ALBERT

Notes: Reactive indoor chemistry has seldom been considered in investigations of the health effects of exposure to indoor contaminants although improved understanding may help to reduce exposure misclassification as well as identify previously unknown exposures. Nitrous acid (HONO), formed from the heterogeneous reaction of NO2 with water on indoor surfaces, may be a neglected and important confounder in studies of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) health effects. The understanding of HONO – NO2 relationships is important since conventional measurements of NO2 actually measure a number of nitrogen oxides including HONO. Accordingly, we examined the effects of relative humidity, chamber residence time, the presence of carpeted sufaces and the presence of human subjects on the production of HONO following the injection of NO2 into a chamber. Increasing chamber relative humidity led to greater HONO concentrations at a given NO2 level. At 80% relative humidity, HONO concentrations were 11% of the NO2 concentration. Increased residence time in the chamber increased HONO levels, with a five-fold increase in HONO levels between 20 minute and 120 minute residence times. The presence of wool carpets in the chamber was not found to affect significantly the HONO production rates, although NO2 decay rates were increased. When human subjects were present in the chamber, HONO concentrations decreased by as much as 50% of the levels present under similar conditions with no subjects in the chamber. In light of our results we argue that future investigations of NO2 health effects and indoor air quality must recognize the importance of indoor chemistry, and in particular, the likelihood of elevated concentrations of HONO which will interfere with NO2 measurements and potentially confound the investigation of concentration-effect relationships. Similarly, previous studies demonstrating a relationship between health endpoints and NO2 exposure should be viewed with caution until the presence and importance of other potentially toxic nitrogenous compounds in the exposure environment are evaluated.

Notes: The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from nine toner powders and eleven types of processed paper from photocopying machines (6), laser (3) and matrix printers (21, and one carbonless copy fm has been measured. A total of 61 VOC from toner powders were identified by heating (185 °C) the powder for three minutes for thermal desorption and by gas chromatography followed by the use of low and high resolution EI and CI mass spectrometry. VOC from processed paper were analyzed by headspace sampling on Tenax TA from nylon bags. Thirty-one VOC with a wide range of volatility and persistency were identified from processed paper. The total VOC emission from the various types of paper differed substantially. Using the field and laboratory emission cell (FLEC), the calculated initial emission rate of styrene was 5 μg m−2h−1 from a freshly processed paper The VOC emission from machines and the processed paper can be reduced by proper choice of o m e equipment. However, an evaluation should consider all potential pollutants.

Notes: Geological exploration has dentifid an unsuspected radon-prone belt in southern California. Detailed analysis of aeroradiometric (NARR) data, soil-gas radon, soil permeability, and finally indoor radon has identified the Rincon Shale and Rincon-derived soils in Santa Barbara County as anomalous in uranium and radon. Roughly 74% of houses on the Rincon Shale exceed 4 pCi/l and 26% exceed 20 pCi/l in standardized screening tests (3 to 7 day AC, “closed-house” lived-in rooms). Fifty three percent exceed 4 pCi/l in longer-term measurements (1 to 6 mo, AT) under normal ventilation conditions.Unusually strong correlations between aeroradiometric data, soil-gas radon adjusted for soil permeability, geology, and indoor radon reflect the unaltered character of sedimentary host rocks and a consequent tendency for anomalous uranium to occur throughout given rock units rather than in epzgenetic mineralized zones. Under these circumstances, deliberate geological exploration may be a more eficient approach to indoor radon risk identfication than simple random sampling or non-random testing of houses. By the same token, geological parameters can facilitate radon risk assessment on undeveloped lands. Attention is drawn to multiple populations within radon test samples and the consequent problems in estimating regional parameters.

Notes: Polymer materials and their additives are today ever present in our daily surroundings. These materials have been found to emit a number of different volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the ambient air, thus affecting the quality of the indoor air VOCs with detectable concentrations are exchanged between the different materials and indoor air. Materials present in the system act as sorbents as well as sources of emission, depending on the concentration of the VOCs in the air at a specific time. This work demonstrates a method of studying the phenomena of absorption/re-emission. A hypothetical room that resembles a furnished office has been studied. A PVC flooring material was used as a primary emission source in a system where materials such as wood, paint, cloth, chipboard, and cellulose were present. Mass transfer in the solid materials was assumed to be by diffusion. The results show that the mechanism of absorption/re-emission of volatiles may extend the time of residence in an indoor system considerably. A person working in this environment could risk longer exposure to toxic volatiles than if there were no absorption/re-emission effects.

