Browsing by Author "Crump, Derrick"
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Item Open Access Actions to reduce the impact of construction products on indoor air: outcomes of the European project Healthy Air(Sage, 2010-06-07T00:00:00Z) Bluyssen, Philomena M.; de Richemont, Sabine; Crump, Derrick; Maupetit, Francois; Witterseh, Thomas; Gajdos, PetrThe European project - HealthyAir is a network project involving six institutions in Europe on actions and activities that address the effects of construction products on indoor air. Different ways to improve indoor air quality were reviewed, ranging from source control to education of occupants on how to manage the built environment to achieve healthy and acceptable indoor air. Through literature study, organised workshops with scientific experts and building professionals as well as via interviews with three stakeholder groups: producers of construction products, architects and housing corporations; requirements for information, guidance and actions to improve indoor air quality were identified. These requirements formed the basis of a possible approach to improve indoor air quality: education and awareness, regulations and policies and further research and development.Item Open Access Aircraft Cabin Air Sampling Study: Part 1 of the Final Report(2011-03) Crump, Derrick; Harrison, Paul; Walton, ChristopherThis report describes the methodology and results of a study of aircraft cabin air quality undertaken by Cranfield University and two contracted analytical laboratories on behalf of the Department for Transport (DfT). The project began in 2007 and was carried out under the leadership of the late Helen Muir OBE (Professor of Aerospace Psychology, Cranfield University) until her illness and untimely death in the first quarter of 2010. The authors and project team are indebted to Helen for her inspiring contribution that made this project and our report possible. She is sadly missed.Item Open Access Aircraft Cabin Air Sampling Study; Part 2 of the Final Report(2011-04) Crump, Derrick; Harrison, Paul; Walton, ChristopherThis is the second part of the report on aircraft cabin air quality prepared by Cranfield University for the Department for Transport. The study was set up in light of concerns about possible adverse impacts on the health and well-being of air crew resulting from exposure to substances in cabin air. Part 1 of the report describes in detail the methodology used in the study, summarises the results obtained and assesses cabin air quality against available exposure limits and the quality of air encountered in domestic settings. This second part comprises principally a record of the data obtained on individual flight sectors.Item Open Access Assessment of occupational exposure to gasoline vapour at petrol stations(Cranfield University, 2016-01) Alyami, Ahmed Rashid; Crump, Derrick; Walton, Christopher; Magan, Naresh; Salama, KhaledPetrol station attendants’ exposure to gasoline vapours while refuelling vehicles has raised health concerns, especially in tropical countries like Saudi Arabia. This is due to the increase of gasoline vaporisation by the high temperatures and related weather conditions. This represents an increase risk of inhaling more vapours than its counterpart temperate countries. Furthermore, exposure during extended working hours (12 hrs shifts), with no vapour recovery system and the handling of gasoline containing a high percentage of volumes of toxic substances (e.g. BTEXs) have not been adequately addressed previously in Saudi Arabia. Therefore, this study was designed and carried out to investigate the validity of this concern by assessing and quantifying full shift exposures to gasoline vapours during the petrol filling process. Different exposure assessment methodologies were employed and evaluated for their suitability. The study assessed the exposures of 41 attendants via passive, active, and direct reading methods at twelve petrol stations with both high and low sales in the Eastern Province of Saudi Arabia. The study was conducted during the winter and summer months to test the seasonal variation of the pattern of exposure. The effects of the quantity of gasoline sold, the locations of the stations, weather variations (e.g. wind speed, temperature, and humidity) were tested. A purpose built mini-weather stations and modified thermometres were utilized to accurately monitor the prevailing weather conditions. Forward-looking infrared (FLIR) thermal image cameras were utilised to visualise the size and movement behaviour of the vapour plumes during petrol refuelling. Furthermore, analytical lab trials were carried out to characterise the gasoline vapour component under different temperatures. These were used to propose a new OEL. The geometric means of the personal passive results for BTEX and MTBE (0.18 ppm, 0.24 ppm, 0.09 ppm, 0.18 ppm, 1.57 ppm, respectively) were found to be relatively higher than those reported previously for Europe and North America. These