Indoor-outdoor pollutant concentration modelling: a comprehensive urban air quality and exposure assessment

Santiago, José Luis; Rivas, Esther; Buccolieri, Riccardo; Martilli, Alberto; Vivanco, Marta G.; Borge, Rafael; Carlo, Oliver Savio; Martín, Fernando López

doi:10.1007/s11869-022-01204-0

Cited by 10 publications

(2 citation statements)

References 60 publications

Supporting

Mentioning

Contrasting

Order By: Relevance

“…In addition, statistical validation is conducted to evaluate the model performance in the present work. From Table 2 and Table 3 , it can be seen that all statistical indicators are within acceptable ranges (Ganguly and Broderick 2010 ; Santiago et al 2022 ). As a result, the present CFD models can sufficiently satisfy the pollutant dispersion within the asymmetric VD canyons.…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Evaluation on ventilation and traffic pollutant dispersion in asymmetric street canyons with void decks

Sin

Cui

Jon

et al. 2023

Air Qual Atmos Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

With continuous global warming, growing urban population density, and increasing compactness of urban buildings, the “void deck” street canyon design has become increasingly popular in city planning, especially for urban streets located in tropical areas. Nevertheless, research on traffic pollutant dispersion in street canyons with void decks (VDs) is still at its early stage. This study quantitatively evaluates the effects of void deck height and location on the canyon ventilation and pollutant dispersion in asymmetric street canyons with void decks, and the pollutant exposure risk level for pedestrians and street dwellers. Void decks introduce more fresh air, thereby greatly improving the ventilation properties of the asymmetric canyon. The air exchange rate ( ACH : 147.9%, 270.9%) and net escape velocity ( NEV *: 416.7%, 915.8%) of the step-up and step-down canyons with VDs (3 m high at full scale) at both buildings are higher than those of regular asymmetric canyons. Moreover, the mean dimensionless pollutant concentration ( K ) on the building wall and pedestrian respiration plane in which VDs are located stands at a low level, because pollutants are removed by the airflow entering or exiting through the void decks. Increased VD height (4.5 m at full scale) enhances the strength of airflow flowing into and out of the canyon, significantly increasing ACH (177.3%, 380.9%) and NEV * (595.2%, 1268.4%) and decreasing the mean K on both pedestrian respiration planes and canyon walls. In particular, the K values on both pedestrian respiration planes and both walls are almost zero for the canyons with VDs at both buildings. Therefore, among the three VD locations, both VDs provide the best living environment for pedestrians and near-road residents. These findings can help to design urban street canyons for mitigating traffic pollution risk and improving ventilation in tropical cities.

show abstract

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 91%

Evaluation on ventilation and traffic pollutant dispersion in asymmetric street canyons with void decks

Sin

Cui

Jon

et al. 2023

Air Qual Atmos Health

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

show abstract

“…Building envelopes represent a protection against the pollutants coming from outdoors, and without indoor sources indoor concentrations would be lower than those outdoors [ 4 ]. However, indoor sources may significantly contribute to indoor concentrations and levels of some pollutants, even in residential settings, which may become far greater than those found outdoors [ 5 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Effectiveness of a Protocol to Reduce Children’s Exposure to Particulate Matter and NO2 in Schools during Alert Days

Zauli-Sajani

Marchesi

Boselli

et al. 2022

IJERPH

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Reducing children’s exposure to air pollutants should be considered a primary goal, especially for the most vulnerable subjects. The goal of this study was to test the effectiveness of applying a protocol in the event of alert days, i.e., days with forecasted PM10 levels above the EU limit value (50 µg/m3). The test was conducted, before the onset of SARS-CoV-2 restrictions, in a classroom of a primary school in Parma (Italy)—a highly polluted area in Northern Italy. The protocol included indications for the frequency of opening windows and doors, as well as the activation of an air purifier. Teachers and students were asked to apply the protocol only in the event of alert days, while no indications were provided for non-alert days. A monitoring system measuring PM1, PM2.5, PM10, CO2, and NO2 was deployed in the classroom. Measurements of the same parameters were also performed outdoors near the school. The application of the protocol reduced the indoor/outdoor (I/O) ratio for all toxic pollutants. The reduction was also remarkable for PM10—the most critical air quality parameter in the study area (1.5 and 1.1 for non-alert and alert days, respectively). Indoor concentrations of PM10—especially during non-alert days—were often higher than outdoors, showing a major contribution from resuspension due to the movement of people and personal cloud. The protocol did not cause any increase in indoor CO2 levels. Our findings showed that the application of a ventilation protocol together with the contribution of an air purifier may represent an effective way to reduce children’s exposure to air pollution during severe air pollution episodes. Considering the onset of COVID-19 and the airborne transmission of pathogens, this protocol now has more meaningful implications for children’s welfare, and can be integrated with protocols designed as measures against the spread of SARS-CoV-2.

show abstract

Poor indoor air quality impacts in industrial and non-industrial workplace to human health: the recent trends and control strategies

Astuti

2024

Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollution

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

Indoor-outdoor pollutant concentration modelling: a comprehensive urban air quality and exposure assessment

Cited by 10 publications

References 60 publications

Evaluation on ventilation and traffic pollutant dispersion in asymmetric street canyons with void decks

Evaluation on ventilation and traffic pollutant dispersion in asymmetric street canyons with void decks

Effectiveness of a Protocol to Reduce Children’s Exposure to Particulate Matter and NO2 in Schools during Alert Days

Poor indoor air quality impacts in industrial and non-industrial workplace to human health: the recent trends and control strategies

Contact Info

Product

Resources

About