Notes: Good air quality can only be assured throughout an office complex if each workspace receives an adequate supply of ventilation air. The likelihood of achieving this situation would be increased if the building engineer had a means of easily predicting the air movement in each office configuration. A simple computer-based solution to this need is proposed. To this end, the development and validation testing of a numerical solution technique to simulate the ventilation air movement in a room or office is described. The predictions of the two-dimensional, isothermal, inviscid formulation are seen to be in good agreement with experimentally measured airflows in configurations of interest. The computer code is then used to illustrate the airflow in offices served by a single row of supply air diffusers, when partitions are used to divide the space into smaller workspaces. It is observed that the partitions distort the airflow patterns to the extent that it would be difficult to provide desirable ventilation airflows to all the workspaces formed by the partitions.

Notes: In buildings which were built within the last 15 to 20 years, or which have been retrofitted, and which do notfeature a mechanical ventilation system, air changes between 0.01 h−1 and 0.5 h−1 were measured while windows were closed. In the bedrooms of such buildings, when doors and windows were closed, CO2 concentrations of up to 4300 ppm were measured whereby the 1500 ppm limit was often exceeded. Simulation calculations and diverse measurements using different door positions with simultaneously closed windows have shown that with the door open more than 10 cm, and a minimal air exchange in the whole of an apartment of 0.1 h−1, a CO2 concentration of I500 ppm was not or was only insignifiantly exceeded even after 10 hours. Investigations in a dwelling fined with a mechanical ventilation system have shown that air quality and the indoor climate parameters were in an optimal range.

Notes: A six-week study of indoor and outdoor air pollutants was conducted in central New Jersey during the summer months of 1989. Three institutional settings for elderly and child care were investigated for the potential of acidic aerosol exposures. The indoor penetration by fine aerosols was 〈 70% at all three institutions. For locations with closed ventilation, it was 15-25% lower than for the open-window setting. Relative to outdoor levels, indoor acidic sulfate aerosols were 30-57% neutralized. Indoor levels of ammonia were = 10 × higher than corresponding outdoor values, which were consistent with calculated emission rates from human occupants. From estimates of total daily exposure, 75% of the daily dose of aerosol acidity for the elderly was due to indoor exposures. Doses received by the elderly and children ranged from 290 to 1100 nmoles of acid (15 to 55 ug as H2SO4) in a 24—h period with “worst-case” dose received by children as high as 3400 nmoles of acid in the daytime. These doses were comparable to the levels observed in clinical and epdemiological studies where health effects result. The daily dose of acid delivered to children was calculated to be 2 to 4 × higher than the dose to the elderly population. The calculations for children indicate that more than 90% of their dose on a summer day may come from outdoor exposures. These data suggest that indoor settings are protective, but children may still be at risk from summertime acidic aerosol exposure, depending on their activities outdoors.

Notes: This paper is based on field measurements in auditoria, carried out in Norway and in Switzerland. In both cases carbon dioxide (CO2 was chosen as the relevant indicator to establish ventilation demand.Investigations in Norway focus on the aspects of airflow, patterns, ventilation efficiency and air quality. Intensive monitoring and numerical calculations with the computer code KAMELEON were performed.The Swiss project places more emphasis on impacts of demand control on energy consumption and occupant response. The results of the fild measurements, of the questioning of occupants, as well as of simulations which were carried out with the simulation code TRNSYS are presented.Results show that demand control with CO2, as indicator for ventilation demand can maintain an acceptable indoor climate while allowing substantial energy savings.These investigations were conducted as part of the IEA (International Energy Agency) research programme “Annex 18: Demand Controlled Ventilating Systems”.

Notes: An analysis has been completed of the performance, mechanisms, and costs of alternative technologies for preventing radon entry into the living areas of houses having crawl-space foundations. Sub-membrane depressurization (SMD) is consistently the most effective technique, often providing radon reductions of 80-98% in the living area. It has a relatively high installation cost, but a moderate annual operating cost. Forced crawl-space depressurization is the second most effective, giving reductions of 70-96%. Crawl-space depressurization is less well demonstrated than is SMD, and performance will vary with crawl-space tightness and weather, but it will be a primary option when large radon reductions are needed in buildings with crawl-spaces which are inaccessible for installation of SMD. Crawl-space depressurization has a lower installation cost than SMD, but its operating cost may be three times higher.Natural crawl-space ventilation and forced crawl-space pressurization each typically provides roughly 50% reduction or less in the living area. The lack of a clear benefit of crawl-space pressurization in most installations probably indicates that the crawl space is in fact not being pressurized. Crawl-space sealing and barriers (as stand-alone methods) usually give little or no reduction.

