Investigation of exhaled pollutant distribution in the breathing microenvironment in a displacement ventilated room with indoor air stability conditions

This study experimentally studied the dispersion of exhaled pollutant in the breathing microenvironment (BM) in a room equipped with a displacement ventilation (DV) system and indoor air stability conditions (i.e., stable and unstable conditions). The vertical temperature differences and the carbon dioxide (CO₂) concentration in the BM were measured. Results show that when DV is combined with the stable condition (DS), pollutant tends to accumulate in the BM, leading to a high pollutant concentration in this region. Whereas, when DV is combined with the unstable condition (DU), pollutant diffuses to a relatively wider area beyond the BM, thus the pollutant concentration in the BM is substantially reduced. Moreover, increasing the flow rate can reduce the pollutant concentration in the BM of the DS but yields little difference of the DU. In addition, personal exposure intensity increases with time, and the DS has a relatively higher increase rate than DU. The results suggest that indoor air stability will affect the performance of DV systems. DS will lead to a higher health risk for people when they stay in the indoor environment with pollutant sources, and DU is recommended for minimizing pollutant level in the BM in order to reduce the pollutant concentration and providing better air environments for the occupants.     

冠状病毒气溶胶传播及环境影响因素

当前,新型冠状病毒肺炎正在全球大范围流行,严重影响了人类健康和生产生活.目前已明确的新型冠状病毒的传播途径包括飞沫传播和接触传播,一些传播感染事件的研究间接证明新型冠状病毒可以通过空气传播,然而对于新型冠状病毒通过气溶胶传播机制的认识仍然不足,其对疾病传播的相对贡献等还在研究和论证中.本文分析了引起重症急性呼吸综合征、中东呼吸综合征和新型冠状病毒肺炎的不同冠状病毒通过气溶胶传播的研究结果,评述了病毒气溶胶的产生机制、病毒气溶胶的空气动力学特征、冠状病毒在气溶胶中的存活规律及环境因素的影响、以及冠状病毒在室内外环境气溶胶中的赋存和传播情况,探讨了当前对于明确新型冠状病毒的气溶胶传播研究的不足以及跨学科研究的展望.     

大型室内场所的通风结构优化与病毒扩散规律

大型室内场所中的人员密集,且内部空气流场复杂,研究以气溶胶为载体的病毒在大型封闭空间中的扩散规律,对预防传染病毒的传播具有重要意义。以2020年武汉抗疫期间由某体育场临时改装的方舱医院为研究对象,利用数值模拟的方法分析方舱中的空气流场,同时采用DPM模型(离散相颗粒模型)模拟了带有病毒的气溶胶颗粒在方舱中分布和扩散情况,并研究了自然通风、强制通风、风道配风和底部抽吸对颗粒分布的影响。数值模拟结果表明:在风道配风及底部抽吸的情况下,气溶胶扩散得到了有效抑制,且风道配风的风压为50 Pa时,具有最佳的病毒气溶胶排出效果。     

污水新型冠状病毒监测研究进展及启示

新冠肺炎疫情暴发以来,全球多个国家和地区频繁在污水中检测出新型冠状病毒核酸. 开展基于污水流行病学的污水新型冠状病毒监测,可作为人群新冠肺炎监测的重要补充,获得的核酸浓度数据和序列突变分析结果,可为新冠肺炎疫情早期预警、早期发现无症状感染者、评估感染规模、监测人群流行趋势、开展病毒溯源调查、制定防控政策等提供科学依据. 鉴于此,本文系统介绍了国内外污水中新型冠状病毒的来源及影响病毒存活的主要因素,归纳了常用的污水新型冠状病毒富集浓缩和核酸检测方法,概括了全球已开展的监测项目、进展及现存科学问题,指出了现有研究的局限性,包括缺乏污水中新型冠状病毒的分布特征及感染性研究、预测预警模型开发与应用不足等. 为我国下一阶段新冠肺炎疫情或者未来可能出现的突发重大疫情的精准防控提供借鉴与参考,提升我国应对传染病及非传染病的预测预警、流行规模评估及精准施策的能力.      

室内密闭与通风空间气溶胶扩散特性

由于气溶胶具有传播病毒的特性,室内密闭与通风空间的气溶胶扩散特性具有重要的研究意义.针对密闭空间、人体模型进行等比例建模、数值仿真计算,获取气溶胶颗粒瞬态传播途径与范围.并采用Realizablek-ε湍流模型、DPM(离散项模型)开展两相瞬态计算.结果 表明:打喷嚏、咳嗽等呼出条件下,大直径颗粒降沉,小直径颗粒将随气...     

