Cumulate | Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Instrument

晚上9:24

LATEST UPDATE- User-friendly UI of Cumulate Wireless Air Quality Monitor System

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Cumulate PA302 HCHO (CH2O/Formaldehyde) Portable Thermo-hygro Indoor Air...

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下午5:36

Green office environments linked with higher cognitive function scores

A recent study conducted at Harvard University shows that buildings with better air quality significantly improves people’s productivity.

Green office environments linked with higher cognitive function scores

For immediate release: October 26, 2015

Boston, MA – People who work in well-ventilated offices with below-average levels of indoor pollutants and carbon dioxide (CO₂) have significantly higher cognitive functioning scores—in crucial areas such as responding to a crisis or developing strategy—than those who work in offices with typical levels, according to a new study from the Harvard T.H. Chan School of Public Health’s Center for Health and the Global Environment, SUNY Upstate Medical University, and Syracuse University.

The researchers looked at people’s experiences in “green” vs. “non-green” buildings in a double-blind study, in which both the participants and the analysts were blinded to test conditions to avoid biased results. The findings suggest that the indoor environments in which many people work daily could be adversely affecting cognitive function—and that, conversely, improved air quality could greatly increase the cognitive function performance of workers.

The study was published October 26, 2015 in Environmental Health Perspectives.

“We have been ignoring the 90%. We spend 90% of our time indoors and 90% of the cost of a building are the occupants, yet indoor environmental quality and its impact on health and productivity are often an afterthought,” said Joseph Allen, assistant professor of exposure assessment science, director of the Healthy Buildings Program at the Harvard Center for Health and the Global Environment, and lead author of the study. “These results suggest that even modest improvements to indoor environmental quality may have a profound impact on the decision-making performance of workers.”

Researchers wanted to look at the impact of ventilation, chemicals, and carbon dioxide on workers’ cognitive function because, as buildings have become more energy efficient, they have also become more airtight, increasing the potential for poor indoor environmental quality. Building-related illnesses and “sick building syndrome” were first reported in the 1980s as ventilation rates decreased. In response, there has been an emphasis on sustainable design—“green” buildings that are energy efficient and are also designed to enhance indoor environmental quality. The researchers designed this study to identify the specific attributes of green building design that influence cognitive function, an objective measure of productivity.

In the new study, researchers utilized a double-blinded, repeated measures design to look at the decision-making performance of 24 participants—including architects, designers, programmers, engineers, creative marketing professionals, and managers—while they worked in a controlled office environment at the Total Indoor Environmental Quality (TIEQ) Laboratory at the Syracuse Center of Excellence in Environmental and Energy Systems.

For six days in November 2014, while the participants performed their normal work, the researchers exposed them to various simulated building conditions: conventional conditions with relatively high concentrations of volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as those emitted from common materials in offices; green conditions with low VOC concentrations; green conditions with enhanced ventilation (dubbed “green+”); and conditions with artificially elevated levels of CO₂, independent of ventilation. At the end of each day, they conducted cognitive testing on the participants.

They found that cognitive performance scores for the participants who worked in the green+ environments were, on average, double those of participants who worked in conventional environments; scores for those working in green environments were 61% higher. Measuring nine cognitive function domains, researchers found that the largest improvements occurred in the areas of:

crisis response (97% higher scores in green conditions and 131% higher in green+)
strategy (183% and 288% higher)
information usage (172% and 299% higher)

In addition, when researchers looked at the effect of CO₂—not normally thought of as a direct indoor pollutant—they found that, for seven of the nine cognitive functions tested, average scores decreased as CO₂ levels increased to levels commonly observed in many indoor environments.

Other Harvard Chan School authors of the study included John D. Spengler, Akira Yamaguchi Professor of Health and Human Habitation, doctoral student Piers MacNaughton, SM ’14, and project engineer Jose Vallarino. Suresh Santanam, associate professor at Syracuse University and associate director of the Syracuse University Center of Excellence, also was an author.

Funding for the study came from United Technologies Corp. and from NIEHS environmental epidemiology training grant 5T32ES007069-35 to MacNaughton.

“Associations of Cognitive Function Scores with Carbon Dioxide, Ventilation, and Volatile Organic Compound Exposures in Office Workers: A Controlled Exposure Study of Green and Conventional Office Environments,” Joseph G. Allen, Piers MacNaughton, Usha Satish, Suresh Santanam, Jose Vallarino, John D. Spengler, Environmental Health Perspectives, October 26, 2015, doi: 10.1289/ehp.1510037

Cumulate provides various air quality monitor selections to help you monitor the indoor air quality (IAQ). Our monitoring objects include CO, CO2, HCHO, TVOC (Total volatile organic compounds), Particulate Matter (PM2.5) etc..

