Impact of residential infiltration-reducing energy conservation measures on indoor air quality and potential health effects

1996 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 91-99 ◽  
Author(s):  
Thad Godish
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Energy Conservation ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Conservation Measures ◽  
Energy Conservation Measures ◽  
The Relationship ◽  
Reducing Energy

Theoretical and reported impacts of infiltration-reducing energy conservation measures on indoor air quality in residential buildings are reviewed. Though it is widely held that energy conservation measures either cause or contribute to indoor air pollution and possible adverse health effects, the relationship is a relatively complex one. Potential effects of energy conservation measures depend on the nature of individual contaminants, their sources, and responses to changes in infiltration and ventilation conditions. For contaminants such as formaldehyde, volatile organic compounds, and radon, infiltration-reducing energy conservation measures appear to have limited effects on contaminant levels and potential health risks. Moisture is a major concern because decreased ventilation associated with energy conservation measures may result in increased indoor water vapor levels that may provide a favorable environment for allergen-producing dust mites and mold, as well as structural damage. As with other contaminants, the relationship between energy conservation measures and indoor moisture levels is relatively complex.Key words: infiltration, ventilation, indoor air quality, energy conservation, radon, formaldehyde.

scholarly journals Indoor Air Quality (IAQ): Accuracy of Natural Ventilation for Temperature, Air Flow Rate and Relative Humidity (RH) in School Building Classrooms

2018 ◽  
Vol 7 (3.9) ◽  
pp. 42
Author(s):  
Norsafiah Norazman ◽  
Adi Irfan Che Ani ◽  
Nor Haslina Ja’afar ◽  
Muhamad Azry Khoiry
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Relative Humidity ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Natural Ventilation ◽  
Air Flow ◽  
Weather Conditions ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
The Hours ◽  
Hot Weather

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is an essential matter in achieving students’ satisfaction for the learning process. Building’s orientation is a factor that may encourage sufficient natural ventilation for the classroom occupants. Inadequate ventilation is an issue for most existing classrooms. The purpose of this paper is to analyze the accuracy of natural ventilation in classrooms. Therefore, experimental on 20 classrooms has been conducted by using Multipurpose Meter at secondary school buildings in Malaysia. The findings indicated that the accuracy of natural ventilation testing was below the permissible limits throughout the hours monitored, thus this may cause potential health hazards to the students. Temperature and air flow rates were lower than 23 °C and 0.15 m/s respectively, it fulfilled the basic requirements as a standard learning environment. However, measurements taken showed the overall relative humidity (RH) in the classrooms can be categorized as acceptable with 40% to 70% range. On the basis of these findings, it is evident that naturally ventilated classrooms are important especially due to energy efficiency, whereas mechanical ventilation should only be installed as an alternative under extremely hot weather conditions.   

scholarly journals Chemical kinetics of multiphase reactions between ozone and human skin lipids: Implications for indoor air quality and health effects

Indoor Air ◽  
2017 ◽  
Vol 27 (4) ◽  
pp. 816-828 ◽  
Author(s):  
P. S. J. Lakey ◽  
A. Wisthaler ◽  
T. Berkemeier ◽  
T. Mikoviny ◽  
U. Pöschl ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Chemical Kinetics ◽  
Human Skin ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Skin Lipids ◽  
Multiphase Reactions ◽  
Kinetics Of

scholarly journals Assessment of Occupational Safety and Hygiene Perception among Afro-Caribbean Hair Salon Operators in Manchester, United Kingdom

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (18) ◽  
pp. 3284 ◽  
Author(s):  
Haruna Musa Moda ◽  
Debrah King
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Risk Perceptions ◽  
Occupational Safety ◽  
Musculoskeletal Diseases ◽  
Working Environment ◽  
Musculoskeletal Symptoms ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Hair Salon

Because of exposure to a number of potential health hazards within the work environment, hairstylists experience occupational diseases that include occupational asthma, skin conditions and musculoskeletal diseases. The paucity of studies assessing occupational safety and hygiene management among Afro-Caribbean hair salon operators in the UK promoted the study. QualtricsTM was used to assess the participants’ perception of exposure to hair products and their personal safety and hygiene knowledge, attitudes, awareness, and risk perceptions at work. In five salons, indoor air quality was monitored over one working week for selected environmental pollutants: temperature, humidity, CO, CO2 and Total Volatile Organic Compounds (TVOCs) using a GrayWolf Direct Sense Indoor Air Quality-IAQ (IQ-610). The use of unflued gas heating to raise the indoor temperature was common among the salons’ operators which explains the high carbon monoxide readings recorded. Itchy eyes and nose (44.4%) shoulder, neck and back pain (39.2%) were frequently reported. Age-stratified analysis of reported occupational ailments showed participants within an age bracket of 31–35 reported allergies (24%) and itchy eyes and nose (19.1%) as the most common of occupational ailments. Respiratory, skin and musculoskeletal symptoms ranked as major occupational ill-health experiences among the study population. The study outcome demonstrated that the type of activity and the hair products used play an important role in the level of pollutants in the working environment. The substitution of the more harmful hair products with safer alternatives is needed, as is the encouragement of health surveillance.

