The use of combustion heat sources like wood-burning fireplaces has regained popularity in the past years due to increasing energy costs. While the outdoor emissions from wood ovens are strictly regulated in Germany, the indoor release of combustion products is rarely considered. Seven wood burning fireplaces were tested in private homes between November 2012 and March 2013. The indoor air quality was monitored before, during and after operation. The following parameters were measured: ultra-fine particles (5.6-560 nm), fine particles (0.3-20 μm), PM2.5, NOx, CO, CO2, formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and benzo[a]pyrene (BaP). Most ovens were significant sources of particulate matter. In some cases, an increase of benzene and BaP concentrations was observed in the indoor air. The results illustrate that wood-burning fireplaces are potential sources of indoor air contaminants, especially ultra-fine particles. Under the aspect of lowering indoor air exchange rates and increasing the use of fuels with a net zero-carbon footprint, indoor combustion sources are an important topic for the future. With regards to consumer safety, product development and inspection should consider indoor air quality in addition to the present fire protection requirements.
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http://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.chemosphere.2013.11.067 | DOI Listing |
Int J Biometeorol
January 2025
Faculty of Kinesiology and Physical Education, University of Toronto, Toronto, ON, Canada.
Climate change is making extreme heat events more frequent and intense. This negatively impacts many aspects of society, including organised sport. As the world's most watched sporting event, the FIFA World Cup commands particular attention around the threat of extreme heat.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFMaterials (Basel)
January 2025
Innovation in Research & Engineering Solutions (IRES), 1000 Brussels, Belgium.
In modern manufacturing environments, pollution management is critical as exposure to harmful substances can cause serious health issues. This study presents a two-stage computational fluid dynamic (CFD) model to estimate the distribution of pollutants in indoor production spaces. In the first stage, the Reynolds-averaged Navier-Stokes (RANS) method was used to simulate airflow and temperature.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFInt J Environ Res Public Health
January 2025
Environmental Epidemiology Team, Radiation, Chemical and Environmental Hazards Directorate, UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA), Didcot OX11 0RQ, UK.
Carbon monoxide (CO) is a toxic gas, and faulty gas appliances or solid fuel burning with incomplete combustion are possible CO sources in households. Evaluating household CO exposure models and measurement studies is key to understanding where CO exposures may result in adverse health outcomes. This assists the assessment of the burden of disease in high- and middle-income countries and informs public health interventions in higher-risk environments.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Pollut
January 2025
School of Public Health (Shenzhen), Sun Yat-sen University, Guangdong 510275, China. Electronic address:
Atmospheric pesticide pollution is a global problem that poses risks to human health. However, controlling air pollution remains challenging, as few countries have established air quality standards (AQS) for pesticides. Here, we proposed a modeling framework based on human exposure assessment, comprising scenarios: screening, advanced, and aggregated.
View Article and Find Full Text PDFEnviron Res
January 2025
School of Public Health, Faculty of Medicine and Health, University of Sydney, Edward Ford Building, A27 Fisher Rd, University of Sydney NSW 2050 Australia; China Studies Centre, University of Sydney, Level 7 Jane Foss Russell Building (G02), 156 City Road, The University of Sydney, Darlington NSW 2006. Electronic address:
Housing conditions are emerging as an important consideration in climate change adaptation. Housing modifications have the potential to improve health outcomes by reducing exposure to changing weather conditions and extreme events. This scoping review aimed to explore the existing evidence examining the contribution of housing conditions to the impacts of climate change on health and identify any research gaps.
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