Reduction and characterization of bioaerosols in a wastewater treatment station via ventilation

Bioaerosols from wastewater treatment processes are a significant subgroup of atmospheric aerosols. In the present study,airborne microorganisms generated from a wastewater treatment station(WWTS) that uses an oxidation ditch process were diminished by ventilation.Conventional sampling and detection methods combined with cloning/sequencing techniques were applied to determine the groups,concentrations,size distributions,and species diversity of airborne microorganisms before and after ventilation. There were 3021 ± 537 CFU/m3 of airborne bacteria and 926 ± 132 CFU/m3 of airborne fungi present in the WWTS bioaerosol.Results showed that the ventilation reduced airborne microorganisms significantly compared to the air in the WWTS. Over 60% of airborne bacteria and airborne fungi could be reduced after4 hr of air exchange. The highest removal(92.1% for airborne bacteria and 89.1% for fungi) was achieved for 0.65–1.1 μm sized particles. The bioaerosol particles over 4.7 μm were also reduced effectively. Large particles tended to be lost by gravitational settling and small particles were generally carried away,which led to the relatively easy reduction of bioaerosol particles0.65–1.1 μm and over 4.7 μm in size. An obvious variation occurred in the structure of the bacterial communities when ventilation was applied to control the airborne microorganisms in enclosed spaces.     

Mutagenic activity of airborne particulate matter in indoor and outdoor environments

Research on mutagenic activity of airborne particulate matter has focused mainly on the outdoor environment, although far more time is spent indoors than outdoors. Most of these investigations were conducted on samples, collected in urban or industrial areas. Results may give the mutagenic potential of air samples; however, as the number of samples is often limited, the influence of various sources and processes on mutagenic activity of airborne particles is not assessed. This review deals with the interpretation of the variation in mutagenic activity of outdoor as well as indoor airborne particulate matter and their relationship. A comparison is made with the chemical and physical character of aerosols on the one hand and with general air pollution parameters on the other hand. Furthermore this paper briefly discusses the relevance of mutagenic principles on airborne particulate matter for human exposure.     

Characterization and source analysis of indoor/outdoor culturable airborne bacteria in a municipal wastewater treatment plant

The potential health risks of airborne bacteria emission from a wastewater treatment process have been concerned. However, few studies have investigated the differences in community structure between indoor and outdoor bacteria. In this work, the characterization of airborne bacteria was studied in a municipal wastewater treatment plant in Beijing, China. Two indoor (i.e., fine screen room and sludge dewatering house) and two outdoor (i.e., aeration tank and control site) sampling sites were selected. An Andersen six-stage impactor was used for collecting culturable airborne bacteria in the air, and Illumina MiSeq sequencing was conducted to track the emission source of the culturable airborne bacteria. The results indicate that, compared with the outdoor aeration tank site, the concentrations of culturable airborne bacteria in the indoor fine screen room with poor ventilation were more than ten times higher and the particle size was about twice as large. The community structures of indoor and outdoor culturable airborne bacteria were obviously different. Enterobacteriaceae and opportunistic pathogens were detected in indoor culturable airborne bacteria, with wastewater and sludge dewatering machine identified as the primary sources. Conversely, Enterobacteriaceae and opportunistic pathogens were not detected in outdoor culturable airborne bacteria. Outdoor high wind speed might have resulted in rapid dilution and mixing of culturable airborne bacteria generated from the aeration tank with the ambient air. The results of the present research suggest that covering pollution sources, increasing ventilation rates, and using protective measures for personnel should be implemented to decrease the exposure risk to indoor culturable airborne bacteria.     

