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Open research questions in Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure

40 unresolved questions extracted from the limitations and future-work sections of 477 Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure papers in our library. Each links back to the study that raised it.

What the literature leaves open

  • To our knowledge, this study is one of the first to examine SBS symptoms among home-based food business operators, a rapidly expanding yet understudied segment of the informal economy.

    Sick Building Syndrome symptoms and perceived indoor air quality among home based food business operators · 2026 · DOI

  • Further evidence from other studies demonstrates that even sub-OEL exposures can induce airway inflammation and oxidative stress [22,24], which supports the interpretation that OEL compliance alone is insufficient to protect against chronic risk.

    Formaldehyde exposure risk assessment among fiberboard furniture manufacturing workers in Thailand: Comparison of TIS 2012 and EPA IRIS standards · 2026 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: Barrier environments are essential for maintaining specific pathogen-free (SPF) animals, yet the potential health risks associated with routine aerosol disinfection remain unclear.

    A comparative assessment of subchronic inhalation health risks between peracetic acid and chlorine dioxide in SPF pigs maintained in barrier environments · 2026 · DOI

  • Regular monitoring of VOC levels should be conducted to assess the effectiveness of plant-based interventions and make necessary adjustments to plant selection and placement. Employers should implement a combination of natural and mechanical air purification strategies, including increased ventilation, proper PPE usage, and indoor plants, to mitigate health risks associated with VOC exposure. Periodic health risk assessments should be conducted to evaluate the impact of VOC exposure on laboratory personnel and adjust mitigation strategies accordingly. Further research should investigate the long-term performance of plant-based biofilters under varying laboratory conditions, including temperature, humidity, and light intensity. The development of smart, sensor-based monitoring systems integrated with phytoremediation technologies could provide real- time air quality data and optimize plant-based VOC removal efficiency. By adopting these recommendations, pharmaceutical laboratories can effectively enhance air quality, reduce occupational health risks, and promote a sustainable, eco-friendly approach to pollution control.

    Sustainable indoor air quality via plant-based biofiltration evaluating benzene and toluene removal efficiency and health risk reduction in pharmaceutical laboratories · 2026 · DOI

  • This study provides valuable insights into the phytoremediation potential of four ornamental plant species and their contribution to improving indoor air quality; however, several limitations should be acknowledged. The experiments were conducted under controlled laboratory conditions, which may not fully replicate the variability of real-life environments such as differences in ventilation rates, humidity, temperature, and occupancy patterns. The assessment focused only on benzene and toluene, leaving out other potentially harmful VOCs like xylene and formaldehyde, and the monitoring was limited to short-term exposure, which may not reflect long-term dynamics or seasonal variations. Finally, the health risk assessment relied on standard U.S. EPA exposure factors without accounting for individual variability in susceptibility or the protective effects of consistent PPE use, which may influence the accuracy of the estimated cancer and non-cancer risks.

    Sustainable indoor air quality via plant-based biofiltration evaluating benzene and toluene removal efficiency and health risk reduction in pharmaceutical laboratories · 2026 · DOI

  • Integrate a variety of plant species to target a broad spectrum of VOCs. Position plants strategically maximize their exposure to polluted air. Also maintain plant health to ensure consistent VOCs absorption rates. Furthermore, further studies should be conducted to investigate the long-term effects and optimal conditions for the use of different plant species such as PBBs. Integrate high-performing ornamental plants such as Cordyline fruticosa and Syngonium podophyllum into indoor environments, especially in pharmaceutical laboratories where VOCs exposure is a concern. These species can be strategically arranged in green walls or plant-based biofilter systems to naturally reduce harmful pollutants. Future efforts should focus on long-term monitoring, incorporating multiple plant species, and optimizing growing conditions, including light and substrate composition, to maximize phytoremediation efficiency. Additionally, using physiological indicators like APTI, stomatal density, and wax content as screening tools can help identify other resilient plant candidates for sustainable indoor air quality improvement.