Notes: During the winter of 1988/1989, the relationships between the prevalence of work-related health and indoor climate complaints and a number of building, management, workplace and personal characteristics have been investigated in a study in more than 60 office buildings located throughout the Netherlands.To collect the information, a questionnaire was prepared on health and indoor climate complaints and personal and workplace characteristics. A checklist was used to obtain information on building characteristics More than 7000 questionnaires were completed by the regular users of the buildings investigated.The results showed that the prevalence of symptoms was higher in air-conditioned buildings than in naturally or mechanically ventilated buildings. some other variables were also related with most work-related complaints after adjustment for selected management, personal, workplace and job characteristics. These included gender, work satisfaction in general, presence of allergies and/or respiratory symptoms, and personal control over temperature at the workplace. No differences were found in symptom prevalences between buildings with spray and steam humidification. The combination of air-conditioning and humidification did not lead to further increases in the prevalence of complaints as compared to buildings with only airconditioning or only humidification.

Notes: The indoor air quality (IAQ) programme of the World Health Organization Regional office for Europe was initiated in the mid-seventies when it was realized that over 70% of the general population spends its time indoors in homes, office buildings, schools, hospitals, transportation means, etc. The first meting of experts on health aspects related to IAQ was convened in 1979, being probably the first international meeting on IAQ with participation from eastern and western Europe as well as from North America. Seven meetings followed between 1982 and 1990, at which the “sick building” syndrome, IAQ research, formaldehyde and radon, organic pollutants, biological contaminants, combustion products, and mineral fibres were discussed. A ninth meeting on sources, control and mitigation is planned for 1991.

Notes: The TVOC summation of masses of non-reactive substances has often been used as a practical way of reporting environmental measurements of volatile organic compounds. This total concentration, moreover, is often used as an indication of the potential of a multiomponent atmospheric pollution with substances of low chemical reactivity to cause chemically induced sensory irritation. This use of the TVOC indicator has never been standardized. Various authors have used different measuring techniques and the results have been used to predict certain types of health effect. This article discusses the toxicological background for the TVOC concept in relation to nonspecific sensory irritation and identifies some theoretical limitations in its use within this context. The TVOC indicator of nonspecific sensory irritations should be based only on a limited range of compounds and should be interpreted as a lower limit of the possible intensity of sensory irritation. Based on the discussions, some precautions are recommended with respect to measurements of TVOC and interpretation of the measurements.

Notes: One of the objectives of EPA's indoor air quality (IAQ) program is to provide guidance on the impact of indoor sources on IAQ. A computer model, EXPOSURE, was developed to assist in this effort. EXPOSURE calculates pollutant concentration as a function of time for each room of the building. EXPOSURE includes effects of sources, sinks, room-to-room air movement, and air exchange with the outdoors. Several experiments designed to evaluate the impact of indoor sources on IAQ are described. Measured concentrations are compared with concentrations predicted by an IAQ model. The measured concentrations are in excellent agreement with the predictions. The model predictions and the experimental data demonstrate the importance of sinks in determining long-term IAQ.

Notes: Sampling and analytical methods for gas- and particulate-phase polycylic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) in indoor air were evaluated in a controlled field study. Using 12-h, 25-m3 samples, gas-phase PAH were collected on XAD-4 resin and analyzed by GC-MS, and particulate-phase PAH were collected in filters and analyzed for by HPLC with fluorescence detection. Tests were conducted in homes and office buildings without active combustion sources and with gas stoves, wood stoves and cigarette smoking as controlled sources. Indoor concentrations, outdoor concentrations and air-exchange rates were simultaneously measured. The precisions of the concentrations were evaluated using collocated sample pairs collected indoors and outdoors. Net emission rates were calculated for the gas-phase PAH. Net emissions of these compounds were measured in buildings without active combustion sources. Environmental tobacco smoke was identified as a significant source of both gas- and particulate-phase PAH.

Notes: A model based on heat diffusion through the skin is developed for the dynamic response of cutaneous thermo-receptors to temperature stimuli at the skin surface. It is applied to various neurophysiological experiments with good results. The model is then extended to sensation and a set of psychophysical experiments on human subjects is examined and compared with the model predictions. Altogether, in terms of both the neurophysiological response and the sensation response, this model gives good agreement with the experiments.

Notes: The main airflow and contaminant paths or the spatial distribution of the age of air (or contaminant) in a room are of great interest in estimating venrilation efficiency. A simple meusurement method is presented which consists of injecting one or more tracer gases at locations of interest and analysing the concentration at several other locations, carefully chosen for best accuracy.Response functions can be fitted to these measurements, which are the age of the tracers or of the air or the concentration of the tracers as a function of the location. The salient paths, such as the dead zones, are also determined from these functions.The paper presents the method, its application and validation in a well controlled test room.

