Significant OH production under surface cleaning and air cleaning conditions: Impact on indoor air quality

We report measurements of hydroxyl (OH) and hydroperoxy (HO₂) radicals made by laser‐induced fluorescence spectroscopy in a computer classroom (i) in the absence of indoor activities (ii) during desk cleaning with a limonene‐containing cleaner (iii) during operation of a commercially available “air cleaning” device. In the unmanipulated environment, the one‐minute averaged OH concentration remained close to or below the limit of detection (6.5×10⁵ molecule cm^?3), whilst that of HO₂ was 1.3×10⁷ molecule cm^?3. These concentrations increased to ~4×10⁶ and 4×10⁸ molecule cm^?3, respectively during desk cleaning. During operation of the air cleaning device, OH and HO₂ concentrations reached ~2×10⁷ and ~6×10⁸ molecule cm^?3 respectively. The potential of these OH concentrations to initiate chemical processing is explored using a detailed chemical model for indoor air (the INDCM). The model can reproduce the measured OH and HO₂ concentrations to within 50% and often within a few % and demonstrates that the resulting secondary chemistry varies with the cleaning activity. Whilst terpene reaction products dominate the product composition following surface cleaning, those from aromatics and other VOCs are much more important during the use of the air cleaning device.     

Heterogeneous oxidation of indoor surfaces by gas‐phase hydroxyl radicals

We investigate heterogeneous oxidation kinetics of monolayer‐thick, surface‐sorbed organics, namely di‐n‐octyl phthalate (DnOP) and palmitic acid (PA), with gas‐phase OH. The pseudo‐first order rate constants for organic loss at OH concentrations of 1.6 × 10⁸ molecules/cm³ are: (2.3 ± 0.1) × 10^?4 to (4.8 ± 0.8) × 10^?4 s^?1, and (1.3 ± 0.5) × 10^?4 s^?1 for DnOP and PA, respectively. Films developed in indoor office environments over a few weeks are also oxidized using the same OH concentration. Heterogeneous decay rate constants of mass signals from these films, attributed to phthalates (MW = 390.6) and to PA, are similar to those for the single‐component films, ie, (1.9 ± 0.4) × 10^?4 to (3.4 ± 0.5) × 10^?4 s^?1, and (1.1 ± 0.4) × 10^?4 s^?1, respectively. These results suggest that the lifetimes for OH heterogeneous oxidation of monolayer‐thick indoor organic films will be on the timescale of weeks to months. To support this argument, we present the first analysis of the mass transfer processes that occur when short‐lived gas‐phase molecules, such as OH, are taken up by reactive indoor surfaces. Due to rapid chemical production, the diffusion limitation to mass transfer is less important for short‐lived molecules than for molecules with little chemical production, such as ozone.     

Impact of surface ozone interactions on indoor air chemistry: A modeling study

An INdoor air Detailed Chemical Model was developed to investigate the impact of ozone reactions with indoor surfaces (including occupants), on indoor air chemistry in simulated apartments subject to ambient air pollution. The results are consistent with experimental studies showing that approximately 80% of ozone indoors is lost through deposition to surfaces. The human body removes ozone most effectively from indoor air per square meter of surface, but the most significant surfaces for C₆‐C₁₀ aldehyde formation are soft furniture and painted walls owing to their large internal surfaces. Mixing ratios of between 8 and 11 ppb of C₆‐C₁₀ aldehydes are predicted to form in apartments in various locations in summer, the highest values are when ozone concentrations are enhanced outdoors. The most important aldehyde formed indoors is predicted to be nonanal (5‐7 ppb), driven by oxidation‐derived emissions from painted walls. In addition, ozone‐derived emissions from human skin were estimated for a small bedroom at nighttime with concentrations of nonanal, decanal, and 4‐oxopentanal predicted to be 0.5, 0.7, and 0.7 ppb, respectively. A detailed chemical analysis shows that ozone‐derived surface aldehyde emissions from materials and people change chemical processing indoors, through enhanced formation of nitrated organic compounds and decreased levels of oxidants.     