results are discussed in the context of the impact that such exposure will have on people involved in this industry in petrol stations in Saudi Arabia.Item Open Access Assessment of risk from inhalation exposure to benzene: a case study(2007-05-01T00:00:00Z) Crump, Derrick; Brown, Veronica M.; Carson, Anthony; Harrison, PaulWhen assessing the possible risks to human health associated with contaminated land, one of the potential pathways of exposure to be considered is the release of chemical vapours that might be inhaled by people via ambient and indoor air. Concentrations in indoor air can be relatively high because of the occurrence of preferential pathways for soil gas movement into buildings and because of a build up of concentrations in the enclosed space (Crump, 2004).Item Open Access Characterization of indoor/outdoor settled dust and air pollutants in Damaturu, Nigeria(IJET, 2013-01-25) Mohammed, Fatima S.; Crump, DerrickThis paper presents results of on-going experiments being undertaken to characterise the composition of settled dusts and some airborne contaminants in homes and outdoors in Damaturu, north-eastern Nigeria. These have involved the physical analysis of the dust samples collected from different homes by scanning electron microscopy (SEM) which showed images of particles of 2µm to 50µm and fragmented filamentous particles of 50µm to 200µm. Microbiological analysis conducted include media culture and microscopic observations where a range of fungal and bacterial colonies were identified with colony forming units in settled dust and air of between 1.02 10 4 to1.18 10 5 CFU g -1 and 1.07 10 4 1.69 10 5 CFU m -3 (for fungi)and 7.70 10 3 to1.14 10 5 CFU g -1 , 1.90 10 3 to 1.13 10 5 CFU m -3 (for bacteria) . Metal analysis by ICP-MS (total quant method) of the settled dusts revealed the presence of metal elements in the range of Al>Na>Mg>Ca>K>P>Si>Mn>Ti and indicated the maximum concentration of Lead, Copper, Cadmium, Nickel and Zinc (mg kg -1 ) to bePb-89.7, Cu-68.4, Cd-15.6, Ni-14.9, Zn-1.15.The results also revealed the presence of organic chemical pollutants in varying concentrations in the indoor and outdoor dusts and airborne samples within different homes; eight semi-volatile and volatile organic compounds(SVOCs/VOCs); benzene, hex anal, nonanal, diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutylphthalate (DIBP), dibutylphthalate (DBP), and diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP) and limonene were quantified among the numerous organic chemicals present in the samples analysed based on their frequency of occurrence in the samples collected, as well as their potential health effects arising from short term and long term exposure as reported in earlier studies. The results suggested that the indoor environments contain considerably more organic chemical pollutants than the outdoors. From the results obtained so far on the chemical, metal, and biological pollutants present as well as the physical characteristics of indoor dusts from Nigerian homes, it can be ascertained that the dusts act as a reservoir of pollutants that can increase peoples’ exposure and be a risk to the health of residents of the community.Item Open Access Climate change – health impacts due to changes in the indoor environment; research need(2012-02-16) Crump, DerrickPeople in industrialised countries spend approximately 80% of their time indoors and the young and the elderly and people in poor health are likely to spend considerably more time indoors, particularly at home. Therefore all aspects of health that are related to environmental conditions can be impacted by the quality of the indoor environment. The indoor environment should provide shelter from the extremes of the outdoors and maintain a comfortable indoor climate, particularly thermal comfort, and provide appropriate protection against other environmental factors including pollutants, infectious agents and noise. Expected future changes in climate resulting from the impact of man on the atmosphere leading to global warming will impact the effectiveness of buildings to provide appropriate shelter and associated environmental conditions.Item Open Access Development of improved methods for the characterisation of organic chemicals emitted into indoor air by building and furnishing products(Cranfield University, 2013-05) Brown, Veronica M.; Crump, DerrickA wide range of organic compounds are released from building and furnishing products and these have the potential to adversely affect indoor air quality. There are growing international requirements for testing and controlling these emissions for the protection of public health. The test methods require specialist analytical chemistry facilities based on thermal desorption/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD/GC/MS). This project has addressed the need for better performance and greater automation of the analysis, as well as development of simpler screening tests. A variety of products were tested using