Number of COVID-19 cases required in a population to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater in the province of Alberta, Canada: Sensitivity assessment

With a unique and large size of testing results of 1,842 samples collected from 12 wastewater treatment plants (WWTP) for 14 months through from low to high prevalence of COVID-19, the sensitivity of RT-qPCR detection of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater that correspond to the communities was computed by using Probit analysis. This study determined the number of new COVID-19 cases per 100,000 population required to detect SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater at defined probabilities and provided an evidence-based framework of wastewater-based epidemiology surveillance (WBE). Input data were positive and negative test results of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater samples and the corresponding new COVID-19 case rates per 100,000 population served by each WWTP. The analyses determined that RT-qPCR-based SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection threshold at 50%, 80% and 99% probability required a median of 8 (range: 4-19), 18 (9-43), and 38 (17-97) of new COVID-19 cases /100,000, respectively. Namely, the positive detection rate at 50%, 80% and 99% probability were 0.01%, 0.02%, and 0.04% averagely for new cases in the population. This study improves understanding of the performance of WBE SARS-CoV-2 RNA detection using the large datasets and prolonged study period. Estimated COVID-19 burden at a community level that would result in a positive detection of SARS-CoV-2 in wastewater is critical to support WBE application as a supplementary warning/monitoring system for COVID-19 prevention and control.     

基于AERMOD模式的大气扩散参数方案比较研究

在美国法规空气质量模式AERMOD的框架下,比较了4种已被广泛应用的扩散参数化方案(基于边界层微气象要素的AERMOD湍流参数化方案,基于湍流观测资料和扩散函数的Tub-Obs方案,Briggs参数化方案,NEPA方案).分析了不同稳定度、不同扩散参数方案下的污染物SO2地表浓度差别.总体来说,在中性和不稳定条件下,4种方案模拟结果的差别不大;在稳定条件下, AERMOD方案的地面浓度明显低于Briggs和NEPA方案,可能是由于AERMOD方案不能很好地识别局地湍流的贡献.     

Environmental surveillance of SARS-CoV-2 RNA in wastewater systems and related environments in Wuhan: April to May of 2020

Wastewater-based epidemiology(WBE) has emerged as an effective environmental surveillance tool in monitoring fecal-oral pathogen infections within a community. Congruently, SARS-Co V-2, the etiologic agent of COVID-19, has been demonstrated to infect the gastrointestinal tissues, and be shed in feces. In the present study, SARS-Co V-2 RNA was concentrated from wastewater, sludge, surface water, ground water, sediment, and soil samples of municipal and hospital wastewater systems and related envi...     

冬季青岛不同气团来源气溶胶中磷浓度及溶解度

分析了2017-11~2018-01在青岛采集的气溶胶样品中总磷（TP）、溶解态总磷（DTP）、溶解态无机磷（DIP）和溶解态有机磷（DOP）浓度,讨论了来自北方快速移动的干冷气团（NS）和局地停滞性暖湿气团（LS）中气溶胶P浓度和溶解度的差异及其原因.TP浓度在NS和LS气溶胶中分别为（137.3±49.3）ng/m³和（115.8±45.8）ng/m³,DTP对TP的贡献（即P溶解度）分别为（20.7±5.6）%和（45.9±15.7）%.DTP中以DIP为主,其贡献在NS和LS气溶胶中分别为65.6%和55.3%.NS气溶胶中人为源P对TP的贡献为69%,略低于LS气溶胶中的72%.LS气溶胶中较高的酸化程度和相对湿度（RH）以及较慢的气团传输速率是其P溶解度显著高于NS气溶胶的原因.RH<60%时,无论酸化程度高低,P溶解度不超过30%;RH>60%时,酸化条件下,高的相对湿度和低的气团传输速率有利于显著提升P溶解度.因此,日趋严重的大气污染可能提高了我国近海大气生物可利用P的入海通量.     

Mechanisms and evidence of vertical transmission of infections in pregnancy including SARS-CoV-2s

There remain unanswered questions concerning mother-to-child-transmission of SARS-CoV-2. Despite reports of neonatal COVID-19, SARS-CoV-2 has not been consistently isolated in perinatal samples, thus definitive proof of transplacental infection is still lacking. To address these questions, we assessed investigative tools used to confirm maternal-fetal infection and known protective mechanisms of the placental barrier that prevent transplacental pathogen migration. Forty studies of COVID-19 pregnancies reviewed suggest a lack of consensus on diagnostic strategy for congenital infection. Although real-time polymerase chain reaction of neonatal swabs was universally performed, a wide range of clinical samples was screened including vaginal secretions (22.5%), amniotic fluid (35%), breast milk (22.5%) and umbilical cord blood. Neonatal COVID-19 was reported in eight studies, two of which were based on the detection of SARS-CoV-2 IgM in neonatal blood. Histological examination demonstrated sparse viral particles, vascular malperfusion and inflammation in the placenta from pregnant women with COVID-19. The paucity of placental co-expression of ACE-2 and TMPRSS2, two receptors involved in cytoplasmic entry of SARS-CoV-2, may explain its relative insensitivity to transplacental infection. Viral interactions may utilise membrane receptors other than ACE-2 thus, tissue susceptibility may be broader than currently known. Further spatial-temporal studies are needed to determine the true potential for transplacental migration.     

