Course Description:
Recorded at AIHce EXP 2022
Presentations
Ambient PM2.5 Environmental Monitoring in Beijing with an Optical Particle Counter (OPC)
Urban air quality monitoring is of great concern for many individuals, especially in metropolitan areas due to exposure from various human processes that create ultrafine particulate. Governing bodies have created standards for this exposure defining it in terms of mass concentration of PM2.5 particulate. However, current research is showing that large number concentrations of ultrafine particulate is considerably more dangerous than an equal mass concentration consisting of larger particulate. This study investigates the viability of an optical particle counter to monitor urban air quality and what additional information the technology can provide.
CO-AUTHORS
Dr. A. Engarnevis, Nanozen, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & REFERENCES
N. Wolfe, Nanozen, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
AUTHOR
Dr. Winnie Chu, Ph.D., Nanozen, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
Misalignment Between Clinical Mold Antigen Extracts and Airborne Molds Found in Water-Damaged Homes
Dampness and mold in homes have been associated with: a) increase of childhood wheeze and cough, and b) other adverse health effects in susceptible individuals. Health effects include but not limited to the following: respiratory infections, asthma, allergic bronchopulmonary mycosis (ABPM), allergic fungal sinusitis (AFS), and hypersensitivity pneumonitis (HP). Species-specific mold antigen extracts are used in the clinical evaluation of suspected mold-related conditions. However alignment between these extracts and the species of molds in the indoor environment of water-damaged homes has not been rigorously evaluated. In a data analysis of culture samples from 2002 to 2017, we identified: 1) the predominant genera and species of mold in the air of water damaged homes, 2) mold growth, and 3) occupants with respiratory complaints. The data included 24,455 indoor air samples from 7,547 complaint homes and 29,493 outdoor air samples for comparison. The alignment of the most prominent fungal species in the dataset do not align well with mold antigen extracts used in clinical practice. Improving alignment has the potential to: 1) enhance diagnosis of mold-related diseases (e.g., allergic asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis), and 2) improve patient outcomes via interventions such as antigen avoidance through building remediation and occupant relocation.
CO-AUTHORS
W.M. Sothern, Microecologies, Inc., New York, NY, USA
S.L. O'Beirne, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
D. Devine, Eurofins Built Environment, Marlton, NJ, USA
N. Khandaker, Microecologies, Inc., New York, NY, USA
C. Mikrut, Microecologies, Inc., New York, NY, USA
R. J. Kaner, Weill Cornell Medicine, New York, NY, USA
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS & REFERENCES
We thank Dr. I. Finegold, Dr. S. Kieserman, Dr. O. Pagovich and Dr. M. Teich for their contributions regarding mold antigen extracts used for skin testing.
AUTHOR
Dr. Michael Berg, Eurofins Built Environment BROKEN ARROW, OK
United States of America
1
Presentation Date:
05/24/2022
Presenters:
Winnie Chu, Ph.D.
Michael Berg
