The effect of particle resuspension during walking activity to PM10 mass and number concentrations in an indoor microenvironment

• Published in: Building and environment Vol. 82; pp. 180 - 189
• Main Authors: Serfozo, Norbert, Chatoutsidou, Sofia Eirini, Lazaridis, Mihalis
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Kidlington Elsevier Ltd 01.12.2014; Elsevier
• Subjects: Applied sciences; Buildings. Public works; Computation methods. Tables. Charts; Construction; Deposition; Dust; Exact sciences and technology; Indoor air pollution; Indoor particle emissions; Indoor PM; Mathematical analysis; Measurements. Technique of testing; Particulate emissions; Pollution indoor buildings; Resuspension rate; Structural analysis. Stresses; Surface chemistry; Surface loading; Walking; Indoor particle emissions; Resuspension rate; Indoor PM; Surface loading; Performance evaluation; Surface charge; Indoor climate; Experimental device; Concentration; Particle suspension; Experimental study; Modeling; Walking; Dust; Particle emission; Particulate matter; Indoor pollution; Laboratory test
• ISSN: 0360-1323; 1873-684X
• DOI: 10.1016/j.buildenv.2014.08.017

Mass and number concentration of particulate matter (PM10) was measured during walking experiments inside a laboratory. In total 20 walking experiments were conducted in a period of 3 months. Particle number concentration was measured in the size range of 0.02–1 μm, while, mass concentration was measured in the range 0.1–10 μm. The PM10 mass increased during the activity, by average 84%, whereas, the walking activity had no impact on particle number concentration. Human induced resuspension rates were examined under different dust loadings. The different dust loadings used (25, 15, 5, 1 g/m2) in order to evaluate the impact of surface loading on the indoor PM10 mass concentration and on the resuspension rate. Walking style was the same in all experiments. Moreover, the experiments involved two different walking patterns inside the laboratory (rectangular and line). The impact of different speed was also examined. The average resuspension rate was calculated to be equal to 10−2–10−3 hr−1. No impact on resuspension rate was observed for different walking patterns or walking speed. On the other hand, the measured mass concentration inside the room was increased when using higher dust loading on the floor, although the estimated resuspension rate found independent on the initially deposited surface dust loading. •PM10 mass and number concentration was measured during resuspension experiments in an indoor microenvironment.•The effect of walking activity on particle resuspension indoors was investigated.•Different dust loadings on the floor were used.•Resuspension rate due to walking activities indoors was calculated.