screening techniques, with an emission cell method being used as a reference test. Short duration tests, using a micro-scale chamber at slightly elevated temperature, were shown to have the potential to predict emissions occurring during longer term reference tests. Multi-sorbent air sampling tubes, that have the potential to extend the volatility range of compounds determined by a single TD/GC/MS analysis, were compared with Tenax TA tubes specified by current standard methods. This showed no difference in performance for the range of compounds for which Tenax is optimal, with improved performance for a number of more volatile compounds. The determination of formaldehyde was investigated using 2-hydroxymethylpiperidine as a derivatising agent, followed by TD/GC/MS. The results showed the possibility of this method being developed as an alternative to the current standard method that involves solvent elution and liquid chromatography. The performance of a newly developed time-of-flight mass spectrometer was compared with a standard quadrupole instrument. This showed its potential, with the use of re-collection, to extend the concentration range of compounds quantified from a single air sample, of particular benefit for the determination of carcinogens. New compound identification software was applied to increase automation of analysis of the TD/GC/MS data. Good correlation with manual processing was achieved, demonstrating the possibility of routine application to material emissions testing.Item Open Access ENVIE Co-ordination action on indoor air quality and health effects; WP3 Final report – Characterisation of spaces and source(2012-02-16) de Oliveira Fernandes, Eduardo; Gustafsson, Hans; Seppanen, Olli; Crump, Derrick; Ventura Silva, GabrielaHuman exposure to environmental pollutants occurs via various pathways. For many pollutants, especially the volatile ones, air exposure is the dominant pathway. Exposure via air occurs both outdoors and indoors, with diverse types of indoor spaces playing a role, e.g., home, workplace, and passenger cabins of means of transportation. In average people spend over 90% of their time indoors, that percentage being particularly high for some specific groups as new-born, elderly, disabled or sick people. The global exposure to air contaminants is therefore drastically determined by indoor conditions. It is now well established that indoor air pollution contributes significantly to the global burden of disease of the population. For a majority of indoor air contaminants, particularly in the presence of common indoor sources, however, indoor concentrations usually exceed outdoor concentrations, for some pollutants even with an indoor/outdoor ratio of 10 or 20. Emissions are identified, accordingly to the EnVIE approach and grouped into four categories: building materials and related sources, including dampness and moulds; ventilation, natural and mechanical, including, or not, heating, cooling and humidification/ dehumidification; consumer products, furnishing, cleaning and household products; and occupant activities. Emission of chemical substances from construction materials and products in buildings to the indoor air have been reported and reviewed for a wide range of substances, including those formed during secondary reactions, causing complaints of irritation and odour. During the last two decades there has been increasing advances in construction technology that have caused a much greater use of synthetic building materials. Whilst these improvements have led to more comfortable buildings, they also provide indoor environments with contaminants in higher concentrations than are found outside. Wood and cork are now frequently used as a building product for floor coverings, because the material is often regarded as “natural” and “healthy”. However, industrial products, even based on natural raw materials, may contain a number of artificial ingredients and the chemical emissions will strongly depend on the type of additives and the manufacturing process. Modern interior paints are usually based on a polymeric binder. In order to fulfil requirements on e.g., durability, paint contains various functional chemicals. Water-borne paints usually also contains small amounts of approved biocides. Polymeric binders with a very low content of residual monomers have been developed for paint. Besides the release of substances to the indoor air due to primary emission, damp building materials may give rise to volatile substances formed during secondary reactions. Semi-volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) are now receiving much more attention than heretofore. The HVAC (Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning) systems as providers, among others, of services of cleaning and dilution of pollutants in the indoor air are also recognized as potential pollution sources. Several studies have shown that the prevalence of SBS symptoms is often higher in air conditioned buildings than in buildings with natural ventilation. 