A Health Performance Evaluation Model of Apartment Building Indoor Air Quality

2011 ◽  
Vol 20 (1) ◽  
pp. 26-35 ◽  
Author(s):  
Qi Zheng ◽  
Donghoon Lee ◽  
Sungho Lee ◽  
Jeong Tai Kim ◽  
Sunkuk Kim
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Evaluation Model ◽  
Construction Materials ◽  
Human Perception ◽  
Building Design ◽  
Critical Issue ◽  
Apartment Buildings

As illnesses attributable to deteriorating indoor air quality (IAQ) increase, people are becoming more aware of the health effects of IAQ because most people in Korea spend >80% of their time indoors. Notably, the IAQ of apartment buildings accounts for a massive share of the construction volume in Korea, which is a highly critical issue. Evaluation of health effects of IAQ would influence not only the statutory criteria for air quality improvement but could also contribute to the development of building design standards. In addition, such evaluation supports quantification efforts for the selection of wholesome construction materials and techniques. Evaluation of the health effects of IAQ is a complex exercise that would require comprehensive consideration of factors such as the concentrations and occurrences of various known, harmful indoor pollutants, ventilation performance in a building and temperature/humidity. Evaluation involves not only quantitative assessment of pollutants but also evaluation of IAQ based on human perception. The aim of this study was to develop a model to evaluate IAQ in quantitative terms based on health impact, but with an emphasis on apartment buildings.

Air pollution and pulmonary health: Effects of short-term indoor air quality intervention with portable air purifier

2016 ◽  
Vol 2016 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Ming Kei Chung ◽  
Xiaoxing Cui* ◽  
Lin Fang ◽  
Jianbang Xiang ◽  
Feng Li ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Pollution ◽  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Health Effects ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Short Term ◽  
Air Purifier

scholarly journals The Evaluation of Indoor Microbial Air Quality in Two New Commissioning Higher Educational Buildings in Johor, Malaysia

2015 ◽  
Vol 773-774 ◽  
pp. 1068-1072 ◽  
Author(s):  
Chin Ming Er ◽  
N.M. Sunar ◽  
Abdul Mutalib Leman ◽  
Norzila Othman ◽  
Q. Emparan ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Humid Climate ◽  
Potential Health ◽  
Affected Area ◽  
Exposure Limit ◽  
The Mean ◽  
Airborne Microorganism ◽  
Maximum Exposure

The proliferation of indoor airborne microorganism in public institutional buildings such as schools and universities is often regarded as a potential health hazards to the buildings’ users. This issue is not new in Malaysia, a country with humid climate which favours the growth of microorganism. However, there is lack of research’s data, especially in higher institutional buildings in this country. The assessment of the indoor air quality is conducted in a university’s two new commissioning buildings located at Southern Peninsular of Malaysia. Both buildings utilized centralized air conditioning system. Concentrations of airborne microorganism were determined using a single-stage impacter (biosampler) as per requirement of National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) Manual Analytical Method 0800. The acquired readings were compared to the standard level determined in Industry Code of Practice on Indoor Air Quality (ICOP IAQ) 2010. Other parameters such as relative humidity, temperature, and air velocity were recorded along the assessment. The mean concentrations of the total bacteria at the affected area of the two buildings are 1102.5 CFU/m3 and 813 CFU/m3 respectively and it is significantly higher compared to the maximum exposure limit of 500 CFU/m3. While, the mean concentration of total fungi at the affected area for two buildings are 805.7 CFU/m3 and 509 CFU/m3 respectively which are both higher than the reading of outdoors and unaffected indoor area although slightly lower than the maximum exposure limit of 1000 CFU/m3. This study provides a glance of the poor indoor microbiological air quality in new higher institutional buildings in this humid region.

The Relationship between Venue Indoor Air Quality and Urinary Cotinine Levels among Semiopen-Air Café Employees: What Factors Determine the Level of Exposure?

2011 ◽  
Vol 24 (1) ◽  
pp. 35-41 ◽  
Author(s):  
Maria Karabela ◽  
Constantine I. Vardavas ◽  
Manolis Tzatzarakis ◽  
Aristeidis Tsatsakis ◽  
Douglas Dockery ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air Quality ◽  
Indoor Air ◽  
Urinary Cotinine ◽  
The Relationship
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