| 1. |
- Yuan, Feng, et al.
(author)
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Thermal comfort in hospital buildings - A literature review
- 2022
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In: Journal of Building Engineering. - : Elsevier BV. - 2352-7102. ; 45
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Research review (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Hospital buildings are required to secure a variety of indoor environments according to the diverse requirements of patients and staff. Among these requirements, thermal comfort is an important design criterion for indoor environmental quality that affects patients' healing processes and the wellbeing of medical staff. The patients' thermal comfort is given priority due to their medical conditions and impaired immune systems. Thermal comfort and related contexts have been well-covered in many research articles; however, the number of review articles is limited. This article aims to conduct a holistic and critical review of existing studies offering insights on future research trends (180 articles were analyzed). The key research themes are identified using scientometric analysis. Focus is on influencing factors, field-surveys, improving measures and energy saving related to thermal comfort. The primary outcome concludes that ventilation systems play a key role in maintaining acceptable, thermally-comfortable conditions for patients and medical staff. It is also found that acceptable thermal comfort is highly case-dependent and varies substantially based on the health condition of the patient as well as the type and level of staff activities. The measures currently mentioned to minimize energy consumption are also discussed. Some interesting issues, including the inaccuracy arising from the use of predicted mean vote (PMV) and the impact of gender, age, and related factors on thermal comfort, have been noted. This review provides insights into the design and assessment of hospital thermal environments.
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| 2. |
- Zhang, Xin, et al.
(author)
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Dampness and mold in homes across China : Associations with rhinitis, ocular, throat and dermal symptoms, headache and fatigue among adults
- 2019
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In: Indoor Air. - : WILEY. - 0905-6947 .- 1600-0668. ; 29:1, s. 30-42
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We studied dampness and mold in China in relation to rhinitis, ocular, throat and dermal symptoms, headache and fatigue. A questionnaire study was performed in six cities including 36 541 randomized parents of young children. Seven self-reported signs of dampness were evaluated. Multilevel logistic regression models were used to calculate odds ratios (ORs). Totally, 3.1% had weekly rhinitis, 2.8% eye, 4.1% throat and 4.8% skin symptoms, 3.0% headache and 13.9% fatigue. Overall, 6.3% of the homes had mold, 11.1% damp stains, 35.3% damp bed clothing, 12.8% water damage, 45.4% window pane condensation, 11.1% mold odor, and 37.5% humid air. All dampness signs were associated with symptoms (ORs from 1.2 to 4.6; P < 0.001), including rhinitis (ORs from 1.4 to 3.2; P < 0.001), and ORs increased by number of dampness signs. The strongest associations were for mold odor (ORs from 2.3 to 4.6) and humid air (ORs from 2.8 to 4.8). Associations were stronger among men and stronger in Beijing as compared to south China. In conclusion, dampness and mold are common in Chinese homes and associated with rhinitis and ocular, throat and dermal symptoms, headache and fatigue. Men can be more sensitive to dampness and health effects of dampness can be stronger in northern China.
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| 3. |
- Zhang, Yinping, et al.
(author)
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Ten cities cross-sectional questionnaire survey of children asthma and other allergies in China
- 2013
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In: Chinese Science Bulletin. - : Springer Science and Business Media LLC. - 1001-6538 .- 1861-9541. ; 58:34, s. 4182-4189
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Asthma, rhinitis and eczema (allergic or non-allergic) have increased throughout the world during the last decades, especially among children. Changes in the indoor environment are suspected to be important causes. China has experienced a dramatic change in indoor environmental exposures during the past two decades. However, such changes and their associations with children's asthma and other health aspects have not been thoroughly studied. China, Children, Homes, Health (CCHH), Phase I, was a cross-sectional questionnaire survey of 48219 children 1-8 years old in 10 Chinese cities during 2010-2012. The questionnaire includes the International Study of Asthma and Allergies in Childhood (ISAAC) core health questions and additional questions regarding housing, life habits and outdoor environment. In health analyses, children aged 3-6 years old were included. The prevalences of doctor diagnosed asthma varied from 1.7% to 9.8% (mean 6.8%), a large increase from 0.91% in 1999 and 1.50% in 2000. The prevalence of wheeze, rhinitis and atopic eczema (last 12 months) varied from 13.9% to 23.7%, 24.0% to 50.8% and 4.8% to 15.8%, respectively. Taiyuan had the lowest prevalences of all illnesses and Shanghai the highest, except for wheezewhere the highest value was for Urumqi. We found (1) no obvious association between disease prevalences and ambient PM10 concentrations and (2) higher prevalences of disease in humid climates with hot summers and cold winters, but with no centrally heated buildings. Associations between the diseases and economic status as indexed by Gross Domestic Product (GDP) requires further study.