Notes: Initation of the eyes and the upper respiratory tract (sensory irritation) in man due to the emission of vapours and gases from water-based indoor paints has been estimated from their ability to decrease the respiratory rate in mice (ASTM: E981-84, slightly modified). An acid-curing lacquer, known to give rise to sensory irritation during occupational exposure, was used as the positive control. In the bioassay the and-curing lacquer also gave rise to a pronounced sensory irritation, confirming that the ASTM method was applicable. Furthermore, the emission of formaldehyde, bases and acids was determined. The irritation within the first week was mainly due to the emission of organic solvents, but formaldehyde also played a role. Later the sensory irritation effect was caused mainly by the emission of formaldehyde. This indicates that the method revealed the different emission phases. None of the water-based paints (3 latex wall paints, 1 silicate paint and 1 distemper) gave rise to a biologically significant irritation effect. Nor did the water-based products emit formaldehyde or acids. However, varying degrees of emission of ammonia were observed. Taking into account the biological detection limits, no significant degree of sensory irritation can be expected in man 1-2 weeks after indoor painting with the tested water-based products.

Notes: The prevalence of symptoms compatible with the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) was measured in a questionnaire study among 4 943 office workers. An assessment of the relation between SBS symptoms and personal, physical and psychosocial exposure factors was made. In contrast to males, the majority of females were lower-grade staff Females reported annoyance from physical climate factors more often, both at work and at home. Males reported a better psychosocial situation than females. Female gender, asthmalrhinitis, paper and VDT work were related to an increased prevalence of SBS symptoms. The prevalence of facial skin symptoms increased markedly with the amount of VDT work. Psychosocial workload intensifid this relation. Inequalities in physical climate and psychosocial conditions associated with different positions held in the offices can be of importance for the increased occurrence of symptoms among females.

Notes: Regulatory authority typically is ill-defined or simply nonexistent for reducing the risks from indoor air in non-industrial buildings. This has forced risk managers to rely increasingly on information programs either to substitute for or enhance the effectiveness of traditional regulatory activities. These in formation programs – i.e., risk communication programs – tend to be designed for polar problems. One is to alert people to a “new” risk. The other is to reassure people about risk for which concerns are high even though scientific estimates show small risk. So far there is no generally accepted model that yields consistently good predictions of how specific risk communication activities affect people's perceptions and actions for either of these polar problems. The rapidly growing literature relies on case studies to examine alternative models and describes what seems to work. There have been relatively few tests of alternative risk communication materials and strategies. This paper extracts the literature's lessons for planning indoor air information programs, with attention to how the communication needs differ when alerting versus reassuring.

Notes: In 1989 the Madison Building of the Library of Congress was investigated to determine the source of occupant complaints about health symptoms and the indoor air quality. Questionnaires, distributed to all 3176 building occupants, assessed information on workstation characteristics, symptom occurrence, odors, thermal comfort, and demographic and health factors. Multivariate logistic regression analyses were conducted to assess personal risk factors associated with mucosal symptom reporting and reported sensitivity to irritants. Symptom prevalence was higher for women (odds ratio (OR) = 1.72, 95% confidence interval (CI) 1.40-2.10), those who reported being especially sensitive to irritants (OR = 1.57, 95% CI1.27-1.93), those with self-reported allergies, flu, or chest illness, and those who took frequent fresh air breaks. It was found that females and non-smokers and those reporting other adverse health effects tended to report sensitivity to irritants more frequently.

Notes: The sampling rate of a nitrogen dioxide (NO2) passive sampling badge was evaluated in indoor environments including an unoccupied research house, residential houses, and an office. Measurements from the NO2 badges were compared with those of a chemiluminescent analyzer the EPA reference method, by placing them near to the sample inlet of the chemiluminescent analyzer In this study, we used a new sampling rate for the NO2 badge placed in indoor environments (an overall mass transfer coefficient of 0.10 cm/s) smaller than the rate previously reported for the badge when used outdoors. The new rate provides more accurate measurements of NO, concentrations in indoor environments. Indoor NO2 concentrations were also measured with the NO2 badges exposed to a constant wind velocity provided by a wind tunnel. Since the measurements of the badge with a constant wind velocity agreed well with the reference method, the badges could be assumed to be a secondary reference measurement. With the badges used as the secondary reference measurement, we developed a portable wind tunnel to evaluate a personal exposure measurement by the badge. The results are presented in Environment International (Lee et al., 1993). Precision of the badge measurements was as good as an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.9779. It was determined that placement of the badge should be at least 10 cm out from an indoor wall surface to avoid undersampling due to NO2 gradients near the surface.