    Integrating multivariate analysis and Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) to evaluate four ornamental plants for sustainable indoor air phytoremediation · 2026 · DOI

  • While this study provides encouraging evidence on the use of ornamental plants as natural air purifiers in pharmaceutical labs, it’s important to recognize a few limitations. Much of the testing was done in controlled environments, which doesn’t fully reflect the day-to-day changes and interactions found in real lab settings. The focus was on only four VOCs, leaving out other common pollutants that might behave differently. Also, each test used just one plant per setup, so the collective effects of mixed-species green walls weren’t explored. The study period was relatively short, meaning long-term plant performance and maintenance needs remain unclear. Additionally, we didn’t assess the role of root-zone microbes or growing media, even though they can significantly boost pollutant breakdown. Finally, while we evaluated health risks for benzene and toluene, a broader health impact assessment covering more VOCs would provide an even clearer picture of the benefits. These insights will help guide future research in making indoor plant-based air cleaning systems even more effective and practical.

    Integrating multivariate analysis and Air Pollution Tolerance Index (APTI) to evaluate four ornamental plants for sustainable indoor air phytoremediation · 2026 · DOI

  • Our epidemiological health assessment may be subject to differential and non-differential information bias due to reliance on questionnaire data for symptoms. The overall study population was quite small, resulting in low power for symptoms that have a weak association with the exposure. Despite these limitations, the reported symptoms are significant and in alignment with the previous literature [4, 7, 10, 19, 20, 82]. The wide 95% CIs of all ORs are likely connected to the small study population, indicating uncertainty regarding the exact OR in exposed workers compared 10 A.J. Lauvås et al. Fig. 2 Toll-like receptor activation in TLR 2, TLR3, TLR4, and TLR7 after 24-h incubation with a dilution series of AdV F40, IAV PR8, MS2, and bCoV. A TLR activation presented as fold change activation compared to the solvent control (0.01% BSA/PBS) across a dilution series of dilutions d1–d5. *p < 0.05, **p < 0.01, and ***p < 0.001 indicate statistically significant differences for the equivalent sample in the Null1 parental control cells. The y-axis is specific for each virus. B The concentration of AdV, bCoV, and IAV, determined by ddPCR (no PMAxx) and capsid-integrity ddPCR (with PMAxx), and the concentration of MS2 phage, determined as plaque-forming units, corresponding to each dilution (d1–d5) used in (A). MOI multiplicity of infection. to unexposed controls, and may mask and/or exaggerate effect estimates. The total dust samples intended for cell assay were stored dry on filters at 4 °C until elution, which may have enabled degradation of viral particles and other PAMPs. Additionally, our assessment of individual virus levels shows that virus-initiated TLR/ NF-κB activation of the investigated viruses was not feasible in the reporter cells, and it is unlikely that degradation is the main cause for negative viral TLR activation in the bioaerosol suspension.

    TLR/NF-κB activation in vitro as a tool in the assessment of occupational bioaerosol exposure and health risks in wastewater treatment plants · 2026 · DOI

  • These incubations were performed on Earth and not in environmental conditions experienced in low-Earth orbit such as microgravity, elevated CO2, and low-dose radiation, all of which may affect microbial growth and microbial composition.

    Predicting how varying moisture conditions impact the microbiome of dust collected from the International Space Station · 2024 · DOI

  • The resulting data demonstrates that sampling air flow and efficiency vary widely, and cannot be predicted from the physical characteristics of air samplers, and hence, that proper selection of air samplers should be more involved than shopping for a device based on the limited characteristics that are published by the manufacturers.

    Evaluation criteria for bioaerosol samplers · 2015 · DOI

  • BACKGROUND: The inverse association of farm exposure with asthma and atopic conditions has been attributed to the diversity of environmental bacteria and fungi, but the specific taxa and the underlying mechanisms remain elusive.

