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  4. Size-resolved inhalation intake fractions for particles released from human activities in residential indoor environments
 
research article

Size-resolved inhalation intake fractions for particles released from human activities in residential indoor environments

Merizak, Marouane  
•
Boor, Brandon
•
Licina, Dusan  
October 1, 2023
Building And Environment

Inhalation exposure to elevated concentrations of airborne particulate matter is a public health concern. Assessment of exposure can be enhanced through better knowledge of source-receptor relationships, which can be characterized through the inhalation intake fraction metric. This case study provides new insights on variations in particle inhalation intake fractions for indoor sources associated with common human activities in residential buildings. In a controlled climate chamber (air temperature: 24 & PLUSMN; 1 degrees C, relative humidity: 50 & PLUSMN; 5%), we investigated size-resolved intake fractions for particles in relation to four scripted activities performed by a human volunteer: sitting, walking, cooking, and vacuuming. We measured size- and time-resolved particle number concentrations at the volunteer's breathing zone to characterize intake fractions. In addition, we measured particles at four different stationary locations across the climate chamber to assess the degree of spatial heterogeneity in particulate matter concentrations. The results show that particles released from human skin and clothing during sitting were associated with the highest total inhalation intake fraction (13%o), followed by cooking (9%o), vacuuming (5.7%o), and walking (3.9%o). These results highlight how breathing zone proximity to localized emission sources and low indoor air mixing can enhance inhalation exposure to particles. Sitting and cooking caused a maximum inhalation intake fraction in the size range of 1-3 & mu;m. Findings also show that the assumption of a perfectly mixed environment could lead to an underestimation of the inhalation intake of particles by up to 3.2-fold. The results of this case study provide a basis for achieving more accurate personal inhalation exposure assessment and improved indoor air quality management.

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Type
research article
DOI
10.1016/j.buildenv.2023.110763
Web of Science ID

WOS:001066335700001

Author(s)
Merizak, Marouane  
Boor, Brandon
Licina, Dusan  
Date Issued

2023-10-01

Publisher

PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD

Published in
Building And Environment
Volume

244

Article Number

110763

Subjects

Construction & Building Technology

•

Engineering, Environmental

•

Engineering, Civil

•

Engineering

•

personal exposure

•

indoor aerosols

•

spatial uniformity

•

human occupancy

•

emissions

•

airborne particles

•

tobacco-smoke

•

air-pollution

•

particulate matter

•

resuspension

•

pollutants

•

viruses

•

infant

Editorial or Peer reviewed

REVIEWED

Written at

EPFL

EPFL units
HOBEL  
Available on Infoscience
October 9, 2023
Use this identifier to reference this record
https://infoscience.epfl.ch/handle/20.500.14299/201464
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