Notes: The effect of a thin, passive, adsorbent sheet containing activated carbon on reducing the concentration of volatile organic compounds in indoor air is investigated. A mathematical model is established to describe the conditions in a hypothetical room containing building materials, furniture, an activated carbon sheet, etc. The results of the modelling show that the activated carbon sheet can reduce the concentration of the organic vapour in the room air by a factor of 1.6 – 200, depending on the resistances to mass transfm in the laminar gas film surrounding the activated carbon sheet and in the voids of the sheet. The maximum value 200 is a theoretical limit, if both the film and void resistances could be eliminated. Minimization of the film and void resistances is important to achieve high effect of the activated carbon sheet. This could be done by e.g. dividing a single sheet into several smaller pieces, hanging the sheets at some places where the airflow is relatively high, and making the sheets thin and loose. For some of the model parameters, estimated or assumed values were used in the calculations. Experimental work regarding sorption equilibria and mass transport properties of the species and materials involved is needed for more accurate results.

Notes: This paper presents the results of indoor radon surveys in the Sichuan province of China. The indoor radon concentrations found using scintillation or the two-filter method, ranged from 1.0 Bqm−3 to 170.2 Bqm−3. The arithmetic mean concentrations of indoor radon and its progeny were 17.8 Bqm−3 and 10.8 Bqm−3 EER (2.9 m WL), respectively. A seasonal pattern of the maximum in winter and the minimum in summer was observed for radon and its progeny concentrations. The annual effective dose equivalent resulting from indoor and outdoor inhalation of radon progeny totalled 0.93 mSv. Of the 109 million people living in Sichuan, 3000-6800 may die annually from lung cancer induced by the inhalation of radon progeny.

Notes: A dedicated research house is used to investigate the interactions of the house, and atmosphere on indoor radon concentrations. Semi-diurnal variations of atmospheric pressure, resulting from atmospheric tides, are observed to produce differential pres- sures capable of driving radon-containing sail gas into slab-on-grade structures built over low permeability soils. These naturally induced pressure differentials could continue to provide major contributions to radon entry when other sources of house pressurization or depressurization, and consequently outdoor air infiltration rates, are small. The observed driving force pressure differentials are well predicted from atmospheric pressure changes by a simple model based on an exponentially damped response of the sub-slab pressures to changes in atmospheric pressure. The observed radon entry rates are in good agreement with the predictions of radon entry models developed by other investigators when time-averaging of the driving forces is applied.

Notes: The vertical temperature profiles have been measured in a full-scale office room ventilated by displacement. Different wall radiative emissivities have been employed to study the effect of thermal radiation. The change of the vertical locations of the heat source does not affect the stationary front, but modifies the temperature profile.Two new nodal models, i.e. a four-node model and a multi-node model, are developed for predicting the temperature profile based on the flow and thermal characterization in the room. Agreement between the models and the experiments are very good. The calculated results are applied to show that the temperature profile is influenced considerably by the heat conduction through the walls and the thermal radiation between the wall surfaces. The models developed can be used for design purposes, as well as to supply the thermal boundary conditions in a CFD code.

Notes: The emission charaaaistics of four organic compounds (non-ane, decam, undecane, and 1, 2, 4-trimethylbenzene)from wood stain have been measured in an environmental chamber It was found that the emission patterns of the four organic compounds can be described by a two-phase model. Phase 1 represents the period when the wood stain is relatively wet. Phase 2 is when the wood stain becomes relatively dry. The changes of emission mechanisms between the two phases were reflcted by the significantly different emission rate canstants measured during the two periods and the relationship between the relative rate constant, the relative vapor pressure, and the relative diffusivity. A double-exponential model was established that can be used to predict the relative emission rates of the four organic compounds fiom the wood stain.

Notes: In order to cumpare the peformance of different supply diffuers of ventilation air, the airflow passern, temperature stratifiation and contaminant dispersion in a furnitured office ventilated by three kinds of air diffuer were numerically investigated. The air diffuers studied in this paper are a quarter-cylinder displacement diffuer on the floor and mixing diffuers (linear and vortex diffuers) on the ceiling. The heat sources in the of-fice are considered to be 50% convective and 50% radiative. The k-ɛ two-equatwn model of turbulence is employed to predict the turbulent diffusion.The results show that the displacement diffuser provides a rather uniform flow field with low velocify in most areas, and the vertical temperature difference from floor to ceiling is as high as 6 K. With the linear diffuser, the air velociry is high, and the temperature is uniform both horizontally and vertically. The air velocity generated by the vortex diffuser is moderate. The distributions of the temperature and the contaminant are rather uniform.

