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Why Indoor Chemistry Matters (2022) / Chapter Skim
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6 Indoor Chemistry and Exposure
Pages 121-146

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From page 121...
... . Some exposure variables are linked to environmental health disparities, and these are discussed in the context of indoor chemistry.
From page 122...
... . Transdermal uptake for some semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs)
From page 123...
... These sources may contribute to indoor chemistry in both nonresidential and residential environments. In residential settings, several additional common activities contribute substantially to indoor chemistry, including cooking, space-heating, and behaviors associated with natural, mechanical, and unintentional ventilation of the occupied space.
From page 124...
... Estimating exposures to chemicals in dust via ingestion and/or dermal absorption has been a particular challenge for scientific and practitioner communities alike. Some settings have potential for more intense indoor exposures; for instance, indoor settings or microenvironments with high concentrations of some chemicals might include residences near major roadways or other strong outdoor point sources, and service-oriented work settings where workers and patrons alike may experience high exposures (e.g., restaurants and beauty and nail salons)
From page 125...
... The reasons why some people are difficult to access or gather informa tion from are likely associated with other socioeconomic and demographic factors that could also be associated with greater likelihood of experiencing elevated or adverse exposures, including in indoor environments, and/or greater susceptibility to the effects of those chemical exposures. Exposure Factors, Behaviors, and Intake Rates Greater insight on the chemical composition of indoor air would be achieved if the scientific community had better data on some indoor activities, including window-opening, cooking, clean ing, and using personal care and leisure products.
From page 126...
... ENVIRONMENTAL HEALTH DISPARITIES AND EXPOSURE VARIABLES Exposure to indoor air pollutants varies across individual households, yet certain exposures affect subsets of the population differently. These differential exposures derive from variables that influence indoor air chemistry.
From page 127...
... . This report cannot thoroughly discuss emerging indoor chemistry issues without address ing climate: climate change may influence the condition and quality of indoor environments, the chemistry that arises indoors, and the resulting exposures and exposure variability in numerous ways.
From page 128...
... In both residential and nonresidential settings, building energy performance assessments can identify opportunities for energy efficiency improvements, which may be achieved through building and building envelope upgrades and retrofits. Yet, improper implementation of energy NAS-A00426-Indoor_Chemistry.indd 128 01/10/2022 7:25 AM
From page 129...
... A study examining the impact of energy renovation in multifamily residences found lower air exchange rates and higher concentration of carbon dioxide (CO2) , formaldehyde, and VOCs (­Földváry et al., 2017)
From page 130...
... . Occupant Practices, Consumer Product Use, and Behaviors Indoor air chemistry is influenced by occupant practices, consumer product use, and behaviors, which vary by region, culture, ethnicity, race, and family structure.
From page 131...
... . THE INTERSECTION OF INDOOR CHEMISTRY AND EXPOSURE MODELING Exposure models sit at the intersection of chemistry, human activities in microenvironments, and health impacts.
From page 132...
... Personal activities are associated with both physicochemical processes underlying complex indoor chemistry and NAS-A00426-Indoor_Chemistry.indd 132 01/10/2022 7:25 AM
From page 133...
... Exposure models have also been coupled with dosimetry models and toxicokinetic/toxicodynamic models developed to predict internal dose. Although users may decide that a high degree of complexity is not needed for a particular application, generally much could be gained from incorporating increased levels of complexity across multiple dimensions into exposure models for indoor chemistry in order to more fully simu late real-world conditions.
From page 134...
... In the indoor chemistry context, process models include both fugacity- or equilibrium-based chemistry or mass balance-based models to character ize chemical transport and fate, exposure routes and pathways, and primary and secondary sources (e.g., emissions)
From page 135...
... As researchers work to measure exposure to chemical mixtures and understand their impacts, modeling advances could facilitate analysis of the complex interactions of multiple chemi cals on human receptors to ultimately understand health risks at the individual and population level. A notable practical limitation of the exposure models described here is lack of integration with building thermal analysis models that are used to predict the expected energy use of buildings.
From page 136...
... , and personal samplers can be used to measure individual exposure. Indoor environmental samplers can operate passively or actively with the aid of a pumping mechanism that purposefully draws air over sampling media.
From page 137...
... may help us understand individual exposure profiles in a better light as opposed to relying upon measurement of chemicals in bulk samples of indoor air and dust. For example, recent studies found that levels of parabens and organophosphate ester flame retardants measured on silicone wristbands were more strongly correlated with urinary biomarkers than levels measured in house dust (Levasseur et al., 2021; Phillips et al., 2018)
From page 138...
... Integrating frame works can be the basis for better understanding the relationship of indoor air chemistry to exposure and even to internal dosing. RESEARCH NEEDS On the basis of the information discussed in this chapter, the committee arrived at the following list of specific actions recommended to advance indoor exposure science and research: • Review current science of indoor chemistry to define gaps in current exposure assess ment methods or data collection.
From page 139...
... Detailed, representative behavioral data will be increasingly valuable for models of physical processes and exposure. In recent years, the scientific community has learned how the presence of a human body mediates indoor chemistry, including gas phase composition, generation of VOCs, and surface reactivity.
From page 140...
... 2012. A systematic review of allostatic load, health, and health disparities.
From page 141...
... 2020. Perspectives on advancing consumer product exposure models.
From page 142...
... Presented at the National Academies of Sciences Workshop on Emerging Science on Indoor Chemistry and Implications. Washington, DC, April 5, 2021.
From page 143...
... 2016. Indoor environmental quality in French dwellings and building characteristics.
From page 144...
... 2018. Children's residential exposure to organophosphate ester flame retardants and plasticizers: Investigating exposure pathways in the TESIE study.
From page 145...
... 2005. Allostatic load: A mechanism of socioeconomic health disparities?
From page 146...
... 2018. Infant and adult inhalation exposure to resuspended biological particulate matter Environmental Science & Technology 52(1)


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