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Spatial Variations of Indoor Air Chemicals in an Apartment Unit and Personal Exposure of Residents

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  • Hironari Sakamoto

    (Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan
    Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan)

  • Shigehisa Uchiyama

    (Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan)

  • Tomohiko Isobe

    (Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan)

  • Naoki Kunugita

    (School of Health Sciences, University of Occupational and Environmental Health, Fukuoka 807-8555, Japan)

  • Hironao Ogura

    (Faculty and Graduate School of Engineering, Chiba University, Chiba 263-8522, Japan)

  • Shoji F. Nakayama

    (Japan Environment and Children’s Study Programme Office, National Institute for Environmental Studies, Ibaraki 305-8506, Japan)

Abstract

Indoor air quality (IAQ) can greatly affect health in people spending much time indoors. However, the influence of IAQ on personal exposure to chemical compounds in Japan remains poorly investigated. Hence, this study aimed to clarify this influence thoroughly within one apartment. We surveyed the concentrations of 61 chemical compounds in the air in nine different spaces within an apartment unit, as well as the personal exposure of two residents in Japan. Using three kinds of diffusive samplers, this study was conducted continuously for 7 days in summer and winter. Health risks were evaluated by calculating the margin of exposure (MOE) using the measured concentrations. Some chemical concentrations showed large spatial variations and the personal exposure concentrations of these compounds also differed among residents. According to the calculated MOE, the chemicals with the highest health risk were acrolein, p -dichlorobenzene, and acetaldehyde in summer and acrolein, nitrogen dioxide, formic acid, p -dichlorobenzene, and benzene in winter. The IAQ of the house could be divided in two, and the IAQ in the space where residents spent much time (i.e., bedroom) highly affected each of the residents’ exposure. Investigating chemical concentrations in multiple spaces (including bedroom and living room) is necessary to understand the effect of IAQ on personal exposure.

Suggested Citation

  • Hironari Sakamoto & Shigehisa Uchiyama & Tomohiko Isobe & Naoki Kunugita & Hironao Ogura & Shoji F. Nakayama, 2021. "Spatial Variations of Indoor Air Chemicals in an Apartment Unit and Personal Exposure of Residents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(21), pages 1-11, November.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:21:p:11511-:d:670224
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Kenichi Azuma & Iwao Uchiyama & Koichi Ikeda, 2008. "The regulations for indoor air pollution in Japan: a public health perspective," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 11(3), pages 301-314, April.
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    Cited by:

    1. Hironari Sakamoto & Shigehisa Uchiyama & Ayana Sato & Tomohiko Isobe & Naoki Kunugita & Hironao Ogura & Shoji F. Nakayama, 2022. "Health Risk Assessment Based on Exposure to Chemicals in Air," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-13, November.

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