Observations and impacts of bleach washing on indoor chlorine chemistry

Ambient levels of chlorinated gases and aerosol components were measured by online chemical ionization and aerosol mass spectrometers after an indoor floor were repeatedly washed with a commercial bleach solution. Gaseous chlorine (Cl₂, 10's of ppbv) and hypochlorous acid (HOCl, 100's of ppbv) arise after floor washing, along with nitryl chloride (ClNO₂), dichlorine monoxide (Cl₂O), and chloramines (NHCl₂, NCl₃). Much higher mixing ratios would prevail in a room with lower and more commonly encountered air exchange rates than that observed in the study (12.7 h^?1). Coincident with the formation of gas‐phase species, particulate chlorine levels also rise. Cl₂, ClNO₂, NHCl₂, and NCl₃ exist in the headspace of the bleach solution, whereas HOCl was only observed after floor washing. HOCl decays away 1.4 times faster than the air exchange rate, indicative of uptake onto room surfaces, and consistent with the well‐known chlorinating ability of HOCl. Photochemical box modeling captures the temporal profiles of Cl₂ and HOCl very well and indicates that the OH, Cl, and ClO gas‐phase radical concentrations in the indoor environment could be greatly enhanced (>10⁶ and 10⁵ cm^?3 for OH and Cl, respectively) in such washing conditions, dependent on the amount of indoor illumination.     

Factors affecting wavelength-resolved ultraviolet irradiance indoors and their impacts on indoor photochemistry

We measured wavelength-resolved ultraviolet (UV) irradiance in multiple indoor environments and quantified the effects of variables such as light source, solar angles, cloud cover, window type, and electric light color temperature on indoor photon fluxes. The majority of the 77 windows and window samples investigated completely attenuated sunlight at wavelengths shorter than 320 nm; despite variations among individual windows leading to differences in indoor HONO photolysis rate constants (J_HONO) and local hydroxyl radical (OH) concentrations of up to a factor of 50, wavelength-resolved transmittance was similar between windows in residential and non-residential buildings. We report mathematical relationships that predict indoor solar UV irradiance as a function of solar zenith angle, incident angle of sunlight on windows, and distance from windows and surfaces for direct and diffuse sunlight. Using these relationships, we predict elevated indoor steady-state OH concentrations (0.80–7.4 × 10⁶ molec cm⁻³) under illumination by direct and diffuse sunlight and fluorescent tubes near windows or light sources. However, elevated OH concentrations at 1 m from the source are only predicted under direct sunlight. We predict that reflections from indoor surfaces will have minor contributions to room-averaged indoor UV irradiance. These results may improve parameterization of indoor chemistry models.     

Identification of the major HOx radical pathways in an indoor air environment

OH and HO₂ profiles measured in a real environment have been compared to the results of the INCA‐Indoor model to improve our understanding of indoor chemistry. Significant levels of both radicals have been measured and their profiles display similar diurnal behavior, reaching peak concentrations during direct sunlight (up to 1.6×10⁶ and 4.0×10⁷ cm^?3 for OH and HO₂, respectively). Concentrations of O₃, NO_x, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), HONO, and photolysis frequencies were constrained to the observed values. The HO_x profiles are well simulated in terms of variation for both species (Pearson's coefficients: p_OH=0.55, p_HO2=0.76) and concentration for OH (mean normalized bias error: MNBE_OH=?30%), HO₂ concentration being always underestimated (MNBE_HO2=?62%). Production and loss pathways analysis confirmed HONO photolysis role as an OH precursor (here up to 50% of the production rate). HO₂ formation is linked to OH‐initiated VOC oxidation. A sensitivity analysis was conducted by varying HONO, VOCs, and NO concentrations. OH, HO₂, and formaldehyde concentrations increase with HONO concentrations; OH and formaldehyde concentrations are weakly dependent on NO, whereas HO₂ concentrations are strongly reduced with increasing NO. Increasing VOC concentrations decreases OH by consumption and enhances HO₂ and formaldehyde.     