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| 4. |
- Cai, Jiao, et al.
(author)
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Household dampness-related exposures in relation to childhood asthma and rhinitis in China : A multicentre observational study
- 2019
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In: Environment International. - : Elsevier BV. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 126, s. 735-746
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- During 2010-2012, we conducted an observational study on household environment and health outcomes among 40,010 preschool children from seven cities of China. Here we examined associations of six dampness-related indicators (visible mold spots, visible damp stains, damp clothing and/or bedding, water damage, condensation on windowpane, moldy odor) in the current residence and three dampness-related indicators (visible mold spots, condensation on windowpane, moldy odor) in the early residence with childhood asthma and rhinitis. In the multi-level logistic regression analyses, visible mold spots and visible damp stains in the current residence were significantly associated with the increased odds of doctor-diagnosed asthma and allergic rhinitis during lifetime-ever (adjusted odd ratios (AORs) range: 1.18-1.35). All dampness-related indicators were significantly associated with increased odds of wheeze and rhinitis during lifetime-ever and in the past 12 months (AORs range: 1.16-2.64). The cumulative numbers of damp indicators had positively dose-response relationships with the increased odds of the studied diseases. These associations for wheeze and rhinitis were similar between northern children and southern children. Similar results were found in the sensitive analyses among children without a family history of allergies and among children without asthma and allergic rhinitis. For 3-6 years-old children in mainland of China in 2011, we speculated that about 90,000 (2.02%) children with asthma and about 59,000 (1.09%) children with allergic rhinitis could be attributable to exposing to visible mold spots in the current residence. Our results suggested that early and lifetime exposures to household dampness indicators are risk factors for childhood asthma and rhinitis.
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| 5. |
- Chen, Fei'er, et al.
(author)
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The effects of PM2.5 on asthmatic and allergic diseases or symptoms in preschool children of six Chinese cities, based on China, Children, Homes and Health (CCHH) project
- 2018
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In: Environmental Pollution. - : Elsevier BV. - 0269-7491 .- 1873-6424. ; 232, s. 329-337
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- The urbanization and industrialization in China is accompanied by bad air quality, and the prevalence of asthma in Chinese children has been increasing in recent years. To investigate the associations between ambient PM2.5 levels and asthmatic and allergic diseases or symptoms in preschool children in China, we assigned PM2.5 exposure data from the Global Burden of Disease (GBD) project to 205 kindergartens at a spatial resolution of 0.1° × 0.1° in six cities in China (Shanghai, Nanjing, Chongqing, Changsha, Urumqi, and Taiyuan). A hierarchical multiple logistical regression model was applied to analyze the associations between kindergarten-level PM2.5 exposure and individual-level outcomes of asthmatic and allergic symptoms. The individual-level variables, including gender, age, family history of asthma and allergic diseases, breastfeeding, parental smoking, indoor dampness, interior decoration pollution, household annual income, and city-level variable-annual temperature were adjusted. A total of 30,759 children (average age 4.6 years, 51.7% boys) were enrolled in this study. Apart from family history, indoor dampness, and decoration as predominant risk factors, we found that an increase of 10 μg/m3 of the annual PM2.5 was positively associated with the prevalence of allergic rhinitis by an odds ratio (OR) of 1.20 (95% confidence interval [CI] 1.11, 1.29) and diagnosed asthma by OR of 1.10 (95% CI 1.03, 1.18). Those who lived in non-urban (vs. urban) areas were exposed to more severe indoor air pollution arising from biomass combustion and had significantly higher ORs between PM2.5 and allergic rhinitis and current rhinitis. Our study suggested that long-term exposure to PM2.5 might increase the risks of asthmatic and allergic diseases or symptoms in preschool children in China. Compared to those living in urban areas, children living in suburban or rural areas had a higher risk of PM2.5 exposure.
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| 6. |
- Chen, Tianyi, et al.