8 The outdoor air introduced indoors through either ventilation systems or natural means is also an important and not always controllable source for the intake of some outdoor pollutants. Outdoor air used for ventilation may also be source of pollution containing particulate matter, particulates of biological origin (microorganisms, pollen, etc.) and various gases like NOx and O building structures which is a driving force for the airflows which will transport to indoors water vapour and gaseous or particulate contaminants. Volatile organic compounds are emitted from a wide variety of household and consumer products with emission rates that are strongly dependent on the type of application and are distributed over several orders of magnitude. A number of product classes are identified and information on ingredients and available data on emissions from individual products are presented. Human activities and the associated use of products encompass a wide range of indoor sources involving release of inorganic gases, particles and organic compounds as a consequence of the activity. For some releases such as with air fresheners the release is a necessary part of the activity to achieve the intended effect whereas for others, such as the release of combustion fumes from a gas appliance, the purpose of the action (in this case generation of heat) is different from the emission. Combustion processes are an important source of a range of air pollutants as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, sulphur dioxide, particulates and associated inorganic and organic chemicals, organic vapours e.g. formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, and benzene. Sources of these are present in both ambient and indoor environments. The concentrations present in the ambient air provide a baseline for the level of pollutant found indoors as this air enters indoors by processes of infiltration and ventilation. However, the concentration indoors will be modified by processes of sorption to surfaces and chemical reaction depending on the chemical and physical properties of the pollutant and internal surfaces. People themselves are a source of emissions of chemicals and gases, notably CO range of organic compounds that are referred to as body odours. The removal of such body odours is a prime objective of ventilation in order to achieve a satisfactory indoor environment. WP3 aims at to characterize spaces and sources in order to understand where and how to act to guarantee good IAQ. From the two strategies for good IAQ, source control and ventilation, the precautionary principle suggests that first priority shall be given to source control, avoiding, mitigating or simply managing sources of emissions. An overview of all policies on IAQ or related to IAQ, existing or in preparation, directly related to indoor air sources, but also covering outdoor air and industrial emissions, which could affect indirectly IAQ is made. Considering the presented it could be concluded that IAQ is yet poorly regulated at EU level, and in view of that some recommendations are made. The recommendations on policies have taken into account the existing related to IAQ policies such as new EU policies on chemicals (REACH; 2006/121/EC), consumer products (GPSD; 2001/95/EC), construction products (CPD; 89/106/EC) and energy performance of buildings (EPBD; 2002/91/EC) all refer to IAQ issues - suggesting that they could, and probably should, contribute to IAQ policy development and advocate an integrative and comprehensive policy approach centred oItem Open Access In vitro analysis of nanoparticles released from polyamide nanomaterial composites during drilling process(2011-05-10T00:00:00Z) Irfan, Adeel; Sachse, Sophia; Njuguna, James A. K.; Zhu, Huijun; Crump, DerrickNanomaterials provide a new avenue of progress into technological development. By manipulating materials on the very basic atomic and molecular levels the property of a given material can be specifically altered to suit the purpose of intended applications. However, nanomaterials (nanoparticles and nanolayers) have a more complex nature in physiochemical properties and surface reactivity than their larger counterparts. Therefore, the release of these nanomaterials as dust during crushing or drilling may lead to serious health hazards for humans and the surrounding environment. This study, supported by the NEPHH (Nanomaterial-related Environmental Pollution Health Hazards), addresses two important questions about nanomaterials: - Whether nanomaterials can be released from physical process of nanoproducts. - Toxicity potential of nanodusts generated from nanoproducts in comparison with reference products. Both questions address a massive gap in knowledge for toxicity and more specifically nanomaterial toxicity.Item Open Access Indoor and outdoor dust in Damaturu Nigeria : composition, exposure and risk to human health(Cranfield University, 2013-09) Mohammed, Fatima Sule; Crump, DerrickHarmattan