中国严寒地区住宅建筑室内细菌气溶胶污染特征及传播规律

实测严寒地区住宅建筑细菌气溶胶组分及来源,并结合微生物生长繁殖衰亡模型和数值模拟技术开展细菌气溶胶传播特性研究.结果表明,中国严寒地区住宅建筑室内的主要优势菌群为拟杆菌门（Bacteroidetes）、厚壁菌门（Firmicutes）、变形菌门（Proteobacteria）.而细菌的来源分析显示,其主要来源为粪便、土壤、极端环境、植物、水源和腐败有机物等.由于冬季人员室内活动时间较长,其中粪便来源占比偏高.细菌在室内的传播规律研究表明,在室内环境中细菌气溶胶的浓度分布与房间的结构、湍流形式和粒子重力场有关.随着房间高度的降低,室内流场越复杂.模拟分析表明室内90％的细菌气溶胶颗粒在50s内逃逸出,且随着房间高度的降低细菌气溶胶浓度逐渐降低而范围更广.室内通风有阻碍细菌气溶胶在室内积聚,稀释污染浓度的作用.     

The Fate of Mengovirus on Fiberglass Filter of Air Handling Units

One of the most important topics that occupy public health problems is the air quality. That is the reason why mechanical ventilation and air handling units (AHU) were imposed by the different governments in the collective or individual buildings. Many buildings create an artificial climate using heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning systems. Among the existing aerosols in the indoor air, we can distinguish the bioaerosol with biological nature such as bacteria, viruses, and fungi. Respiratory viral infections are a major public health issue because they are usually highly infective. We spend about 90% of our time in closed environments such as homes, workplaces, or transport. Some studies have shown that AHU contribute to the spread and transport of viral particles within buildings. The aim of this work is to study the characterization of viral bioaerosols in indoor environments and to understand the fate of mengovirus eukaryote RNA virus on glass fiber filter F7 used in AHU. In this study, a set-up close to reality of AHU system was used. The mengovirus aerosolized was characterized and measured with the electrical low pressure impact and the scanner mobility particle size and detected with RT-qPCR. The results about quantification and the level of infectivity of mengovirus on the filter and in the biosampler showed that mengovirus can pass through the filter and remain infectious upstream and downstream the system. Regarding the virus infectivity on the filter under a constant air flow, mengovirus was remained infectious during 10 h after aerosolization.     

西安市不同天气下可培养微生物气溶胶浓度变化特征

为探明天气状况对可培养微生物气溶胶分布特性的影响,于2014年8月-2015年7月利用Anderson六级空气微生物采样器对西安市微生物气溶胶进行采样,通过培养法检测分析了可培养细菌和真菌气溶胶在1 a的月际与季节性浓度变化特征,重点研究了不同天气状况下气溶胶的浓度与粒径分布.结果表明:西安市可培养细菌和真菌气溶胶月均浓度均在10月最高,分别为（1 004.81±546.14）和（765.54±544.36）CFU/m3.可培养细菌和真菌气溶胶的季节平均浓度均在夏季最低,分别为（361.96±56.96）和（280.33±74.43）CFU/m3;不同天气条件下气溶胶的浓度变化为晴天 < 雨天 < 阴云天 < 霾天.可培养细菌气溶胶在晴天、阴云天、雨天和霾天粒径分布的峰值分别出现在3.3~4.7、4.7~7.0、3.3~4.7、3.3~4.7 μm区间上,表现为明显的单峰分布;而可培养真菌气溶胶的粒径分布在非霾天则无显著性差异（P>0.05）.不同天气状况下可呼吸微生物气溶胶均超过总微生物气溶胶的60%.各天气状况下可培养细菌气溶胶的几何中值直径大于真菌气溶胶.      