(author)
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Maternal exposure to PM2.5/BC during pregnancy predisposes children to allergic rhinitis which varies by regions and exclusive breastfeeding
- 2022
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In: Environment International. - : Elsevier. - 0160-4120 .- 1873-6750. ; 165
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- BackgroundIncreasing prevalence of childhood allergic rhinitis(AR) needs a deeper understanding on the potential adverse effects of early life exposure to air pollution.ObjectivesThe main aim was to evaluate the effects of maternal exposure to PM2.5 and chemical constituents during pregnancy on preschool children’s AR, and further to explore the modification effects of regions and exclusive breastfeeding.MethodsA multi-center population-based study was performed in 6 cities from 3 regions of China in 2011–2012. Maternal exposure to ambient PM2.5 and main chemical constituents(BC, OM, SO42−, NO3−, NH4+) during pregnancy was assessed and a longitudinal prospective analysis was applied on preschool children’s AR. The modification effects of regions and exclusive breastfeeding were investigated.ResultsA total of 8.8% and 9.8% of children reported doctor-diagnosed allergic rhinitis(DDAR) and current hay fever, respectively, and 48.6% had less than 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding. The means of PM2.5 during pregnancy were 52.7 μg/m3, 70.3 μg/m3 and 76.4 μg/m3 in the east, north and central south of China, respectively. Multilevel log-binomial model regression showed that each interquartile range(IQR) increase of PM2.5 during pregnancy was associated with an average increase in prevalence ratio (PR) of DDAR by 1.43(95% confidence interval(CI): 1.11, 1.84) and current hay fever by 1.79(95% CI: 1.26, 2.55), respectively. Among chemical constituents, black carbon (BC) had the strongest associations. Across 3 regions, the eastern cities had the highest associations, followed by those in the central south and the north. For those equal to or longer than 6 months of exclusive breastfeeding, the associations were significantly reduced.ConclusionsChildren in east of China had the highest risks of developing AR per unit increase of maternal exposure to PM2.5 during pregnancy, especially BC constituent. Remarkable decline was found in association with an increase in breastfeeding for ≥6 months, in particular in east of China.
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| 7. |
- Cheng, Hong, et al.
(author)
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Home environment exposure and sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms among adults in southern China : Health associations in 2010 and 2019
- 2024
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In: Building and Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0360-1323 .- 1873-684X. ; 248
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- We studied time trends in home environment and sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms in a repeat study in five cities in southern China. Moreover, we studied associations between home environment exposure and SBS symptoms. Parents from randomly selected day care centers were invited. One parent per family answered a questionnaire on the home environment and their own SBS symptoms. Data collection was performed in two surveys in 2010 and 2019 (27,292 participants in 2010 and 32,073 in 2019). We used two-level logistic regression to analyze health associations. Asthma decreased from 1.7% to 1.5% (P < 0.05) but allergic rhinitis increased from 6.5% to 16.4% (P < 0.001). All SBS symptoms decreased from 2010 to 2019 (all P < 0.001). Most aspects of the home environment improved from 2010 to 2019 but there were less cleaning, more cats, dogs, and urbanization in 2019. Redecoration, new furniture, and pests were associated with most types of SBS symptoms, similarly in 2010 and 2019. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) was associated with SBS symptoms in 2019 only. In conclusion, prevalence of SBS symptoms among young parents in southern China decreased from 2010 to 2019 but allergic rhinitis increased. Cockroaches, rats, mice, mosquitoes or flies can be consistent biological risk factors for SBS symptoms. Redecoration, buying new furniture and traffic air pollution are other risk factors for SBS symptoms. Daily cleaning, frequently putting bedding to sunshine, and having a fan in the bathroom can be protective factors. ETS is an emerging risk factor for SBS symptoms.
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| 8. |
- Du, Chenqiu, et al.
(author)
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Grey image recognition-based mold growth assessment on the surface of typical building materials responding to dynamic thermal conditions
- 2023
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In: Building and Environment. - : Elsevier BV. - 0360-1323 .- 1873-684X. ; 243
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Mold growth on building materials poses a threat to both the building structural integrity and occupants' well-being. However, it is generally studied under suitable conditions in laboratory; the assessment is based on visual inspection but lacks an objective criterion. This research explored the effects of simulated dynamic thermal conditions on mold growth on three typical building materials artificially contaminated with Aspergillus niger spores. Test specimens were assessed based on a developed digital image-based method, where image seg-mentation, processing, and greyscale recognition via the OpenCV visual library were introduced. The results showed that the high temperature-high humidity condition in a 24-h cyclic change facilitated mold growth on the surfaces of three materials, especially for gypsum board, with an identified area proportion of 1.13% on the 80th day. This was consistent with the changes of the counted number of mold colonies, and no significant differences were found among the gypsum board, latex paint, and wallpaper. The growth extents of mold spores were objectively evaluated by the mean greyscale values; the values decreased gradually with time, and the decrements were different compared high-temperature to low-temperature conditions. The mold growth models were developed, where the area proportion of mold growth was linearly related to the counted colonies and greyscale values under different material surfaces. This novel grey image recognition-based method provides an accurate means of evaluating mold growth abilities and extents, overcoming the inaccuracy of visual observa-tion. The findings have significant implications for visual inspection, mold prediction, and building management.