Quantification of alkenes on indoor surfaces and implications for chemical sources and sinks

Indoor surfaces are known to support organic films, but their thickness, composition, and variability between environments remain poorly characterized. Alkenes are expected to be a significant component of these films, with the reaction with O₃ being a major sink for O₃ and source of airborne chemicals. Here, we present a sensitive, microscale, nanospectrophotometric method for quantifying the alkene (C=C bond) content of surface films and demonstrate its applicability in five studies relevant to indoor air chemistry. Collection efficiencies determined for a filter wipe method were ~64%, and the overall detection limit for monoalkenes was ~10 nmol m⁻². On average, painted walls and glass windows sampled across the University of Colorado Boulder campus were coated by ~4 nm thick films containing ~20% alkenes, and a simple calculation indicates that the lifetime for these alkenes due to reaction with O₃ is ~1 hour, indicating that the films are highly dynamic. Measurements of alkenes in films of skin oil, pan-fried cooking oils, a terpene-containing cleaner, and on various surfaces in a closed classroom overnight (where carboxyl groups were also measured) provided insight into the effects of chemical and physical processes on film and air composition.     

Contribution of human‐related sources to indoor volatile organic compounds in a university classroom

Although significant progress has been made in understanding the sources and chemistry of indoor volatile organic compounds (VOCs) during the past decades, much is unknown about the role of humans in indoor air chemistry. In the spring of 2014, we conducted continuous measurements of VOCs using a proton transfer reaction mass spectrometer (PTR‐MS) in a university classroom. Positive matrix factorization (PMF) of the measured VOCs revealed a ‘human influence’ component, which likely represented VOCs produced from human breath and ozonolysis of human skin lipids. The concentration of the human influence component increased with the number of occupants and decreased with ventilation rate in a similar way to CO₂, with an average contribution of 40% to the measured daytime VOC concentration. In addition, the human skin lipid ozonolysis products were observed to correlate with CO₂ and anticorrelate with O₃, suggesting that reactions on human surfaces may be important sources of indoor VOCs and sinks for indoor O₃. Our study suggests that humans can substantially affect VOC composition and oxidative capacity in indoor environments.     

The effect of ventilation on indoor exposure to semivolatile organic compounds

A mechanistic model was developed to examine how natural ventilation influences residential indoor exposure to semivolatile organic compounds (SVOCs) via inhalation, dermal sorption, and dust ingestion. The effect of ventilation on indoor particle mass concentration and mass transfer at source/sink surfaces, and the enhancing effect of particles on mass transfer at source/sink surfaces are included. When air exchange rate increases from 0.6/h to 1.8/h_, the steady‐state SVOC (gas‐phase plus particle phase with log K_OA varying from 9 to 13) concentration in the idealized model decreases by about 60%. In contrast, for the same change in ventilation, the simulated indoor formaldehyde (representing volatile organic compounds) gas‐phase concentration decreases by about 70%. The effect of ventilation on exposure via each pathway has a relatively insignificant association with the K_OA of the SVOCs: a change of K_OA from 10⁹ to 10¹³ results in a change of only 2–30%. Sensitivity analysis identifies the deposition rate of PM_2.5 as a primary factor influencing the relationship between ventilation and exposure for SVOCs with log K_OA = 13. The relationship between ventilation rate and air speed near surfaces needs to be further substantiated.     

