer many benefits as a flooring type. How carpets influence our exposure to both microorganisms and chemicals in indoor environments has important health implications but is not well understood. The goal of this manuscript is to consolidate what is known about how carpet impacts indoor chemistry and microbiology, as well as to identify the important research gaps that remain. After describing the current use of carpet indoors, questions focus on five specific areas: 1) indoor chemistry, 2) indoor microbiology, 3) resuspension and exposure, 4) current practices and future needs, and 5) sustainability. Overall, it is clear that carpet can influence our exposures to particles and volatile compounds in the indoor environment by acting as a direct source, as a reservoir of environmental contaminants, and as a surface supporting chemical and biological transformations. However, the health implications of these processes are not well known, nor how cleaning practices could be optimized to minimize potential negative impacts. Current standards and recommendations focus largely on carpets as a primary source of chemicals and on limiting moisture that would support microbial growth. Future research should consider enhancing knowledge related to the impact of carpet in the indoor environment and how we might improve the design and maintenance of this common material to reduce our exposure to harmful contaminants while retaining the benefits to consumers.

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“…Accounting for source composition and use (i.e., additive vs reactive use in the host polymer) as well as for emission characteristics, a simple method to estimate exposure to additives in sources used indoors and for sources sprayed or applied to interior surfaces was developed . The key parameters needed for these models have since been investigated, and reliable measurement methods of various levels of complexity are now available. − Other aspects, such as the influence of clothing on dermal SVOC exposure, , the dermal uptake of SVOCs from air, ,, the impact of organic films on indoor surfaces on SVOC dynamics, ,, and the influence of occupants on indoor exposure to SVOCs , are being studied in increasing detail.…”

Section: Semivolatile Organic Compounds In Indoor Environmentsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Dust may also contribute to SVOC losses due to a combination of abiotic and microbial degradation, if the relative humidity is elevated . Cleaning can have a short-term removal effect on the SVOC mass balance, but the long-term effect depends on the specific scenario and on the volatility of the SVOC. , However, the possibility of enhanced SVOC removal should be considered when exploring unusual exposure scenarios.…”

Section: A Framework For Predicting Exposure To Indoor Svocsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Assessing Human Exposure to SVOCs in Materials, Products, and Articles: A Modular Mechanistic Framework

Eichler

Hubal

et al. 2020

Environ. Sci. Technol.

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A critical review of the current state of knowledge of chemical emissions from indoor sources, partitioning among indoor compartments, and the ensuing indoor exposure leads to a proposal for a modular mechanistic framework for predicting human exposure to semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs). Mechanistically consistent source emission categories include solid, soft, frequent contact, applied, sprayed, and high temperature sources. Environmental compartments are the gas phase, airborne particles, settled dust, indoor surfaces, and clothing. Identified research needs are the development of dynamic emission models for several of the source emission categories and of estimation strategies for critical model parameters. The modular structure of the framework facilitates subsequent inclusion of new knowledge, other chemical classes of indoor pollutants, and additional mechanistic processes relevant to human exposure indoors. The framework may serve as the foundation for developing an open-source community model to better support collaborative research and improve access for application by stakeholders. Combining exposure estimates derived using this framework with toxicity data for different end points and toxicokinetic mechanisms will accelerate chemical risk prioritization, advance effective chemical management decisions, and protect public health.

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Distribution of five SVOCs in a model room: effect of vacuuming and air cleaning measures

Abstract: We monitored the distribution of SVOCs in model rooms in dependence of temperature and cleaning measures over a period of six months.

Cited by 10 publications

References 44 publications

Temperature and indoor environments

Temperature and indoor environments

Ten questions concerning the implications of carpet on indoor chemistry and microbiology

Assessing Human Exposure to SVOCs in Materials, Products, and Articles: A Modular Mechanistic Framework

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