    Gram-Positive Bacteria and the Inverse Association between Farm Exposure and Childhood Asthma · 2026 · DOI

  • Given their reliance on domestic kitchens repurposed as workspaces, these operators constitute a previously under-recognised occupationally exposed population.

    Sick Building Syndrome symptoms and perceived indoor air quality among home based food business operators · 2026 · DOI

  • ABSTRACT Mold growth in damp indoor environments is a widespread problem associated with respiratory health effects, though causal mechanisms remain incompletely understood.

    Establishment of a Human Cell‐Based In Vitro Test System for Investigating and Evaluating Cytotoxic and Immunomodulatory Effects of Indoor Mold · 2026 · DOI

  • Health-care associated infections (HAIs) is still one of the most prevalent concerns within the maternity wards, but little is known about the prevalence of airborne microorganisms in sub-Saharan Africa.

    Antimicrobial Resistance of Airborne Bacterial and Fungal Bioaerosols in Maternity Wards in Yaoundé, Cameroon · 2026 · DOI

  • Only three types of microorganisms (Bacillus, Staphylococcus, and yeast) were identified, limiting the comprehensive characterization of air microflora diversity across the sampled locations.

    Isolation and Identification of Air Microflora From Different Locations of College Campus · 2026 · DOI

  • Hospital management should regularly assess and evaluate air quality to ensure it is healthy for occupants, but specific assessment frequencies, methodologies, and acceptable threshold values for this hospital setting are not established.

    Microbial Air Quality Assessment of a Tertiary Hospital in Makurdi, North-Central Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • Discovery and utilization of antimicrobial agents and methods with low human toxicity but high disinfection/sterilization effectiveness should be pursued, but specific recommendations or testing frameworks are not provided.

    Microbial Air Quality Assessment of a Tertiary Hospital in Makurdi, North-Central Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • Healthcare staff should be trained to reduce activities that increase microbe concentrations, but the study does not provide specific quantitative targets or monitoring protocols.

    Microbial Air Quality Assessment of a Tertiary Hospital in Makurdi, North-Central Nigeria · 2026 · DOI

  • Therefore, it is necessary to conduct further research on biowall physical comfort based on multisensory simultaneously and determine its standard dimension and digital integration.

    Methods, Area Ratio and Plants of Biowall to Induce Atmospheric Comfort: A Review · 2024 · DOI

  • A better understanding of microbes onboard spacecraft is needed to protect human health and spacecraft integrity and to develop planetary protection protocols for future missions beyond low-Earth orbit.

    Predicting how varying moisture conditions impact the microbiome of dust collected from the International Space Station · 2024 · DOI

  • Every indoor environment has a different microbial dust composition; understanding the microbes present and how they may grow in specialized environments will be essential for future missions, especially beyond low-Earth orbit.

    Predicting how varying moisture conditions impact the microbiome of dust collected from the International Space Station · 2024 · DOI

  • Given the difficulty of procuring spaceflight samples, the study has a relatively small sample size (dust from four ISS vacuum bags).

    Predicting how varying moisture conditions impact the microbiome of dust collected from the International Space Station · 2024 · DOI

  • The results are affected by the dust sampling protocol for returned vacuum bags, which were triple-sealed and stored at room temperature while awaiting return to Earth in which time microbial communities may have been altered.

    Predicting how varying moisture conditions impact the microbiome of dust collected from the International Space Station · 2024 · DOI

  • However, emissions from ECs may contribute to both indoor and outdoor air pollution; moreover, comments about their safety remain controversial, and the number of users is increasing rapidly.

    Effect of electronic cigarette (EC) aerosols on particle size distribution in indoor air and in a radon chamber · 2019 · DOI

  • The direct link between VOC production and individual postmortem microbes has not been well characterized experimentally.

    Volatile Organic Compound Profiling from Postmortem Microbes using Gas Chromatography–Mass Spectrometry · 2019 · DOI

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40 open questions have been extracted from the limitations and future-work passages of 477 Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure papers in our library. Each one below links back to the study that raised it, so you can read the original claim in context.

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