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Indoor atmospheric nanocluster aerosol dynamics in residential buildings.

Number: 3219

Author(s) : PATRA S. S., STEINER G., JUNG N., BOOR B. E.

Summary

Sub-3 nm nanocluster aerosol (NCA) represent a critically important, yet understudied, class of atmospheric aerosol particles. The behavior and prevalence of indoor atmospheric NCA are likely to be influenced by a variety of building and occupant characteristics. Given the nature of human activities in indoor spaces, NCA sources are likely to be
highly transient, resulting in rapidly changing indoor NCA concentrations over short timescales. However, a complete mechanistic understanding of the formation, transformation, and exposure of indoor atmospheric NCA down to 1 nm in residential buildings is presently lacking. Field measurements of the formation and growth of indoor atmospheric NCA during common household activities were conducted in a mechanically ventilated residential building – the Purdue zero Energy Design Guidance for Engineers (zEDGE) Tiny House. Particle number size distributions from 1.18 to 30,000 nm were measured using a suite of aerosol instrumentation, including a particle size magnifier – scanning mobility particle sizer (PSMPS), a SMPS with a long differential mobility analyzer (DMA), and a wideband integrated bioaerosol sensor (WIBS). Additionally, a comprehensive material balance model was developed, integrating complex physical transformation processes such as nucleation, intermodal and intramodal coagulation, condensation, deposition, and ventilation, to understand the transformation of indoor atmospheric NCA. The results reveal unique dynamics and heightened inhalation exposure to indoor atmospheric NCA during common
household activities. First, during indoor combustion activities such as cooking, NCA persisted throughout the active combustion period despite their tendency to coagulate and diffuse to surfaces. Second, the primary mechanisms driving the loss of indoor atmospheric NCA are coagulation, followed by condensation, deposition, and ventilation. Interestingly, the presence of larger particles was observed to suppress the persistence of indoor atmospheric NCA through coagulation scavenging. Furthermore, indoor atmospheric NCA could not be adequately modeled using conventional indoor air pollution markers, such as fine particulate matter (PM2.5) mass concentrations and NOx (NO+NO2) mixing ratios. Considering that people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, understanding the unique behaviors and transformations of indoor atmospheric NCA is critical for assessing and mitigating potential human health risks associated with indoor air pollution in residential buildings.

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  • Original title: Indoor atmospheric nanocluster aerosol dynamics in residential buildings.
  • Record ID : 30032954
  • Languages: English
  • Source: 2024 Purdue Conferences. 8th International High Performance Buildings Conference at Purdue.
  • Publication date: 2024/07/15

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