Notes: Air cleaning as a means of mitigating the risks arising from exposure to indoor radon progeny has been evaluated in a single-family house in the north eastem US. using an automated, semi-continuous activity-weighted size distribution measurement system. The measurements included radon concentration, condensation nuclei count, and activity-weighted size distribution of radon decay products. Measurements were made in the house with and without an operating air filtration system and with various particle sources common to normal indoor activities operating. Aerosols were generated by running water in a shower, candle burning, cigarette smoking, vacuuming, opening doors, and cooking. Using a room model, the changes in attachment rates, average attachment diameters, and deposition rates of the unattached fraction with and without the air cleaning system were calculated. In the presence of active aerosol sources, the air filtration unit typically reduced the concentration of particles within the hour following the end of particle generation. After candle burning, cigarette smoking, and vacuuming in the bedroom, the reductions of PAEC by air filtration are about 60% with the air filtration system operating in the bedroom. During cooking in the kitchen, the reductions of PAEC in the bedroom with the air filtration system were about 40%. However, for all cases the dose reductions were smaller than the particle and PAEC reductions. For those particles that were generated within the bedroom, there was a 20% to 50% reduction in dose. In the case of cooking where the door was open and particles infiltrated from the rest of the house, the dose reduction was only 5% on average and appears to be insignificant. Thus, the dose reductions were h e r than the reductions in activity concentration, but there were no cases where the estimated dose actually increased.

Notes: Residual airborne concentrations of methyl bromide (MB) were measured in 10 houses after fumigation with MB at a mean exposure of 53, 369 ppm. hr to control drywood termites. Sulfuryl fluoride (SF) residues were measured in 10 and 3 houses after SF fumigation at 59,161 and 33,531 ppm. hr, respectively. Prior to sampling, all 23 houses were aerated to MB and SF threshold limit values (TLVs) of 5 ppm following label-directed procedures. Immediately following aeration, doors and windows of houses were closed and ventilation system deactivated. During this initial 2-h closure period, the mean concentration among MB-fumigated houses increased to 17.5 ppm MB at 90 min with room means of all 10 MB houses exceeding TLV. Residue means at 120 min among SF-fumigated houses were 4.6 and 5.0 ppm SF with 3 and 2 houses exceeding TLV for the high and low SF exposures, respectively. After a second aeration and closure, levels exceeded TLV in 5 of 6 MB houses monitored during this period, but not in any of the 9 SF houses sampled. Post-aeration residues tended to be higher in bedrooms and bathrooms. Because of the excessive transient desorption and diffusion of both fumigants revealed by this study, modified aeration procedures are needed to ensure that occupant exposure levels do not exceed safety standards.

Notes: This article contains a summary discussion of human health effects linked to indoor air pollution (UP) in homes and other non-industrial environments. Rather than discussing the health effects of the many different pollutants which can be found in indoor air, the approach has been to group broad categories of adverse health effects in separate chapters, and describe the relevant indoor exposures which may give rise to these health effects.The following groups of effects have been comdered: effects on the respiratory system; allergy and other effects on the immune system; cancer and effects on reproduction: effects on the skin and mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and throat; sensory effects and other effects on the nervous system; effects on the cardiovascular system; systemic effects on the liver, kidney and gastro-intestinal system. For each of these groups, effects associated with IAP the principal agents and sources, evidence linking IAP to the effects, susceptible groups, the public health relevance, methods for assessment, and major research needs are briefly discussed.For some groups of effects, clear relationships with exposure to IAP have been reported in the world literature. Among these are respiratory disease (particularly among children), allergy (particularly to house dust mites) and mucous membrane irritation (particularly due to formaldehyde). Large numbers of people have been, and are still being affected.Many chemicals encountered in indoor air are known or suspected to cause sensory irritation or stimulation. These, in turn, may give rise to a sense of discomfort and other symptums cummonly reported in so-called “sick” buildings. Camplex mixtures of organic chemicals in indoor air also have the potential to invoke subtle effects on the central and peripheral nervous system, leading to changes in behaviour and performance.An increased risk of developing lung cancer has been linked to exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and to radon decay products. Lung cancer is a very serious disease with a high fatality rate; however, the number of people affected is much lower than the number of people contracting resparatory disease or alhgies, or experiencing irritative effects due to exposure to indoor pollution.The effects of IAP on reproduction, cardiovascular disease and on other systems and organs have not been well documented to date. To a certain extent, this may mean that no serious effects occur, but there has been little by way of research to clearly document the absence of these tvpes of effects.

Notes: A two-season survey of indoor 222Rn concentrations was conducted in 226 occupied houses in Roane County, TN, during 1985 and 1986. A similar survey of 86 houses in Madison County, AL, was conducted in 1988 and 1989. Alpha track detectors were placed in each of the houses for three or more months during the winter heating season. Detectors were placed at the same sampling sites during the following cooling season. In this study, comparisons were made between winter and summer sampling times and between building types. For the data from Madison County, additional comparisons were made among regions of the county that differed in geological characteristics, especially the thickness of overburden above the Chattanooga Shale layer a geological stratum that has high concentrations of 226Ra and is widely found in the southeastern United States. The geometric means of summer and winter measurements in Roane County were 33 and 54 Bq m−3, respectively. For Madison County, the summer and winter geometric means were 121 and 88 Bq m−3, respectively. The winter 222Rn concentrations for houses in Roane Coutuy exceeded summer 222Rn concentrations, as is generally the case for houses in the US. For houses in Madison County, we found the opposite and atypical situation of higher 222Rn concentrations in the summertime. 222Rn concentrations differed significantly among groups of houses in distinguishable regions of Madison County. Substructure and other building factors had no observable effect on indoor 222Rn concentrations found in this study.

