Editor’s Choice Articles

The COVID-19 pandemic has reshaped the global understanding of airborne disease transmission, particularly in healthcare environments. This literature review examines how building ventilation and indoor air quality strategies have evolved in response to SARS-CoV-2, with a specific focus on healthcare settings. A systematic review of 163 post-pandemic studies, alongside a selective review of pre-COVID-19 literature, was conducted to assess how scientific knowledge, practical recommendations, and HVAC-related interventions have changed. The review categorizes studies across detection methods, simulation models, observational analyses, and policy recommendations, drawing attention to novel findings and evidence-supported practices. While the body of research reaffirms the critical role of ventilation, many recommendations remain unevaluated through empirical methods. This study identifies the gaps in evidence and highlights the most impactful advances that can inform future design, maintenance, and operational protocols in healthcare facilities to mitigate airborne infection risks. Full article

The transportation sector has a significant impact on climate change, as it is responsible for 20% of the global greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions. This paper evaluates the role of electric vehicles (EVs) in achieving Europe’s ambitious target of carbon neutrality by 2050. The limitations of internal combustion engines (ICEs) along with the recent advancements, such as Euro 6 standards, are examined with a pseudo–lifecycle analysis (pseudo-LCA). While ICEs remain cost-effective initially, their higher long-term cost and environmental impact make them unsustainable. The benefits of EVs, including high energy efficiency, minimal maintenance, and reduced GHG emissions, are stated. However, challenges such as range limitations, charging infrastructure, and the environmental cost of battery production persist. Hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs) are highlighted as transitional technologies, offering improved thermal efficiency and reduced emissions, enhancing air quality in both urban and rural areas. The analysis extends to the use of alternative fuels, such as bioethanol, biodiesel, and hydrogen. These provide interim solutions but face scalability and sustainability issues. Policy interventions, including subsidies, tax incentives, and investments in renewable energy, are crucial factors for EV adoption. As EVs are pivotal to decarbonization, integrating renewable energy and addressing systemic challenges are essential for a sustainable transition. Full article

Indoor air quality (IAQ) significantly impacts human health, particularly in enclosed spaces where people spend most of their time. This study evaluates the performance of low-cost IAQ sensors, focusing on their ability to measure carbon dioxide (CO₂) and particulate matter (PM) under real-world conditions. Measurements provided by these sensors were verified against calibrated reference equipment. The study utilized two commercial devices from inBiot and Kaiterra, comparing their outputs to a reference sensor across a range of CO₂ concentrations (500–1200 ppm) and environmental conditions (21–25 °C, 27–92% RH). Data were analyzed for relative error, temporal stability, and reproducibility. Results indicate strong correlation between low-cost sensors (LCSs) and the reference sensor at lower CO₂ concentrations, with minor deviations at higher levels. Environmental conditions had minimal impact on sensor performance, highlighting robustness to temperature and humidity within the tested ranges. For PM measurements, low-cost sensors effectively tracked trends, but inaccuracies increased with particle concentration. Overall, these findings support the feasibility of using low-cost sensors for non-critical IAQ monitoring, offering an affordable alternative for tracking CO₂ and PM trends. Additionally, LCSs can assess long-term exposure to contaminants, providing insights into potential health risks and useful information for non-expert users. Full article

Air pollution’s effects on physical health, especially cardiovascular and respiratory, are well known. Exposure to air pollution may damage every organ and cell in the human body. New evidence is emerging showing that air pollution adversely affects human mental health. Current research suggests that high air pollution levels have long-term mental health effects, such as reduced mental capacity and increased cognitive decline, leading to increased stress, anxiety, and depression. Objectives: This scoping review aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the methods used in epidemiological literature to ascertain the existence of links between outdoor particulate matter (PM) and multiple adverse mental health (MH) effects (depression, anxiety, and/or stress). A better understanding of the practical research methodologies could lead to improved air quality (AQ) management and enhanced well-being strategies. Methods: This paper undertakes a scoping review. PubMed and EMBASE databases from 2010 to 2024 were searched for English-language human cohort observational studies stating methodologies used in analyzing the link between outdoor particulate matter (ultrafine (UFT) (<0.1 μm), fine (<2.5 μm), and course (<10 μm)) and mental health outcomes (depression, anxiety, and stress) in adults (>18 years), excluding vulnerable populations (i.e., elderly, children, and pregnant women). The study focuses on urban, suburban areas, and rural areas. Results: From an initial search of 3889 records, 29 studies met the inclusion criteria and were included in the review. These studies spanned various countries and employed robust quantitative methodologies to assess AQ and MH. All included studies investigated the impact of PM on mental health, with some (n = 19/65.52%) also examining nitrogen oxides (NO_x), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), sulfur dioxide (SO₂), ozone (O₃), and carbon monoxide (CO). Depression was the most frequently studied outcome (n = 10/34.48%), followed by anxiety and depression (n = 6/20.69%), and anxiety, stress, and depression, and stress (n = 4/13.79%, each). Depression, anxiety, and stress together were examined in a single study (n = 1/3.45%). Standardized questionnaires involving psychological scales such as Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ) (n = 7/24.14%) and The Center for Epidemiological Studies-Depression (CES-D) (n = 3/10.34%) for depression and Generalized Anxiety Disorder Questionnaire (GAD) (n = 2/6.90%) for anxiety were commonly used MH tools. 27 out of 29 studies found a significant negative impact of air pollution on mental health, demonstrating a solid consensus in the literature. Two studies did not find a significant correlation. The results consistently indicated that higher levels of air pollution were associated with increased symptoms of depression, anxiety, and stress. Conclusion: Of the 3889 identified studies, 29 were suitable for inclusion in the scoping review per inclusion criteria. The results show the most preferred methods in assessing air quality and mental health in relevant studies, providing a detailed account of each method’s strengths and limitations used in studies. This scoping review was conducted to assist future research and relieve the decision-making process for researchers aiming to find a correlation between air quality and mental health. While the inclusion criteria were strict and thus resulted in few studies, the review found a gap in the literature concerning the general adult population, as most studies focused on vulnerable populations. Further exploration of the methodologies used to find the relationship between air quality and mental health is needed, as reporting on these outcomes was limited. Full article

The global concern of escalating ambient air pollution and its profound impact on human health is paramount. While traffic police personnel are critical for maintaining the road safety and transportation system of any city in India, they are susceptible to occupational health risks due to ambient air pollution. This study investigated health challenges faced by traffic police personnel due to prolonged exposure to air pollutants prevalent in traffic-congested areas, including particulate matter (PM_2.5 and PM₁₀), nitrogen dioxide, and sulfur dioxide. The first phase of this study collected and analyzed secondary air quality data over five years (2019–2023) across six locations in Kolkata, India. The second phase employed a questionnaire-based survey to assess the health implications of air pollution exposure. The survey questionnaire captured information on physical health symptoms, stress-related indicators, lifestyle habits, and work hours of around 100 police personnel from Kolkata with indoor (control group) and outdoor (exposed group) work responsibilities. The results of this study established a strong positive correlation between air pollution and a range of health issues experienced by the exposed group. The outcome of this study is significant for urban planning, policy formulation, and public health interventions geared toward minimizing the adverse impacts of air pollution on traffic police personnel. Full article