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Pages 105-122

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From page 105...
... Research Needs Turning to research needs, Batterman cited a need to understand what makes for a successful behavioral intervention, not just for portable air cleaners but for range hoods, exhaust systems, and other aspects of particulate matter control. While the literature indicates that information and simple messaging are important, they are no guarantee that people will change their behavior.
From page 106...
... FIGURE 9-4  Occupant perception of indoor environmental quality, including air quality. SOURCE: Graham slide 3, adapted from Graham et al.
From page 107...
... When communicating about air quality, much of what is known comes from how outdoor air quality is reported, and over the past few years there has been an increase in efforts to raise awareness about outdoor air quality. As Batterman noted, addressing how to effectively influence behaviors with information is an emerging area for indoor air quality.
From page 108...
... In Montana, where she lives and works, wildfires are a significant contributor to indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) , but so too is biomass burning for heating and cooking.
From page 109...
... She noted that the role of public health as it relates to wildfire smoke has become much larger than it was a decade ago, and there are now three aspects to that role: • communication: providing advice for creating clean air spaces and reducing exposure, providing health advisories and guidance docu ments, issuing smoke outlooks, and responding to public inquiries • intervention: setting up cleaner-air shelters and providing portable air cleaners and N95 masks • policy work: advocating for cleaner indoor air requirements, adopt ing updated ASHRAE guidance, canceling or postponing events, closing schools, and setting up safeguards for outdoor workers. Regarding policy work, she said that interventions might work in a small community, but when millions of people are exposed to huge amounts of particulate matter, the need is for policies and actions beyond what the local health department can do to safeguard health.
From page 110...
... Interventions Interventions during a smoke event include portable air cleaner distribution and instructions for creating a do-it-yourself air cleaner from a newer box fan and a good HVAC filter, which can be quite effective at removing particulate matter from indoor air. Coefield cautioned, however, that box fans built prior to 2011 had an unfortunate tendency to catch on fire, while newer fans have numerous safety features that prevent that from happening.
From page 111...
... The most resource-intensive plan is to create 24-hour shelters, with food, sleeping facilities, and staff available. Creating a cleaner indoor air center will likely require retrofitting the HVAC system to provide cleaner air and installation of sensors to monitor indoor particulate matter levels.
From page 112...
... However, "while providing information on fine particulate matter exposure hazards is helpful," he said, "it's not the same as behavioral change." Study participants came from financially challenged households and spending
From page 113...
... Chan asked Coefield about challenges in helping schools to interpret the air quality data they get from sensors installed in their buildings. Currently, said Coefield, there is no requirement for schools to monitor indoor particulate matter levels or to provide cleaner indoor air for their students.
From page 114...
... Chan asked the speakers to comment on the idea of focusing more on reducing infiltration or achieving tighter building envelopes as a way to mitigate indoor exposure to outdoor particulate matter. Batterman replied that his group has looked at dozens of schools and found chronic problems with lack of ventilation or inadequate ventilation for the capacity of the space, which has to be addressed.
From page 115...
... OCCUPANT RESPONSES TO INDOOR PARTICULATE MATTER 115 the primary determinant of removal efficiency was particle diameter, which means that a filter can be effective for particulates originating from multiple sources in the same size range. Singer qualified, though, that organic compounds can accumulate on filters during events like wildfires and lead to both odors and subsequent exposures.
From page 117...
... He then noted that indoor environments are a complex system, starting with the fact that indoor fine particulate matter (PM2.5) of outdoor origin mixes with PM2.5 generated indoors and chemical transformations occur indoors.
From page 118...
... , biologi cal (respiratory aerosols and mold spores) , and chemical reactions that generate secondary organic aerosols.
From page 119...
... • Increases in indoor PM2.5 are associated with increases in asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease morbidity, but portable HEPA filtration can reduce symptoms. • There is some evidence from animal studies that PM2.5 of indoor origin produces more inflammation and cytotoxicity than PM2.5 of outdoor origin.
From page 120...
... Are there approaches such as sensors that either alert occupants to turn on their range hoods or automatic systems that can improve this situation? • Filtration works only when there is a good filter that is properly installed to minimize bypass, when the filtration system is running and producing enough air flow, and when the filter is replaced regularly.
From page 121...
... • Messaging is critical for reducing exposures to PM2.5 during wild fires, as is preparation before an event occurs. Portable HEPA cleaners can be valuable mitigation tools during these and other high outdoor particulate matter events.


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