Concentrations of VOCs and ozone in indoor environments: A case study in two Mediterranean cities during winter period

Building materials represent the largest surfaces indoors and are the major contributors of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor environment. This study which is conducted in the frame of BUMA project (Prioritization of Building Materials Emissions), aims at assessing the human exposure to air hazards emitted by building materials. In this study, indoor and outdoor VOCs and ozone measurements from field campaigns in two Mediterranean cities (Nicosia and Athens in winter period) are presented and discussed. The field campaigns concern weekly measurements. The campaigns were conducted in four buildings in each city (1 Public building, 1 school and 2 houses) and concern weekly measurements. Passive samplers were used for collecting VOCs and ozone. Eight (8) hydrocarbons (benzene, toluene, ethylbenzene, m,p-xylene, a-pinene, o-xylene and d-limonene), five (5) carbonyl compounds (formaldehyde, acetaldehyde, proprionaldehyde, acetone and hexanaldehyde) and ozone have been measured. Additional air exchange measurements have been conducted using tracer gas techniques. Hazardous substances such as benzene, formaldehyde and acetaldehyde present indoor concentrations that range between 1.5-10.2, 5.8-43.2 and 4.5-15 μg/m3, respectively. VOC concentration data show a considerable variability due to the different indoor emission sources, ventilation rates and outdoor environment's influence. A significant contribution to indoor measured concentrations seems to come from the building materials. Ozone outdoor concentrations are reduced substantially inside, indicating relatively strong indoor ozone sinks

Energy refurbishment towards nearly zero-energy terrace houses in the Mediterranean region

The building sector in Europe is responsible for an estimated 40% of the total energy consumption and 10% of total CO2 emissions. Given an annual rate of 1 % of addition of new buildings in the existing building stock, the energy efficient renovation of the existing housing stock is imperative in order to reduce building energy consumption. It is for this reason that the European Union (EU) ranked the improvement of the energy performance of the old building stock as a high priority on its research agenda. Following Europe’s 20:20:20 objective, this case study investigates refurbishment scenarios that will make it possible to achieve nearly zero-energy buildings (nZEBs) in Cyprus. The research focuses on the terrace family house typology in Cyprus, as classified in the framework of the Intelligent Energy Europe, EU project EPISCOPE. The aim is to upgrade an old terrace building built before 1980. It into a nZEB with the implementation of national energy performance requirements, as drafted by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MECIT). A representative terrace family building was chosen and modeled using the Simplified Building Energy Model iSBEMcy tool. This is the official government software in Cyprus used for issuing Energy Performance Certificates (EPCs) for the categorisation of the energy class of buildings and the calculation of CO2 emissions according to European Directives 2002/91/EC and 2010/31/EC. The study investigates whether it is possible for an old terrace family building to meet nZEB standards and identifies the lurking obstacles and challenges through building simulations. To this end, various refurbishment scenarios were developed, aimed at fulfilling the MECIT requirements. The efficiency of each strategy and technique employed towards minimising energy consumption and greenhouse gas emissions was evaluated, in terms also of its cost-effectiveness. Furthermore, the results of the research were investigated to assess whether the nZEB requirements, as developed by MECIT, are appropriate for existing terrace family houses in Cyprus and whether alternative strategies may be employed to meet the target of nZEB and to effectively reduce energy consumption and CO2 emissions

Energy efficient refurbishment towards nearly zero energy houses, for the mediterranean region

Paper presented at 7th International Conference on Sustainability and Energy in Buildings, SEB 2015; Altis Grand HotelLisbon; Portugal; 1 July 2015 through 3 July 2015The building sector in Europe is responsible for an estimated 40% of the total energy consumption and 10% of the total CO2 emissions. Given that new buildings represent only about 1% of the housing stock annually, it is estimated that more than 80% of the existing buildings will still exist in 2020. Therefore, the energy efficient renovation of the existing housing stock is imperative in order to reduce the building energy consumption. It is for this reason that the European Union ranked the improvement of the energy performance of the old building stock, as a high priority in its research agenda. Following Europe's 20:20:20 objective, this case study investigates refurbishment scenarios in order to achieve Nearly Zero Energy houses, in Cyprus. The research focuses on the Single Family House typology, as classified in previous studies for Cyprus, in the framework of the IEE, EU project EPISCOPE and specifically on retrofitting an old house that was built before 1980. The aim is to upgrade it into a Nearly Zero Energy Building (nZEB) with the implementation of the national energy performance requirements, as drafted by the Ministry of Energy, Commerce, Industry and Tourism (MECIT). Following the EPISCOPE project methodology, a representative Single Family House from the corresponding residential building typology in Cyprus was chosen and modeled using the iSBEMcy tool. This is the official governmental software in Cyprus used for issuing Energy Performance Certificates (EPC), for the categorization of the energy class of the building and the calculation of the CO2 emissions according to the European Directives 2002/91/EC and 2010/31/EC. The study investigates whether it is possible for an old Single Family House to reach the nZEB standards and identifies the lurking obstacles and challenges, through building simulations. To this end, various refurbishment scenarios were developed, with the implementation of strategies aiming at fulfilling the MECIT requirements. Through analysis of the results, the efficiency of each strategy and technique employed towards minimising the energy consumption and the greenhouse gas emissions was evaluated, in terms also of its cost effectiveness. Furthermore, the results of the research were investigated in order to assess whether the nZEB requirements, as developed by the MECIT, are appropriate for the existing single-family houses in Cyprus and whether alternative strategies may be employed in order to meet the target of nZEB and to reduce effectively the energy consumption