Photolysis-driven indoor air chemistry following cleaning of hospital wards

Effective cleaning techniques are essential for the sterilization of rooms in hospitals and industry. No-touch devices (NTDs) that use fumigants such as hydrogen peroxide (H₂O₂), formaldehyde (HCHO), ozone (O₃), and chlorine dioxide (OClO) are a recent innovation. This paper reports a previously unconsidered potential consequence of such cleaning technologies: the photochemical formation of high concentrations of hydroxyl radicals (OH), hydroperoxy radicals (HO₂), organic peroxy radicals (RO₂), and chlorine radicals (Cl) which can form harmful reaction products when exposed to chemicals commonly found in indoor air. This risk was evaluated by calculating radical production rates and concentrations based on measured indoor photon fluxes and typical fumigant concentrations during and after cleaning events. Sunlight and fluorescent tubes without covers initiated photolysis of all fumigants, and plastic-covered fluorescent tubes initiated photolysis of only some fumigants. Radical formation was often dominated by photolysis of fumigants during and after decontamination processes. Radical concentrations were predicted to be orders of magnitude greater than background levels during and immediately following cleaning events with each fumigant under one or more illumination condition. Maximum predicted radical concentrations (1.3 × 10⁷ molecule cm⁻³ OH, 2.4 ppb HO₂, 6.8 ppb RO₂ and 2.2 × 10⁸ molecule cm⁻³ Cl) were much higher than baseline concentrations. Maximum OH concentrations occurred with O₃ photolysis, HO₂ with HCHO photolysis, and RO₂ and Cl with OClO photolysis. Elevated concentrations may persist for hours after NTD use, depending on the air change rate and air composition. Products from reactions involving radicals could significantly decrease air quality when disinfectants are used, leading to adverse health effects for occupants.     

A general mechanistic model for predicting the fate and transport of phthalates in indoor environments

A mechanistic model that considers particle dynamics and their effects on surface emissions and sorptions was developed to predict the fate and transport of phthalates in indoor environments. A controlled case study was conducted in a test house to evaluate the model. The model‐predicted evolving concentrations of benzyl butyl phthalate in indoor air and settled dust and on interior surfaces are in good agreement with measurements. Sensitivity analysis was performed to quantify the effects of parameter uncertainties on model predictions. The model was then applied to a typical residential environment to investigate the fate of di‐2‐ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) and the factors that affect its transport. The predicted steady‐state DEHP concentrations were 0.14 μg/m³ in indoor air and ranged from 80 to 46 000 μg/g in settled dust on various surfaces, which are generally consistent with the measurements of previous studies in homes in different countries. An increase in the mass concentration of indoor particles may significantly enhance DEHP emission and its concentrations in air and on surfaces, whereas increasing ventilation has only a limited effect in reducing DEHP in indoor air. The influence of cleaning activities on reducing DEHP concentration in indoor air and on interior surfaces was quantified, and the results showed that DEHP exposure can be reduced by frequent and effective cleaning activities and the removal of existing sources, though it may take a relatively long period of time for the levels to drop significantly. Finally, the model was adjusted to identify the relative contributions of gaseous sorption and particulate‐bound deposition to the overall uptake of semi‐volatile organic compounds (SVOCs) by indoor surfaces as functions of time and the octanol‐air partition coefficient (K_oa) of the chemical. Overall, the model clarifies the mechanisms that govern the emission of phthalates and the subsequent interactions among air, suspended particles, settled dust, and interior surfaces. This model can be easily extended to incorporate additional indoor source materials/products, sorption surfaces, particle sources, and room spaces. It can also be modified to predict the fate and transport of other SVOCs, such as phthalate‐alternative plasticizers, flame retardants, and biocides, and serves to improve our understanding of human exposure to SVOCs in indoor environments.     