and Dust (sand) storms together with anthropogenic activities including the use of firewood and kerosene as fuel for cooking, and diesel/petrol generators for electricity generation are potential sources of particulate and gaseous pollutants in homes in Damaturu town, Nigeria. Other activities like the burning of locally produced incense and mosquito coils as well as the use of aerosol sprays are further possible sources of indoor pollution, which may result in exposure of people to a range of pollutants through inhalation, by ingestion of settled dusts as well as dermal contact. Local people associate occurrence of dust events with adverse health effects and hence there is a need for an understanding of the composition of the settled and airborne dusts in order to assess the possible associated health risks. The first phase of the study involved selection and development of methods of dust sampling and analysis. For validation of the methods employed and to establish a broad understanding of the characteristics of the settled dusts, an initial survey study was conducted involving the application of thermal desorption/gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (TD/GC/MS) analysis for organic compound analysis, scanning electron microscopy (SEM), inductively coupled plasma-mass spectrometry (ICP-MS) for analysis of metals, and microbiological analysis. Airborne samples were also collected using sorbent tubes to determine organic compounds in air during activities such as cooking with kerosene, gas, and firewood as well as during electricity generation with fossil fuels. Carbon monoxide (CO) and ultrafine particles (UFPs) monitored simultaneously during some of the household activities. The study involved a novel method of extracting organic chemical emissions from dust by heating of the dusts directly in a micro chamber (μ-CTETM) and collection of emissions on sampling tubes. The method provided a relatively quick way of collecting chemical emissions from dusts that are readily available for release. The sampled tubes were analysed by TD/GC/MS. The conventional solvent extraction of the dusts was also carried out and the extracts were analysed by liquid injection-GC/MS and results of the two methods compared. The study determined a number of constituents (metals, SVOCs, phthalates and physical properties) of dusts collected from households in Damaturu during different weather events and from different indoor/outdoor locations; and compared with some UK samples. The samples investigated include dusts deposited; during two notable dusty-weather events (Harmattan and Storm) as well as when there was no notable dust event; during human activities; and dusts from different types of buildings (modern and traditional homes) as well as inside and outside homes. A standard reference material for organic chemicals (SRM 2585) was also analysed. The physical characterization of the settled house dust samples analysed revealed the various shapes and sizes, and elemental composition of the constituents, which included respirable particles. The microbial analysis also indicated the presence of the spores of a host of fungi and bacterial species; and the possible contributions of household activities to the increased production of pollutants (UFP and CO) ascertained. The μ-CTE extraction of the house dusts by heating with TD/GC/MS analysis of the emissions as well as the solvent extraction-GC/MS revealed the presence of many organic chemical compounds with different analytical retention times and varying concentrations in the dust samples. Chemicals of interest quantified: benzene, hexanal, nonanal, diethyl phthalate (DEP), diisobutylphthalate (DIBP), dibutylphthalate (DBP), and diethylhexylphthalate (DEHP). A host of other chemicals commonly present in the analysed samples identified using the NIST library associated with the MS system software. These chemicals included naphthalene and C10-C16 aliphatic and aromatic hydrocarbons, which would need confirmation by running the pure compound samples. There was an observed higher concentration of the chemicals in the solvent extracts than the μ-CTE extracted dust. The higher concentration of the chemicals in the solvent extracts expected due to the aggressive removal of the chemicals by the organic solvent whereas in the case of thermal extraction only the readily available chemicals (loosely bound to the matrix) released by increases in temperature were removed. Generally, the concentrations of the chemicals found were higher in the indoor than in the outdoor dust samples. In the analysis of the dusts collected during weather events; higher chemical concentrations observed in the samples collected during Harmattan period than the other periods. The Harmattan dust period may pose increased exposures to dust and possible health risks. More exposure is expected to occur in the traditional homes compared with the modern homes due to the higher concentrations of the chemicals in both the indoors and the