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IAQ Research of the Month – March 2021

Mar 31, 2021

This newsletter highlights recent research related to indoor air quality (IAQ) and COVID-19.

 

Research Summaries

An air cleaner using bipolar ionization did not significantly remove particles. Building and Environment

Swabbing settled dust on door frames, analyzing it via DNA sequencing, and running the results through a model was able to reliably predict if test homes had mold growth or water damage as determined by a professional mold assessor. Environmental Science & Technology

Ozone-producing air cleaners removed more VOC when compared to air cleaners using UVC-based photocatalytic oxidation (PCO), which produced more by-products such as formaldehyde. Building and Environment  [Note: ozone production should generally be avoided. See the first article in the “Additional Resources” section below]

There was a significant association between indoor particulate matter (PM) exposure and the concentration of cadmium in the blood of Korean housewives. This indicates that outdoor air pollution can be a source of indoor exposure to heavy metals. Environmental Research

Cold (bluish) color hues on classroom walls improved attention and memory performance for university students. Building and Environment

In‐flight aircraft cabins had the lowest concentrations of PM when compared to other indoor environments including retail stores, grocery stores, restaurants, offices, transportation, and homes. Indoor Air

School ventilation was lowest in January and February, which was shown to pose risks for COVID-19 transmission. Indoor Air

The lack of standardization for SARS-CoV-2 air sampling has hampered a greater understanding of COVID airborne transmission. F1000Research

This review article compared different viable air sampling methods for SARS-CoV-2. Environmental Science and Pollution Research

In a concert hall with air supply beneath the seats and returns at the ceiling, test aerosols and CO2 were not significantly elevated beyond 1.5 meters from an emitter. Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health

 

 Featured Online Course: CMR

There are several organizations that offer mold remediation certifications. Only one organization offers certifications that are CESB accredited: the American Council for Accredited Certification (ACAC). ACAC maintains multiple levels of mold remediation certification. If you have two years of experience you can qualify for the Council-certified Microbial Remediator (CMR) and if you have 8 years of experience you can qualify for the Council-certified Microbial Remediation Supervisor (CMRS). They even have a non-accredited designation for individuals that are new to the industry (CRMR).

Our online Microbial Remediator Course prepares you for all three of the ACAC mold remediation certifications. You can access the online content at any time of day or night. The format is an online PowerPoint presentation taught by Ian Cull with synchronized audio and practice questions.

To learn more about this course, visit our page: Microbial Remediator Course.

 

Additional Resources

 

 

For the first time in over a year, I went on vacation this week. When arriving at my hotel room, I was greeted with an ozone generator that was set on high– which I promptly turned off. There was also a strong odor of disinfectant, but opening the balcony door to air out the room resulted in condensation on every surface and a faint microbial odor.

Being passionate about IAQ can really ruin a family beach vacation! 

Ian Cull, PE, CIH
[email protected]
(312) 920-9393

 

 

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