Indoor ozone/human chemistry and ventilation strategies

This study aimed to better understand and quantify the influence of ventilation strategies on occupant‐related indoor air chemistry. The oxidation of human skin oil constituents was studied in a continuously ventilated climate chamber at two air exchange rates (1 h^?1 and 3 h^?1) and two initial ozone mixing ratios (30 and 60 ppb). Additional measurements were performed to investigate the effect of intermittent ventilation (“off” followed by “on”). Soiled t‐shirts were used to simulate the presence of occupants. A time‐of‐flight‐chemical ionization mass spectrometer (ToF‐CIMS) in positive mode using protonated water clusters was used to measure the oxygenated reaction products geranyl acetone, 6‐methyl‐5‐hepten‐2‐one (6‐MHO) and 4‐oxopentanal (4‐OPA). The measurement data were used in a series of mass balance models accounting for formation and removal processes. Reactions of ozone with squalene occurring on the surface of the t‐shirts are mass transport limited; ventilation rate has only a small effect on this surface chemistry. Ozone‐squalene reactions on the t‐shirts produced gas‐phase geranyl acetone, which was subsequently removed almost equally by ventilation and further reaction with ozone. About 70% of gas‐phase 6‐MHO was produced in surface reactions on the t‐shirts, the remainder in secondary gas‐phase reactions of ozone with geranyl acetone. 6‐MHO was primarily removed by ventilation, while further reaction with ozone was responsible for about a third of its removal. 4‐OPA was formed primarily on the surfaces of the shirts (~60%); gas‐phase reactions of ozone with geranyl acetone and 6‐MHO accounted for ~30% and ~10%, respectively. 4‐OPA was removed entirely by ventilation. The results from the intermittent ventilation scenarios showed delayed formation of the reaction products and lower product concentrations compared to continuous ventilation.     

Criegee intermediates in the indoor environment: new insights

Criegee intermediates are formed in the ozonolysis of alkenes and play an important role in indoor chemistry, notably as a source of OH radicals. Recent studies have shown that these Criegee intermediates react very quickly with NO₂, SO₂, and carbonyls, and in this study, steady‐state calculations are used to inspect the potential impact of these data on indoor chemistry. It is shown that these reactions could accelerate NO₃ formation and SO₂ removal in the indoor environment significantly. In addition, reaction between Criegee intermediates and halogenated carbonyls could provide a significant loss process indoors, where currently one does not exist.     

Investigations of the deposition of lead-bearing aerosols on the surfaces of vegetation

SEM and X-ray microprobe analysis were combined with clean lab technology atomic absorption spectroscopy to observe the deposition of aerosols on undisturbed pine needle surfaces, to obtain physical and chemical information from the observed particles and to chemically remove these particles for analysis. Comparisons were made among sites with traffic densities of 100, 1000, 10000 cars per day. Correlations were made with periods of heavy rainfall. The results show that the particle size distribution, shape and surface chemistry are possibly characteristic of automotive exhausts, that both the chemical washing procedure and rainfall efficiently remove most particles from the surface, including those bearing lead, and that the rate of deposition is constant between rainfalls and partly a function of traffic density. Deposition rates of 0.3 ng Pb cm^?2 day^?1 were observed at 100 cars per day, 2–3 ng Pb cm^?2 day^?1 for 1000 and 10000 cars per day.     

Improved parameterization of dust emission (PM10) fluxes by the gradient method using the Naiman tower data at the Horqin desert in China

Dust emission/deposition flux has been estimated using the gradient method with the two-level (3 and 15 m high) measured PM₁₀ concentrations and the sonic anemometer measured momentum and kinematic heat fluxes at 8 m high from a 20-m monitoring tower located at Naiman (Horqin desert) in the Asian dust source region in China for the winter of November 2007 to March 2008. The time series of measured PM₁₀ concentration at 3 m high is used to identify the dust event and the non-dust event periods. It is found that the dust emission/deposition flux (F_C) shows a significant diurnal variation with the maximum emission flux of 5.8 kg km^? 2 h^? 1 at noon and the minimum of ? 1.6 kg km^? 2 h^? 1 in the afternoon for the non-dust event cases. Whereas for the dust event cases, the dust emission flux is found to occur when the prevailing winds are westerlies to northerlies with the maximum flux of 1275 kg km^? 2 d^? 1, while the maximum dust deposition flux of 148 kg km^? 2 d^? 1 occurs with the prevailing winds of southerlies to easterlies without any diurnal variation. The optimal regression equation between F_C and the friction velocity (u_*) for the dust emission cases is found to be F_C = 9.55 u_*^3.13 with the R² value of 0.73. However, this regression equation can be improved by taking into account the convective velocity (w_*). The resulting optimal regression equation is found to be F_C = 9.3(u_* ? 0.1w_*)^3.19 for the stable stratification (w_* < 0) with the R² value of 0.77 and F_C = 10.5(u_* + 0.34w_*)^4.11 for the unstable stratification (w_* > 0) with the R² value of 0.78, suggesting the importance of the convective velocity on the dust emission flux.     