outdoors and this may be especially important to women and children who spend most of their times at home. Metal analysis involved microwave-assisted digestion of the dust samples followed by ICP-MS analysis. The total quant method of metal analysis for a general profiling indicated the presence of more than 50 elemental contaminants in house dust. The results of the quantitative analysis for six target metals: Cd, Cr, Cu, Ni, Pb, and Zn showed their presence in all indoor and the outdoor dust samples. The mean concentrations showed that the metals were in higher concentrations in the indoor dusts than in the outdoor dusts. The quantitative analysis carried out indicated higher metal contents in the storm dusts than the dusts during the other periods. Results of the dusts collected from modern and traditional homes indicated the presence of the metals in higher concentrations in the dusts from traditional homes than the dusts from the modern homes. The estimated mean concentrations of the metals and phthalates inadvertently ingested as a constituent of dust indicated that some of the pollutants could exceed the tolerable daily intake (TDI) due to high exposures to dust expected to be the case in Damaturu. The results of the investigation of the dust composition, combined with information on exposure to dust and pollutants, show that dusts are a risk to the health of people in the Damataru community. Recommendations are made for more studies to provide a better understanding of dust ingestion and exposure to some phthalates and heavy metals in particular and the possible health risks. To the best of my knowledge, this is the first ever research study of airborne and settled dusts undertaken in North-Eastern Nigeria.Item Open Access Multi-parameter measurements using optical fibre long period gratings for indoor air quality monitoring(Elsevier, 2016-12-11) Hromadka, J.; Korposh, Sergiy; Partridge, Matthew; James, Stephen W.; Crump, Derrick; Davis, Frank; Tatam, Ralph P.An array of three long period gratings (LPGs) fabricated in a single optical fibre and multiplexed in the wavelength domain was used to measure simultaneously temperature, relative humidity (RH) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), which are key indoor air quality (IAQ) indicators. Each LPG sensor was designed with optimised response to a particular measurand. The first, with no surface modification, was used to measure temperature. The second, modified by a mesoporous coating of silica nanoparticles (SiO2 NPs), was used to measure RH and the third, modified with a coating of SiO2 NPs infused with a functional material, p-sulphanatocalix[8]arene (CA[8]), was employed to monitor VOC concentration. The LPGs were fabricated with periods such that they operated at or near the phase matching turning point. The sensors were calibrated in the laboratory and the simultaneous measurement of the key indoor air quality parameters was undertaken in laboratory and office environments. It was demonstrated successfully that the data produced by the LPG sensor array under real conditions was in a good agreement with that produced by commercially available sensors. The average differences between values obtained by the optical fibre sensor and standard temperature and RH sensors were better than 0.5 °C and 5% respectively. Further, the potential application of fibre optic sensors for VOC detection at high concentrations has been demonstrated.Item Open Access Quantitative passive soil vapor sampling for VOCs- part 2: laboratory experiments(Royal Society of Chemistry, 2014-01-24) McAlary, Todd; Groenevelt, Hester; Seethapathy, Suresh; Sacco, Paolo; Crump, Derrick; Tuday, Michael; Schumacher, Brian; Hayes, Heidi; Johnson, Paul; Gorecki, TadeuszControlled laboratory experiments were conducted to demonstrate the use of passive samplers for soil vapor concentration monitoring. Five different passive samplers were studied (Radiello, SKC Ultra, Waterloo Membrane Sampler, ATD tubes and 3M OVM 3500). Ten different volatile organic compounds were used of varying classes (chlorinated ethanes, ethanes, and methanes, aliphatics and aromatics) and physical properties (vapor pressure, solubility and sorption). Samplers were exposed in randomized triplicates to concentrations of 1, 10 and 100 ppmv, with a relative humidity of ∼80%, a temperature of ∼24 °C, and a duration of 30 minutes in a chamber with a face velocity of about 5 cm min−1. Passive samplers are more commonly used for longer sample durations (e.g., 8 hour workday) and higher face velocities (>600 cm min−1), so testing to verify the performance for these conditions was needed. Summa canister samples were collected and analyzed by EPA Method TO-15 to establish a baseline for comparison for all the passive samplers. Low-uptake rate varieties of four of the samplers were also tested at 10 ppmv under two conditions; with 5 cm min−1 face velocity and stagnant conditions to assess whether low or near-zero face velocities would result in a low bias