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‪#‎Harvard‬ ‪#‎HSPH‬ # ‪#‎HarvardChanSchool‬ ‪#‎CO2‬ ‪#‎IndoorAirQuality‬ ‪#‎IAQ‬‪#‎CarbonDioxide‬ ‪#‎sickbuildingsyndrome‬

下午6:25

"Children living in areas with high level of air pollution have an increased risk of disease such as asthma and bronchitis, and the prospect of a permanent reduction in lung capacity"

Air pollution stunting children's lungs, study finds

A six-year study finds children living in highly polluted parts of cities have up to 10 per cent less lung capacity than normal, with warnings the damage could be permanent

By Laura Donnelly, Health Editor

11:00AM GMT 25 Oct 2015

High levels of air pollution are stunting the growth of children’s lungs, a major study has found.

Eight and nine-year-olds living in cities with high levels of fumes from diesel cars have up to 10 per cent les lung capacity than normal, the research suggests.

Over six years, researchers examined the lung function of 2,400 children at 25 schools across east London, and found a direct correlation between air pollutant exposure and reduced lung growth.

Such children have an increased risk of disease such as asthma and bronchitis and, and the prospect of a permanent reduction in lung capacity.

The tests checked the volume of air each child could breathe, as well as levels of inflammation in their lungs, with urine tests to check for heavy metals, which are produced by vehicles.

Overall, those living in areas with high levels of particulates and nitrogen dioxide had up to 10 per cent reduced lung capacity the study led by Prof Chris Griffiths, principal investigator at the Medical Research Council and Asthma UK Centre in Allergic Mechanisms of Asthma.

“The data shows that traffic pollution stops children’s lungs growing properly,” Ian Mudway, a respiratory toxicologist at King’s College London told the Sunday Times.

“The evidence suggests that by 8-9 years old, children from the most polluted areas have 5 to 10 per cent less lung capacity and they may never get that back.”

The study was designed to assess the impact of London’s Low Emission Zone (LEZ) which since 2008 has discouraged larger diesel vehicles such as lorries from entering the capital.

The research found the measure had made no difference.

“It is very disappointing that the LEZ, which was specifically designed as a major public health intervention, has so far brought about no change,” said Prof Griffiths.

“This raises questions over the government’s current consultation on air quality, which is based around the idea of creating similar low emission zones in up to 30 other polluted urban areas. There appears to be no evidence that these low emission zones can reduce pollution or improve health.”

Other studies have shown diesel pollutants causing lung inflammation, researchers said, with tests showing black carbon from diesel exhaust emissions inside children’s lung cells.

Earlier this year research suggested that air pollution could increase the risk of brain damage and small strokes which are linked to dementia.

Environmental groups say diesel cars could be phased out as part of Government efforts to address pollution.

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http://goo.gl/wecjBb

#airpollutio #asthma #bronchitis #thetelegraph #uk #particulatematter

晚上7:56

Plastic track removed at local kindergarten after students developed allergic symptoms

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) appear in everywhere near us. Children are especially vulnerable and easily affected by the VOCs.

Plastic track removed at local kindergarten after students developed allergic symptoms

By Yang Meiping | October 21, 2015, Wednesday | ONLINE EDITION

THE newly laid plastic track in a kindergarten in Songjiang District was removed last night after parents complained that it had pungent odor and might have caused nosebleed, skin rash and cough among kids.

The city education commission also said last night that it has launched a citywide inspection in all new plastic tracks laid this year and other facilities related to students' health in all schools after two local kindergartens were reported for similar health problems.

Infrastructure management center of the Songjiang education bureau asked Shanghai Longgu decoration company, who laid the track in the New Ideal campus of the involved Huating No.2 Kindergarten during the summer vacation, to explain the construction process and rectify the track on Monday, while the company proposed to eradicate the plastic track.

The district education bureau said it approved its rectification plan in concern of students' health though tests by local environment protection department confirmed air on the site as safe.

Parents of students at the Pujiang Town No. 1 Kindergarten's Jade Campus also said their children had similar symptoms with those in Songjiang and suspected the newly paved plastic track as the culprit.

Students have been shifted to another campus and tests on samples of the track is underway.

The city's education commission has also launched tests with construction management, health and environmental protection departments on plastic tracks in the two kindergartens and will release their findings to the public.

Problems must be rectified and illegal deeds would be treated seriously if any were found, said the commission in a statement.

http://goo.gl/EbmmiS

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‪#‎voc‬ ‪#‎children‬ ‪#‎shanghai‬ ‪#‎china‬ ‪#‎kindergarten‬ ‪#‎plastic‬

凌晨2:59

Indonesia indicates it will accept Singapore’s offer to help fight haze

As the ongoing haze in Indonesia is getting worse, it will affect more and more people in neaby countries, such as Singapore and Malaysia.

Indonesia indicates it will accept Singapore’s offer to help fight haze

PUBLISHED: 9:45 PM, OCTOBER 7, 2015 www.todayonline.com

SINGAPORE — Indonesia has indicated it will now take up Singapore’s offer to help fight the ongoing haze, Singapore Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan said on Facebook today (Oct 7).