Notes: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether asthmatic reactions and changes in tear film quality could be provoked by exposing subjects to emissions from building materials in climate chambers. Twenty asthmatics and 5 healthy controls were exposed to (1) gypsum board hung with waterborne painted wallpaper; (2) rubber floor covering; (3) nylon carpet with rubber mat; (4) particle board coated with acid-curing paint; and (5) no test materials in climate chambers for 6 h. Participants recorded symptoms by filling in questionnaires, and clinical data were evaluated by lung function measurements at intervals of 30 min to 1h, and external eye examinations before and after exposure (appearance of foam at eyelid, semi-quantitative measurements of precorneal superficial lipid layer, break-up time and epithelial damage). There was agreement between a trained panel's evaluation of perceived air quality and the participants' opinion of indoor air quality. No correlation was found between lung function measurements and exposure to the materials. However, for all materials, statistically significant changes in tear film quality were observed to varying degrees. Lipophilic Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) may destabilize the lipid multilayer of the tear fluid, and this mechanism is suggested to be at least partly responsible for eye irritation.

Notes: Acute responses to 65 min exposures to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) were tested in 24 healthy non-asthmatic nonsmokers and 16 asthmatic nonsmokers, using an environmental chamber. Each subject was exposed to air (sham), and machine-generated cigarette smoke containing 17 ppm and 31 ppm carbon monoxide (CO). Nonasthmatic subjects exercised intermittently (mean respiratory minute volume (V̊E) of 44 l/min during each of two 15–min exercise bouts); asthmatic subjects remained at rest. After completion of the exposure, subjects made a 0–5 rating of the severity of symptoms, as well as rating the overall severity of exposure on a 0–100 scale. Both symptoms and exposure severity rating were significantly related to CO concentrations. Ratings for a given ETS exposure tended to be higher for asthmatic than for nonasthmatic subjects. Overall exposure severity rating was significantly (p 〈 0.05) related to four symptom scores for the asthmatics and three for the nonasthmatic subjects. Symptoms common to both groups included unpleasant odour, and nasal discharge; shortness of breath was unique for nonasthmatics and eye irritation for asthmatk subjects. Although the nonasthmatic subjects were exercising intermittently, and thus received both a higher respiratory exposure (calculated from a CO-based index of ETS concentration, V̊E, and time) and biological exposure (calculated independently using a rebreathing estimate of the increment in carboxyhemoglobin level), the asthmatic subjects appeared to be more adversely affected by the ETS exposures in terms of their subjective responses.

Notes: The purpose of the study was to evaluate the occurrence of symptoms and the perception of poor indoor air quality among the occupants of houses and apartments with different ventilation systems. The study population consisted of the 473 occupants of 242 dwellings in the Helsinki metropolitan area who responded to a self-administered questionnaire (response rate 93.1%) after a two-week period of indoor air quality measurements. The symptoms of interest were those often related to poor indoor air quality including dryness or itching of the skin; dryness, irritation or itching of the eyes; nasal congestion (“blocked nose”) nasal dry-ness; nasal discharge (“runny nose”); sneezing; cough; breathlessness; headache or migraine; and lethargy, weakness or nausea. Perception of coldness; warm-ness; draught; dryness; stuffiness; and sufficiency of air exchange was also requested. The age-standardized period prevalences of the symptoms and complaints were systematically more common among the occupants of the apartments than those of the houses. The occupants of the houses with natural ventilation seemed to have more symptoms and complaints than those with balanced ventilation. However, in the apartments with balanced ventilation the occupants reported, in general, more symptoms and complaints than those with natural ventilation.

Notes: Mechanical ventalation system performance involves the provision of adequate amuunts of outdoor air, uniform distribution of ventilation air within the occupied space, and the maintenance of thermal comfort. Standard measurement techniques exist to evaluate thermal comfort and air change rates in mechanically ventilated buildings; procedures to evaluate air distribution or ventilation effectiveness in the field are still being developed. This paper presents measuremetlts of air change rates and ventilation effectivenes in an office/library building in Washington, DC. The tracer gas decay technique was used to measure whole building air change rates. The air change rates during the measurement period were essentially constant at about 0.8 air changes per hour, somewhat below the design specification and above the minimum recmmmded in ASHRAE Standard 62-1989. Ventilation effectiveness was investigated at several locations within the building through the measurement of local tracer gas decay rate and mean local age of air. The ventilation effectiveness measurements serve as an investigation of the applicability of the m e a s u r r n procedures employed, providing insight into the measurement issue of establishing initial conditions, the spatial variation in test results within a building, and the repeatabildy between tests. The results of the ventilation effectiveness meusurements are consistent with good distrhtion of the outdoor air by the ventilation system and good mixing within the occupied space.