An evaluation of direct measurement techniques for mercury dry deposition

In this project, several surrogate surfaces designed to directly measure Hg dry deposition were investigated. Static water surrogate surfaces (SWSS) containing deionized (DI), acidified water, or salt solutions, and a knife-edge surrogate surface (KSS) using quartz fiber filters (QFF), KCl-coated QFF and gold-coated QFF were evaluated as a means to directly measure mercury (Hg) dry deposition. The SWSS was hypothesized to collect deposited elemental mercury (Hg⁰), reactive gaseous/oxidized mercury (RGM), and mercury associated with particulate matter (Hg_(p)) while the QFF, KCl-coated QFF, and gold-coated QFF on the KSS were hypothesized to collect Hg_(p), RGM + Hg_(p), and Hg⁰ + RGM + Hg_(p), respectively. The Hg flux measured by the DI water was significantly smaller than that captured by the acidified water, probably because Hg⁰ was oxidized to Hg²⁺ which stabilized the deposited Hg and decreased mass transfer resistance. Acidified BrCl, which efficiently oxidizes Hg⁰, captured significantly more Hg than other solutions. However, of all collection media, gold-coated QFFs captured 6 to 100 times greater Hg mass than the other surfaces, probably because there is no surface resistance for Hg⁰ deposition to gold surfaces. In addition, the Hg⁰ concentration is usually 100-1000 times higher than RGM and Hg_(p). For all other media, co-located samples were not significantly different, and the combination of daytime plus nighttime results were comparable to 24-h samples, implying that Hg⁰, RGM and Hg_(p) were not released after they deposited nor did the surfaces reach equilibrium with the atmosphere. Based on measured Hg ambient air concentrations and fluxes, dry deposition velocities of RGM and Hg⁰ to DI water and other surfaces were 5.6 ± 5.4 and 0.005-0.68 cm s⁻¹ in this study, respectively. These results suggest surrogate surfaces can be used to measure Hg dry deposition; however, extrapolating the results to natural surface can be challenging.     

Efficiency and energy requirements for the transformation of organic micropollutants by ozone, O3/H2O2 and UV/H2O2

The energy consumptions of conventional ozonation and the AOPs O₃/H₂O₂ and UV/H₂O₂ for transformation of organic micropollutants, namely atrazine (ATR), sulfamethoxazole (SMX) and N-nitrosodimethylamine (NDMA) were compared. Three lake waters and a wastewater were assessed. With p-chlorobenzoic acid (pCBA) as a hydroxyl radical (^•OH) probe compound, we experimentally determined the rate constants of organic matter of the selected waters for their reaction with ^•OH (k_OH,DOM), which varied from 2.0 × 10⁴ to 3.5 × 10⁴ L mgC⁻¹ s⁻¹. Based on these data we calculated ^•OH scavenging rates of the various water matrices, which were in the range 6.1-20 × 10⁴ s⁻¹. The varying scavenging rates influenced the required oxidant dose for the same degree of micropollutant transformation. In ozonation, for 90% pCBA transformation in the water with the lowest scavenging rate (lake Zürich water) the required O₃ dose was roughly 2.3 mg/L, and in the water with the highest scavenging rate (Dübendorf wastewater) it was 13.2 mg/L, corresponding to an energy consumption of 0.035 and 0.2 kWh/m³, respectively. The use of O₃/H₂O₂ increased the rate of micropollutant transformation and reduced bromate formation by 70%, but the H₂O₂ production increased the energy requirements by 20-25%. UV/H₂O₂ efficiently oxidized all examined micropollutants but energy requirements were substantially higher (For 90% pCBA conversion in lake Zürich water, 0.17-0.75 kWh/m³ were required, depending on the optical path length). Energy requirements between ozonation and UV/H₂O₂ were similar only in the case of NDMA, a compound that reacts slowly with ozone and ^•OH but is transformed efficiently by direct photolysis.     