Jakarta had declined Singapore’s assistance package several times since the smog descended last month, saying it has the resources to manage.

But Dr Balakrishnan wrote last night that his Indonesian counterpart Retno Marsudi has now indicated Jakarta will take up the offer following a “good discussion” the pair had this evening. “Good for our countries to work together to resolve this as soon as possible,” he added.

Singapore’s assistance package includes assets and personnel, such as a C-130 aircraft for cloud-seeding operations, a Chinook helicopter with a water bucket for aerial fire-fighting, and up to two C-130 aircraft to ferry the Singapore Civil Defence Force fire-fighting assistance team. In addition, Singapore also offered to provide high-resolution satellite pictures and hotspot coordinates.

Earlier in the day, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MFA) said in a statement that the Indonesian government had yet to turn over the names of errant companies suspected of playing a part in causing the haze that has plagued Singapore since last month.

A formal request for the names of these companies was sent to the Embassy of the Republic of Indonesia in Singapore, the ministry added.

“This was in response to the request by the Indonesian Environment and Forestry Minister, Ms Siti Nurbaya Bakar, who had previously said that if Singapore wanted the names of these companies to be officially sent to it, then this had to be done through the Government-to-Government channel,” an MFA spokesperson said.

“We look forward to an early response from the Government of the Republic of Indonesia on our requests so that we can take the necessary action against those who are responsible for the haze.” In its note to the Indonesia embassy, Singapore also reiterated its haze assistance.

Air quality and visibility improved significantly today, thanks to rain in the early morning. As at 7pm, the 24-hour Pollutant Standards Index (PSI) reading was 86 to 108, the three-hour PSI was 70 and the one-hour PM2.5 concentration was 22 to 41 microgrammes per cubic metre.

The NEA said prevailing winds are forecast to be weak and to blow from the east or southeast tomorrow, and the 24-hour PSI is expected to improve to the moderate range.

Eight hotspots were detected in Sumatra today, and the NEA attributed the low hotspot count to partial satellite pass, when the orbiting satellite’s field of view covers just part of a region of interest. The agency added that widespread haze continues to persist in parts of Sumatra, and some haze spreading westward from Kalimantan was observed over the sea at the far south of Singapore.

www.cumulate.biz

‪#‎Indonesia‬ ‪#‎Singapore‬ ‪#‎Malaysia‬ ‪#‎finedust‬ ‪#‎particulatematter‬ ‪#‎PM2‬.5‪#‎cumulatefreshair‬ ‪#‎haze‬ ‪#‎airpollution‬ ‪#‎particle‬ ‪#‎index‬

Cumulate | Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Instrument

LATEST UPDATE- User-friendly UI of Cumulate Wireless Air Quality Monitor System

Cumulate PA302 HCHO (CH2O/Formaldehyde) Portable Thermo-hygro Indoor Air...

Cumulate FC201 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Indoor Air Quality Monitor/ Meter wi...

Green office environments linked with higher cognitive function scores

A recent study conducted at Harvard University shows that buildings with better air quality significantly improves people’s productivity.

Air pollution stunting children's lungs, study finds

A six-year study finds children living in highly polluted parts of cities have up to 10 per cent less lung capacity than normal, with warnings the damage could be permanent

Plastic track removed at local kindergarten after students developed allergic symptoms

Plastic track removed at local kindergarten after students developed allergic symptoms

Indonesia indicates it will accept Singapore’s offer to help fight haze

As the ongoing haze in Indonesia is getting worse, it will affect more and more people in neaby countries, such as Singapore and Malaysia.

Indonesia indicates it will accept Singapore’s offer to help fight haze

PUBLISHED: 9:45 PM, OCTOBER 7, 2015 www.todayonline.com

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Cumulate | Indoor Air Quality Monitoring Instrument

LATEST UPDATE- User-friendly UI of Cumulate Wireless Air Quality Monitor System

Cumulate PA302 HCHO (CH2O/Formaldehyde) Portable Thermo-hygro Indoor Air...

Cumulate FC201 Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Indoor Air Quality Monitor/ Meter wi...

Green office environments linked with higher cognitive function scores

A recent study conducted at Harvard University shows that buildings with better air quality significantly improves people’s productivity.

Air pollution stunting children's lungs, study finds

A six-year study finds children living in highly polluted parts of cities have up to 10 per cent less lung capacity than normal, with warnings the damage could be permanent

Plastic track removed at local kindergarten after students developed allergic symptoms

Plastic track removed at local kindergarten after students developed allergic symptoms

Indonesia indicates it will accept Singapore’s offer to help fight haze

As the ongoing haze in Indonesia is getting worse, it will affect more and more people in neaby countries, such as Singapore and Malaysia.

Indonesia indicates it will accept Singapore’s offer to help fight haze

PUBLISHED: 9:45 PM, OCTOBER 7, 2015 www.todayonline.com

About me

Popular Posts

Facebook

Labels

Popular Posts

Flickr Images