| 31. |
- Lundgren Kownacki, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Sustainability Challenges from Climate Change and Air Conditioning Use in Urban Areas
- 2013
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Ingår i: Sustainability. - : MDPI AG. - 2071-1050. ; 5:7, s. 3116-3128
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Global climate change increases heat loads in urban areas causing health and productivity risks for millions of people. Inhabitants in tropical and subtropical urban areas are at especial risk due to high population density, already high temperatures, and temperature increases due to climate change. Air conditioning is growing rapidly, especially in South and South-East Asia due to income growth and the need to protect from high heat exposures. Studies have linked increased total hourly electricity use to outdoor temperatures and humidity; modeled future predictions when facing additional heat due to climate change, related air conditioning with increased street level heat and estimated future air conditioning use in major urban areas. However, global and localized studies linking climate variables with air conditioning alone are lacking. More research and detailed data is needed looking at the effects of increasing air conditioning use, electricity consumption, climate change and interactions with the urban heat island effect. Climate change mitigation, for example using renewable energy sources, particularly photovoltaic electricity generation, to power air conditioning, and other sustainable methods to reduce heat exposure are needed to make future urban areas more climate resilient.
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| 32. |
- Lundgren Kownacki, Karin
(författare)
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The heat is on : Evaluation of workplace heat stress under a changing climate
- 2018
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Doktorsavhandling (övrigt vetenskapligt/konstnärligt)abstract
- Background: There are several scientific indications that increasing heat due to climate change is going to become the next big societal and scientific challenge. Climate change is recognized as a significant public health threat. However, there is a lack of research on its impacts on occupational safety and health. Aims and Objectives: The general aim of the research presented in this thesis was to identify impacts, evaluate assessment tools and explore solutions to the effects of increasing heat at different workplaces. The research had four specific objectives: 1) To identify gaps in the existing knowledge of occupational heat stress and its links with a changing climate (Papers I, II, V). 2) To carry out a field study in workplaces situated in already hot areas of the world, namely in Chennai, India, in order to assess the current and future impacts of increasing local heat due to climate change (Papers II, V). 3) To evaluate the current standard assessment tools for hot environments (Papers II, III). 4) To investigate site-specific sustainable solutions to increasing heat, including technical, managerial and socio-cultural solutions (Papers II, IV, V). Methods: To address the specific objectives, a wide array of research techniques and qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The methods included literature reviews, case studies, heat stress assessment techniques, questionnaire surveys, thermal manikin measurements, application of thermophysiological models and an experimental study conducted in a climatic chamber.Results: This research showed that occupational heat exposure is already a problem in Chennai, India, affecting workers’ health and productivity. The problems are set to worsen due to climate change. Female workers are more prone to heat stress due to the use of clothing that inhibit heat dissipation. Physiological models are also less accurate in predicting heat strain for females. The Predicted Heat Strain (PHS) model (ISO 7933:2004a) can be applied to estimate thermal physiological responses and indirectly to estimate labour productivity loss due to heat exposure. However, caution has to be taken when analysing intermittent work as the PHS over-predicts body cooling at low activity. Traditional methods of coping with heat stress were analysed and the traditional Indian fermented dairy drink, ‘buttermilk’, proved to be as effective as water in reducing thermal strain. Buttermilk also had a protective effect on renal function. The analysis and evaluation of solutions require transdisciplinary and holistic approaches, including not only technical solutions but also a mix of locally appropriate technologies integrated with a human rights and environmental justice frame.Conclusion: Occupational heat stress is already a problem, affecting workers’ health and productivity. The situation is bound to worsen due to climate change. Because of this, it is important to assess and validate current assessment tools and develop sustainable solutions.
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| 33. |
- Lundgren Kownacki, Karin, et al.