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| 9. |
- Du, Chenqiu, et al.
(author)
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Home dampness/mold(D/M) improvement in children's residences over the past decade in China-a comparison of repeated surveys in 2010 and 2019
- 2021
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In: Building and Environment. - : Elsevier. - 0360-1323 .- 1873-684X. ; 205
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- There is mounting evidence that exposure to household dampness/mold (D/M) is the cause of respiratory, allergic diseases for children. While few research focuses on the effects caused by building environment changes, from a longitudinal investigation perspective, especially for China experiencing a rapid development in recent years. This study aimed to explore the changes of D/M in Chinese homes over the past 10 years and identify the impacts of climate, building energy efficiency and residents' behaviors. The cross-sectional surveys were repeatedly conducted in children' residences in 2010 (Period I) and 2019 (Period II), among Taiyuan, Urumqi in northern China, and Nanjing, Shanghai, Wuhan, Changsha, Chongqing in southern China. Finally, 23465 children in Period I and 34720 children in Period II were involved, with no changes of residences since birth. The results showed that the proportions for reported D/M indicators were significantly reduced in Period II: e.g., 93.8% and 84.1% residents respectively answered no visible mold spots and damp stains in current residences, compared to only 78.3% and 62.2% in Period I. Southern homes accounted for high proportions for D/M indicator occurrences; warm-humid climate, annual higher precipitation and lower sunshine hours, etc., exacerbated the indoor D/M exposure risks. While residents' behaviors like ventilation, airing quilt/beddings, regular cleaning ameliorated the reported D/M significantly. The findings, from a temporal and spacious dimension perspective, advance our understanding of indoor D/M changes, precisely improvement in children' homes over the past 10 years, benefiting to promote indoor air quality standards in China.
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| 10. |
- Fu, Xiaoli, et al.
(author)
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Effect of prenatal and postnatal exposure to home renovation on the risk of common cold in preschool children
- 2022
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In: Indoor Air. - : John Wiley & Sons. - 0905-6947 .- 1600-0668. ; 32:6
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Journal article (peer-reviewed)abstract
- Common cold is usually considered to be associated with outdoor climate, but the evidence linking with indoor environmental factors is lacking. The role of indoor renovations during which critical timing window on childhood common cold remains unclear. Therefore, we investigated the effect of exposure to new furniture and/or redecoration during prenatal and postnatal periods on the occurrence and duration of common cold in preschool children. We conducted a retrospective cohort study of 39 782 children aged 3-6 years in seven cities of China. The occurrence and duration of common cold in children, and their lifetime exposures to indoor new furniture and redecoration (including pregnancy, the first year of life, and after one year old) were assessed using a questionnaire administered by the parents. Associations between high frequency (>5 colds) and long duration (>= 2 weeks per cold) of common cold during past 12 months and exposure to indoor new furniture/redecoration were examined by logistic regression models in terms of odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI). We found that the prevalence of high frequency and long duration of common cold in preschool children in China were, respectively, 9.2% and 11.9%. Frequent common cold was significantly associated with exposure to indoor new furniture/redecoration during pregnancy, first year, and after 1 year old, respectively, with the ORs (95% CI) = 1.25 (1.12-1.39), 1.11 (1.00-1.25), and 1.09 (1.01-1.18). Furthermore, childhood long duration per cold was associated with exposure to indoor new furniture/redecoration during pregnancy with OR (95% CI) of 1.14 (1.03-1.25) but not with postnatal exposure. We identified that prenatal exposure to home renovation was more critical than postnatal exposure for an increased risk of high frequency and long duration of common cold. Sensitivity analysis showed that the association between prenatal exposure to indoor renovations and the risk of childhood common cold was consistent and robust, and the associations were modified by some personal and indoor environmental factors. Our findings indicated that prenatal and postnatal exposure to home renovation played an important role in the risk of childhood common cold, supporting the hypothesis of "fetal origin of childhood infection."
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