Fungal aerosol composition in moldy basements

Experimental aerosolization studies revealed that fungal fragments including small fragments in the submicrometer size are released from fungal cultures and have been suggested to represent an important fraction of overall fungal aerosols in indoor environments. However, their prevalence indoors and outdoors remains poorly characterized. Moldy basements were investigated for airborne fungal particles including spores, submicron fragments, and larger fragments. Particles were collected onto poly‐L‐lysine‐coated polycarbonate filters and qualitatively and quantitatively analyzed using immunogold labeling combined with field emission scanning electron microscopy. We found that the total fungal aerosol levels including spores, submicrometer, and larger fragments in the moldy basements (median: 80 × 10³ m^?3) were not different from that estimated in control basements (63 × 10³ m^?3) and outdoor (90 × 10³ m^?3). However, mixed effect modeling of the fungal aerosol composition revealed that the fraction of fragments increased significantly in moldy basements, versus the spore fraction that increased significantly in outdoor air. These findings provide new insight on the compositional variation of mixed fungal aerosols in indoor as compared to outdoor air. Our results also suggest that further studies, aiming to investigate the role of fungal aerosols in the fungal exposure‐disease relationships, should consider the mixed composition of various types of fungal particles.     

Impacts of indoor surface finishes on bacterial viability

Microbes in indoor environments are constantly being exposed to antimicrobial surface finishes. Many are rendered non‐viable after spending extended periods of time under low‐moisture, low‐nutrient surface conditions, regardless of whether those surfaces have been amended with antimicrobial chemicals. However, some microorganisms remain viable even after prolonged exposure to these hostile conditions. Work with specific model pathogens makes it difficult to draw general conclusions about how chemical and physical properties of surfaces affect microbes. Here, we explore the survival of a synthetic community of non‐model microorganisms isolated from built environments following exposure to three chemically and physically distinct surface finishes. Our findings demonstrated the differences in bacterial survival associated with three chemically and physically distinct materials. Alkaline clay surfaces select for an alkaliphilic bacterium, Kocuria rosea, whereas acidic mold‐resistant paint favors Bacillus timonensis, a Gram‐negative spore‐forming bacterium that also survives on antimicrobial surfaces after 24 hours of exposure. Additionally, antibiotic‐resistant Pantoea allii did not exhibit prolonged retention on antimicrobial surfaces. Our controlled microcosm experiment integrates measurement of indoor chemistry and microbiology to elucidate the complex biochemical interactions that influence the indoor microbiome.     

Coarse particulate matter and airborne endotoxin within wood stove homes

Emissions from indoor biomass burning are a major public health concern in developing areas of the world. Less is known about indoor air quality, particularly airborne endotoxin, in homes burning biomass fuel in residential wood stoves in higher income countries. A filter‐based sampler was used to evaluate wintertime indoor coarse particulate matter (PM_10‐2.5) and airborne endotoxin (EU/m³, EU/mg) concentrations in 50 homes using wood stoves as their primary source of heat in western Montana. We investigated number of residents, number of pets, dampness (humidity), and frequency of wood stove usage as potential predictors of indoor airborne endotoxin concentrations. Two 48‐h sampling events per home revealed a mean winter PM_10‐2.5 concentration (± s.d.) of 12.9 (± 8.6) μg/m³, while PM_2.5 concentrations averaged 32.3 (± 32.6) μg/m³. Endotoxin concentrations measured from PM_10‐2.5 filter samples were 9.2 (± 12.4) EU/m³ and 1010 (± 1524) EU/mg. PM_10‐2.5 and PM_2.5 were significantly correlated in wood stove homes (r = 0.36, P < 0.05). The presence of pets in the homes was associated with PM_10‐2.5 but not with endotoxin concentrations. Importantly, none of the other measured home characteristics was a strong predictor of airborne endotoxin, including frequency of residential wood stove usage.