Impacts of daily household activities on indoor particulate and NO2 concentrations; a case study from oxford UK
File(s)
Published version
Author(s)
Type
Journal Article
Abstract
This study explores indoor air pollutant (PM1, PM2.5 and NO2) concentrations over a 15-week period during the COVID-19 pandemic in a typical suburban household in Oxford, UK. A multi-room intensive monitoring study was conducted in a single dwelling using 10 air quality sensors measuring real-time pollutant concentrations at 10 second intervals to assess temporal and spatial variability in PM1, PM2.5 and NO2 concentrations, identify pollution-prone areas, and investigate the impact of residents' activities on indoor air quality. Significant spatial variations in PM concentrations were observed within the study dwelling, with highest hourly concentrations (769.0 & 300.9 μg m−3 for PM2.5, and PM1, respectively) observed in the upstairs study room, which had poor ventilation. Cooking activities were identified as a major contributor to indoor particulate pollution, with peak concentrations aligning with cooking events. Indoor NO2 levels were typically higher than outdoor levels, particularly in the kitchen where a gas-cooking appliance was used. There was no significant association observed between outdoor and indoor PM concentrations; however, a clear correlation was evident between kitchen PM emissions and indoor levels. Similarly, outdoor NO2 had a limited influence on indoor air quality compared to kitchen activities. Indoor sources were found to dominate for both PM and NO2, with higher Indoor/Outdoor (I/O) ratios observed in the upstairs bedroom and the kitchen. Overall, our findings highlight the contribution of indoor air pollutant sources and domestic activities to indoor air pollution exposure, notably during the COVID-19 pandemic when people were typically spending more time in domestic settings. Our novel findings, which suggest high levels of pollutant concentrations in upstairs (first floor) rooms, underscore the necessity for targeted interventions. These interventions include the implementation of source control measures, effective ventilation strategies and occupant education for behaviour change, all aimed at improving indoor air quality and promoting healthier living environments.
Date Issued
2024-08-15
Date Acceptance
2024-07-04
Citation
Heliyon, 2024, 10 (15)
ISSN
2405-8440
Publisher
Elsevier
Journal / Book Title
Heliyon
Volume
10
Issue
15
Copyright Statement
© 2024 The Authors. Published by Elsevier Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/).
License URL
Identifier
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pubmed/39165984
PII: S2405-8440(24)10241-1
Subjects
AIR-QUALITY
COVID-19
HEALTH
HOMES
Indoor air quality
Low-cost sensor
MATTER
Multidisciplinary Sciences
NITROGEN-DIOXIDE
NO 2
PERFORMANCE
PM
POLLUTION
Science & Technology
Science & Technology - Other Topics
TERM EXPOSURE
Publication Status
Published
Coverage Spatial
England
Article Number
e34210
Date Publish Online
2024-07-05