Pesticides, volatile and semivolatile organic compounds in the inland surface waters of Cyprus

The pollution of the surface waters of Cyprus from priority compounds which are included in the EU Directive 76/464/EEC was evaluated. The Directive deals with the pollution caused by certain dangerous substances discharged into the aquatic environment of the Community. In the framework of the reporting obligations of Cyprus towards EU, a study was carried out for the Environment Service of Cyprus by the University of Cyprus in collaboration with the State General Laboratory. 19 out of the 59 surface water bodies of the country were investigated. 30 substances of List I, List I candidates and List II were examined. The analytical determination was performed by a Gas Chromatography - Electron Capture Detection for organochlorine insecticides, by Gas Chromatography - Flame Thermionic Detector for the chlorotriazine herbicides and organophosphate insecticides and finally by on line purge and trap technique followed by Gas Chromatography - Electron Capture Detection/Photoionization Detection for the volatiles and semivolatiles organic compounds. Toluene, 1,1,1-trichloroethane, 1,2-dichloropropane, vinyl chloride and 1,4-dichlorobenzene were the most frequently found among VOCs and SVOCs. In some cases non-compliance was observed for hexachlorobutadiene, hexachlorobenzene and 1,2,4- trichlorobenzene. The most commonly encountered organochlorine insecticides were hexachlorobenzene and heptachlor. This paper summarizes the work carried out, the methodologies applied and provides a discussion on the results found

Organochlorine and organophosphoric insecticides, herbicides and heavy metals residue in industrial wastewaters in Cyprus

Most industries in Cyprus possess permits either for disposal at central wastewater treatment plants (the treated effluent of which is reused or disposed into the sea), or discharge on soil, or reuse either for irrigation or groundwater recharge or discharge into the sea. A preliminary investigation undertaken by the University of Cyprus in regards to dangerous substances was the first step towards establishing a new licensing and monitoring system. Liquid-liquid extraction was used for the extraction of the selected pesticides from wastewaters. Gas chromatography with two different detection methods (ECD and FTD) was applied for the determination of 17 pesticides (12 organochlorine insecticides, 3 organophosphoric insecticides and 2 herbicides). In addition ICP and a mercury evaporation unit were used to determine the concentrations of heavy metals in the samples. The results revealed the presence of several priority substances in wastewaters, in most cases at concentrations well below the regulatory limits. Non-compliance was observed for a limited number of metals. Sixteen out of 17 organic substances that were monitored for 1-year period time were traced in different wastewater streams. What was found out is that there is a need to expand the analytical determinations and the monitoring to more wastewater streams and more priority substances, in order to safeguard the water resources in Cyprus

Concentrations of Vocs and Ozone in Indoor Environments: A Case Study in Two Mediteranean Cities during Winter Period

Building materials represent the largest surfaces indoors and are the major contributors of volative organic compounds (VOCs) in the indoor environment. This study which is conducted in the frame of BUMA project (Prioritization of Building Materials Emissions), aims at assessing the human exposure to air hazards emitted by building materials. In this study, indoor and outdoor VOCs and ozone measurements from field campaigns in two Mediterranean cities (Nicosia and Athens in winter period) are presented and discussed. The field campaigns concern weekly measurements. The campaigns were conducted in four buildings in each city (1 public building, 1 school and 2 houses) and concern weekly measurements. Passive samplers were used for collecting VOCs and ozone.JRC.I.1-Chemical Assessment and Testin

Presentation based on work by the subgroup “Biomonitoring of Children” that has been set up by the European Commission in the framework of the “Environment & Health Strategy” (COM (2003)338 final)

A one-day Science/Policy Workshop, Budapest, 22 June 2004, in the framework of the Fourth Ministerial Conference on Environment and Health, Budapest, Hungary. Workshop organized by European Environment Agency (EEA), World Health Organization (WHO) and Collegium Ramazzini. On invitation by EEA.Chair:Ludwine Casteleyn (presenting). Members by alphabetical order:Louis Bloemen, Ethel Brits, Peter Boogaard, Stella Canna Michaelidou, Nadine Fréry, Alexandra Fucic, Reinhard Joas, Paul Harrison, Marek Jakubowski, Maryse Lehners, Christine Lorente, José Ramet, Reis Maria De Fatima Calado Varela, Bernd Seifert, Greet Schoeters, Anne Steenhout, Gavin W Ten Tusscher, Birgit Van Tongelen, Catherine Wattiez, Joop Van Wijnen. Co-Chairs: Lisbeth E Knudsen And Carlo Sala. “Biomonitoring: towards more integrated approaches”info:eu-repo/semantics/nonPublishe

Biomonitoring, towards more integrated approaches, based on work by the subgroup “Biomonitoring of Children

that has been set up by the European Commission in the framework of the Environment & Health Strategy (COM(2003)338 final). To EEA/WHO/Collegium Ramazzini – The “Children in Their Environments: Vulnerable, Valuable & at Risk: The Need for Action” – A one-day Science/Policy Workshop, Budapest, 22 June 2004 ".info:eu-repo/semantics/publishe