Introduction to the indoor environment themed issue
Rachel O’Brien and Ellison Carter introduce the Environmental Science: Processes & Impacts themed issue on the indoor environment.
Accounting for in situ air cleaner utilization and performance to improve interpretation of patient outcomes in real-world indoor air cleaner intervention trials
Air cleaner performance measurements in indoor air cleaning intervention trials.
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Following the smell: terpene emission profiles through the cannabis life-cycle
Cannabis cultivation and processing are emerging sources of air pollutants, particularly malodorous volatile organic compounds (VOCs), yet uncertainties remain regarding their emission rates and chemical composition.
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Volatile organic compound emissions from a multi-unit residential building to ambient air
The air stream entering a building is enriched with various pollutants due to the effect of indoor emissions, making buildings a net source of emission and an important contributor to air pollution, especially in urban regions.
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Indoor surface chemistry variability: microspectroscopic analysis of deposited particles in dwellings across the United States
The indoor surfaces of dwellings across the United States range exhibit a wide range of chemical compositions and physical properties, which impacts semi-volatile partitioning, heterogeneous chemistry and the overall properties of indoor air.
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Long-term prediction of climate change impacts on indoor particle pollution – case study of a residential building in Germany
The Indoor Air Quality Climate Change (IAQCC) model was applied to predict the long-term impact of atmospheric changes on indoor particle concentrations based on different climate scenarios.
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Speciating volatile organic compounds in indoor air: using in situ GC to interpret real-time PTR-MS signals
Gas chromatography paired with proton transfer reaction mass spectrometry allows for a more accurate assessment of gas-phase chemicals in indoor air.
Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) in North Carolina homes: results from the indoor PFAS assessment (IPA) campaign
Per and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) are ubiquitous in the indoor environment, resulting in indoor exposure. Inhalation and ingestion dominate.
Kinetic multilayer models for surface chemistry in indoor environments
Multiphase interactions and chemical reactions at indoor surfaces are of particular importance due to their impact on air quality in indoor environments with high surface to volume ratios.
Paper
Longevity of size-dependent particle removal performance of do-it-yourself box fan air filters
Filtration performance of do-it-yourself (DIY) box fan air filters deployed across a university campus was assessed over an academic year.
Commercial kitchen operations produce a diverse range of gas-phase reactive nitrogen species
Gas phase reactive nitrogen (Nr) species in a commercial kitchen are mainly composed of expected species with many additional species completing the budget.
The gas phase ozonolysis and secondary OH production of cashmeran, a musk compound from fragrant volatile chemical products
We quantified the lifetime of cashmeran, a musk compound, against 20 ppbv of O3 to be 85 days. In the presence of O2, cashmeran may influence the oxidative capacity indoors via production of secondary OH radicals (up to 5.1 × 105 molec cm−3).
Paper
Organic aerosol formation from 222 nm germicidal light: ozone-initiated vs. non-ozone pathways
Ozone production can explain most indoor air quality impacts of 222 nm germicidal ultraviolet light (GUV222). However, GUV222 causes more new particle formation than is explained by ozone chemistry.
Dynamics of residential indoor gas- and particle-phase water-soluble organic carbon: measurements during the CASA experiment
A system for semi-continuous real-time monitoring of gas- and particle-phase water soluble organic carbon (WSOC) was used to provide quantitative insights into the concentrations dynamics of WSOC in indoor air.
Indoor air concentrations of PM2.5 quartz fiber filter-collected ionic PFAS and emissions to outdoor air: findings from the IPA campaign
Indoor concentrations of total PFAS were ∼3.4 times higher than outdoor concentrations and indoor-to-outdoor emission rates suggest home emissions may contribute to ambient concentrations of some PFAS away from major point sources.
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The impact of surfaces on indoor air chemistry following cooking and cleaning
Cooking and cleaning are common sources of indoor air pollutants, including volatile organic compounds (VOCs).
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Oxidant concentrations and photochemistry in a vehicle cabin
Indoor oxidant concentrations in vehicles strongly depends on the ventilation rates and photochemistry within the vehicle.
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The chemical assessment of surfaces and air (CASA) study: using chemical and physical perturbations in a test house to investigate indoor processes
The Chemical Assessment of Surfaces and Air (CASA) study investigated how chemicals transform in the indoor environment using perturbations (e.g., cooking, cleaning) and additions of indoor and outdoor pollutants in a test house.
About this collection
Guest Edited by Rachel O’Brien (University of Michigan) and Ellison Carter (Colorado State University) this issue highlights research that centres around questions of the built environment, showcasing the impacts of interdisciplinary approaches.