from the starvation effect. The results indicate that passive samplers can provide concentration measurements with accuracy (mostly within a factor of 2) and precision (RSD < 15%) comparable to conventional Summa canister samples and EPA Method TO-15 analysis. Some compounds are challenging for some passive samplers because of uncertainties in the uptake rates, or challenges with retention or recovery.Item Open Access Risks to health of carbon monoxide and other combustion gases in energy efficient homes(Cranfield University, 2011-10) Sharma, Arun.; Crump, DerrickRevisions of the UK Building Regulations are resulting in changes in the design, construction, heating and ventilation of new and refurbished homes. There are concerns that inadequate ventilation of these energy efficient homes could result in increased levels of indoor pollutants. This study considers the possible risk to occupant health due to exposure to combustion by-products, such as carbon monoxide (CO). Measurements of combustion pollutants during the 2010/11 heating season were undertaken in 14 homes built/refurbished in accordance with 2006 Building Regulations or to a higher standard of energy efficiency, as well as 5 older homes over a two week period. No WHO indoor air guidelines for CO were exceeded in any home. It was found that there was a significant difference between CO and nitrogen dioxide in the kitchen and the bedroom of the main study homes. Modelling of CO demonstrated how situations of low ventilation combined with high and also moderate source emission rates could potentially lead to air quality guidelines being exceeded. Combustion, heating elements and some aerosols were found to greatly increase the number of ultrafine particles (UFPs). Currently, no guidelines for UFPs in air are available and there is limited literature reporting their measurement. The air quality measurements do not show that energy efficient homes pose greater risks to health of occupants from combustion pollutants than other homes. However, modelling suggests some scenarios could produce exposure to CO exceeding health based guidelines. The study is considered as a preliminary investigation, not representative of the wide range of different house types and occupant behaviours that may influence pollutant levels and exposure of occupants. It does provide valuable indicative data and identifies a need for further work as current knowledge about indoor air quality in energy efficient homes is limited and possible risks to health have not been fully evaluated.Item Open Access Standards for evaluating indoor air(Sage, 2011-08-12T00:00:00Z) Yu, Chuck; Crump, DerrickItem Open Access Volatile organic compounds sensing using optical fibre long period grating with mesoporous nano-scale coating(MDPI, 2017-02-08) Hromadka, J.; Korposh, Sergiy; Partridge, Matthew; James, Stephen W.; Davis, Frank; Crump, Derrick; Tatam, Ralph P.A long period grating (LPG) modified with a mesoporous film infused with a calixarene as a functional compound was employed for the detection of individual volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and their mixtures. The mesoporous film consisted of an inorganic part, SiO nanoparticles (NPs), along with an organic moiety of poly(allylamine hydrochloride) polycation PAH, which was finally infused with the functional compound, p-sulphanato calix[4]arene (CA[4]) or p-sulphanato calix[8]arene (CA[8]). The LPG sensor was designed to operate at the phase matching turning point to provide the highest sensitivity. The sensing mechanism is based on the measurement of the refractive index (RI) change induced by a complex of the VOCs with calixarene. The LPG, modified with a coating of 5 cycles of (SiO NPs/PAH) and infused with CA[4] or CA[8], was exposed to chloroform, benzene, toluene and acetone vapours. The British Standards test of the VOCs emissions from material (BS EN ISO 16000-9:2006) was used to test the LPG sensor performance.Item Open Access Will drivers for home energy efficiency harm occupant health?(Sage, 2010-09-30T00:00:00Z) Bone, Angie; Murray, Virginia; Myers, Isabella; Dengel, Andy; Crump, DerrickThe UK government has committed to an 80% reduction in carbon emissions by 2050, with housing accounting for 27% of total current emissions. There are several drivers both to reduce emissions from homes and to reduce fuel poverty, promoting a range of building and behavioural measures in homes. The health benefits of warmer homes in winter have been described, but there has been less consideration of the potential negative impacts of some of these measures. We examine the changes in UK homes, and the possible consequences for health. The main concerns for health surround the potential for poor indoor air quality if ventilation is insufficient and the possible risks of overheating in heatwave conditions. This paper notes a limited evidence base and the need for further research on the health effects of energy-efficient homes, particularly with regard to ventilation.