上海大气颗粒物中溴、碘浓度水平的影响因素

统计分析了2008年采样期间大气颗粒物TSP和PM10中溴、碘浓度水平与气象条件和气态污染物SO2、NO2的关系。结果表明,风向为向岸流时,大气中TSP、PM10浓度以及颗粒物中溴、碘的浓度均低于离岸流时的数值;在各气象因素中,影响颗粒物中溴、碘浓度的主要气象因素为风向、气压和气温,风速和相对湿度的影响较小;颗粒物中溴、碘的浓度水平随大气中SO2、NO2浓度的上升而上升,颗粒物中碘与SO2、NO2呈显著正相关,而颗粒物中溴呈较弱的正相关性;当空气质量恶化时,PM10中Br、I浓度增大,而Br/I比值降低,城市大气中污染物质之间的化学反应对颗粒物中Br/I的比值有一定影响。     

Environment and COVID-19 incidence: A critical review

The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is an unprecedented worldwide health crisis. Many previous research studies have found and investigated its links with one or some natural or human environmental factors. However, a review on the relationship between COVID-19 incidence and both the natural and human environment is still lacking. This review summarizes the inter-correlation between COVID-19 incidence and environmental factors. Based on keyword searching, we reviewed 100 relevant peer-reviewed articles and other research literature published since January 2020. This review is focused on three main findings. One, we found that individual environmental factors have impacts on COVID-19 incidence, but with spatial heterogeneity and uncertainty. Two, environmental factors exert interactive effects on COVID-19 incidence. In particular, the interactions of natural factors can affect COVID-19 transmission in micro- and macro- ways by impacting SARS-CoV-2 survival, as well as human mobility and behaviors. Three, the impact of COVID-19 incidence on the environment lies in the fact that COVID-19-induced lockdowns caused air quality improvement, wildlife shifts and socio-economic depression. The additional value of this review is that we recommend future research perspectives and adaptation strategies regarding the interactions of the environment and COVID-19. Future research should be extended to cover both the effects of the environment on the COVID-19 pandemic and COVID-19-induced impacts on the environment. Future adaptation strategies should focus on sustainable environmental and public policy responses.     

Relationships between indoor and outdoor air quality in four naturally ventilated offices in the United Kingdom

Three offices in central London and one at a rural location were characterized with respect to air quality. All four offices were naturally ventilated. The characterization was supplemented by using a mobile laboratory to monitor the outdoor air quality. Results indicate that indoor pollutant concentrations may be up to 80% of the concentration outdoors but can greatly exceed outdoor concentrations. Additionally, it has been shown that indoor pollutants usually follow outdoor pollutant trends at lower levels, with only a small time delay due to mixing and dilution factors. The interaction between indoor and outdoor air is discussed with respect to ventilation characteristics and pollutant sources. A comparison between actual and modelled carbon dioxide levels may provide a useful indicator of ventilation.     

北方地区典型天气对城市森林内大气颗粒物的影响

以北京西山几种游憩型城市森林为例,在一年四季选择典型天气条件,对4种粒径的大气颗粒物浓度进行全天24h监测,研究北方地区不同季节典型天气因素白昼不同时段对不同结构的城市森林内不同粗细粒径的大气颗粒物浓度变化的影响.结果发现:降雨使大气颗粒物浓度减少,尤其粗颗粒物(TSP只为连续晴天的0.58~0.68),所以雨后晴天粒径较小的颗粒物所占比例会增加.不过,有时在雨后的夜间由于空气湿度大大气颗粒物浓度也会增加.雪能够降低大气颗粒物浓度,“雪后晴天”4种粒径颗粒物浓度均只有连续晴天的0.2倍.多云和雾霾天气使大气颗粒物污染加重,尤其在夜间;雾霾和多云对小粒径颗粒物浓度的增加效果明显.夏季高温高湿静风、闷热的“桑拿天”能使郁闭度较大的林地内大气颗粒物特别是细颗粒物浓度及其所占的比例显著增加,PM2.5的浓度是“连续晴天”的2.53倍.风在雨后能使大气颗粒物在一定程度上扩散减少,而在天气干燥时刮风会增加城市森林内大气颗粒物的浓度,且多云会加重干燥天气刮风后大气颗粒物的污染程度.春、冬季林地裸露的落叶阔叶树在刮风时大气颗粒物浓度较四季常绿、地表覆盖物多的针叶林高,夏、秋季桑拿天和雾霾天郁闭度大的侧柏林大气颗粒物浓度较林地结构开阔的黄栌林高.