(författare)
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Värmestress i urbana inomhusmiljöer : Förekomst och åtgärder i befintlig bebyggelse
- 2018
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Ingår i: Värmestress i urbana inomhusmiljöer - Förekomst och åtgärder i befintlig bebyggelse. ; 18060
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Bokkapitel (populärvet., debatt m.m.)abstract
- This literature review describes how heat stress can develop indoors, how it can be identified, and what actions can be taken, with a focus on property owner’s responsibilities. The review is limited to existing buildings in Sweden and includes schools, retirement homes, apartments, preschools, and non-industrial offices (those without industrial processes that produce heat). The expected climate changes increase the risks of heat stress, especially in urban areas where urban heat islands can develop. Strong heat can have several negative health outcomes, and this report has identified the risk groups as the chronically ill, people who take certain medications or have a disability, infants, pregnant women, individuals with heavy physical work, and emergency workers. There is a connection between the outdoor and the indoor climate in buildings without air conditioning, but the pathways leading to the development of severe heat levels indoors during heat waves are complex. These depend, for example, on the type of building, window placement, the residential area's thermal outdoor conditions, and the residents’ influence and behaviour. This review shows that few studies have focused on the thermal environment indoors during heat waves despite the fact that in Sweden people spend most of their time indoors and are likely to experience increased heat stress indoors in the future. Further, current Heat-Health Warning Systems (HHWS) are based on the outdoor climate, which can lead to a misleading interpretation of the health effects and hinder the development of more effective interventions. In order to identify severe heat, six factors need to be taken into account, including air temperature, heat radiation, humidity, and air movement as well as the physical activity and the clothes worn by the individual. Severe heat can be identified using a heat index that includes these six factors. However, it is noted that existing indexes do not take into account a person’s health status. This report presents some examples of heat indices that are relevant for indoor environments, as well as models that can be applied at the city level. It also highlights the need for the development of a heat index that specifically targets the identification of severe heat in indoor environments. There are a number of measures that can be taken in existing buildings to reduce heat indoors and thus improve the health and well-being of the population in urban areas. This report also describes a number of effective measures that are relevant to both property owners and its residents. Examples of effective measures to reduce heat stress indoors are the use of shading devices such as blinds and vegetation, but also personal cooling techniques such as the use of fans and cooling vests, as well as the integration of innovative Phase Change Materials (PCM) into facades, roofs, floors, and windows.
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| 34. |
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| 35. |
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| 36. |
- Norén, Johan, et al.
(författare)
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Ascending Stair Evacuation – effects of fatigue, walking speed & human behaviour
- 2015
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Ingår i: Human Behaviour in fire : 6th International Symposium - 6th International Symposium. - 9780993393303 ; , s. 161-172
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Konferensbidrag (refereegranskat)abstract
- Field study of evacuation upwards long stairs, ascending evacuation, in two different buildings, 48 meters and 109 meters high. Measuring walking speed along the stair slope and vertical speed. Presenting values for different percentiles of the studied population. The importance of not using the same value for walking speed for different stairs since the design of the stairs has a strong impact, and that the vertical speed ought to be considered as well.
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| 37. |
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| 38. |
- Wierzbicka, Aneta, et al.
(författare)
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Healthy Indoor Environments : The Need for a Holistic Approach
- 2018
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Ingår i: International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health. - : MDPI. - 1661-7827 .- 1660-4601. ; 15:9
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- Indoor environments have a large impact on health and well-being, so it is important to understand what makes them healthy and sustainable. There is substantial knowledge on individual factors and their effects, though understanding how factors interact and what role occupants play in these interactions (both causative and receptive) is lacking. We aimed to: (i) explore interactions between factors and potential risks if these are not considered from holistic perspective; and (ii) identify components needed to advance research on indoor environments. The paper is based on collaboration between researchers from disciplines covering technical, behavioural, and medical perspectives. Outcomes were identified through literature reviews, discussions and workshops with invited experts and representatives from various stakeholder groups. Four themes emerged and were discussed with an emphasis on occupant health: (a) the bio-psycho-social aspects of health; (b) interaction between occupants, buildings and indoor environment; (c) climate change and its impact on indoor environment quality, thermal comfort and health; and (d) energy efficiency measures and indoor environment. To advance the relevant research, the indoor environment must be considered a dynamic and complex system with multiple interactions. This calls for a transdisciplinary and holistic approach and effective collaboration with various stakeholders.
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| 39. |
- Zhao, Mengmeng, et al.
(författare)
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A Ventilated Cooling Shirt Worn at Office Work in Hot Climate: Cool or Not?
- 2015
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Ingår i: International Journal of Occupational Safety and Ergonomics. - : Informa UK Limited. - 2376-9130 .- 1080-3548. ; 21:4, s. 457-463
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Tidskriftsartikel (refereegranskat)abstract
- The aim of the study was to identify whether a ventilated cooling shirt was effective in reducing heat strain in hot climate. 8 female volunteers (age: 26±5 years; height: 165±7 cm; body weight: 58±9 kg) were exposed in heat (38 °C, 45 % RH) for 2 hours with simulated office work. In the first hour they were in normal summer wears (total thermal insulation 0.7 clo); in the second hour a ventilated shirt was worn. After the shirt was introduced for one hour, the scapular and the chest skin temperatures were significantly reduced (p<0.05). The mean skin and the core temperatures were not significantly reduced. The subjects felt cooler and more comfortable by wearing the shirt, but the cooling effect was most conspicuous only during the initial 10 minutes. The cooling shirt reduced heat strain, but the cooling power was not very effective under the low body activity.
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