Notes: This paper describes tests of thermal comfort and air distribution performance of two relatively new occupant-controlled localized ventilation (also called task ventilation) systems. The first is a raisd-floor distribution system providing air through grilles in the floor panels, and the second is a desk-mounted unit supplying conditioned air at desktop level. The tests were performed in a new controlled environment chamber (CEC) having unique capabilities for detailed studies of space conditioning and thermal comfort in office environments. Measurements were made in a mockup of a typical partitioned open-plan office, and the resulting temperature and air velocity distributions are reported for a variety of system- and locally controlled conditions. Comfort model predictions are presented to describe the degree of environmental control and range of occupant comfort levels produced in the workstations. The results are also compared to those produced by a conventional ceiling supply system.The tests investigated the effects of supply volume, supply location, supply vent orientation, supply/return temperature difference, heat load density, and workstation size and layout. Temperature differences in the range of 1–2.5°C were observed between adjacent workstations, and local air velocities in the vicinity of outlets could exceed 3 m/s. Such wide-ranging values could violate existing comfort standards (ASHRAE, 1981; ISO, 1984), if strictly interpreted. However since these systems put the local thermal conditions within the workstations under the direct control of their occupants, it is recommended that the standards grant exceptions to such systems.

Notes: A new turbinemeter has been developed to be used as a ventilation rate sensor in livestock buildings. On the basis of a previous sensor introduced in 1983, several improvements have been made to develop a low-cost airflow rate sensor with an acceptable accuracy of 60 m3/h in a range from 200 to 5000 m3/h for pressure differences from 0 to 120 Pa. This sensor can be integrated in the climate control equipment of livestock buildings to improve process control.

Notes: The effects of mechanical ventilation on the sick building syndrome (SBS) were studied in an office building with 2150 employees, where the mechanical ventilation and indoor air quality were commonly blamed for causing symptoms typical of the SBS (nasal, eye, and mucous membrane symptoms, lethargy, skin symptoms and headache). The mechanical ventilation rates in the building were high (mean 26 l/s/person). To test the hypothesis that mechanical ventilation causes the SBS, a controlled experimental study was carried out by shutting off the ventilation in one part of the building and reducing the ventilation rate by 75% and 60% in two areas while leaving one part unaltered as a control. The experimental reduction of the ventilation rate did not alleviate the symptoms. On the contrary, the reduction of the ventilation rate caused a slight but statistically significant relative increase in symptoms (p 〈 0.05). In the cross-sectional analysis of the baseline data the SBS symptoms did not associate significantly with the ventilation rate (range 7–70 l/s/person). In the linear regression model, a positive correlation was found between temperatures above 22°C and the occurrence of symptoms (p 〈 0.05). Subjects exposed to environmental tobacco smoke had more symptoms than those not exposed (p 〈 0.01). Women reported more symptoms than men (p 〈 0.001). In addition, any prior history of allergic diseases (p 〈 0.001) and a negative attitude towards the social atmosphere at work (p 〈 0.001) were significant determinants of the SBS.

Notes: The indoor air quality in several types of dwellings that were renovated to save energy for spatial heating has been investigated. Concentrations of pollutants were monitored in three rooms of inhabited houses. Data of the outside air and ventilation and infiltration were also collected. Relationships were established between observed concentrations and ventilation. In some cases concentrations show a good relationship with the calculated air change rate, in other cases this relationship was poor or absent.Elevated levels of pollutants could be related to sources in most cases. The ventilation behavior of the inhabitants has a major influence on the concentrations.From this and other studies it can be concluded that, in general, making dwellings more airtight leads to higher concentrations of pollutants. Deviations from health-related guidelines then become more likely.

Notes: The Zolder case was one of the six case studies on mould problems and sulface condensation, initiated within the International Energy Agency (IEA) Annex 14 on “Condensation and Energy”. This project, a joint research effort of Belgium, the Federal Republic of Germany, Italy, the Netherlands and the United Kingdom, was completed in March 1990.Complex relations bemeen mould, surface condensation, energy caservation and parameters such as the outdoor climate, the thermal quality of the building, the ventilation and the occupants' behaviour are explained, followed by an analysis of the Zolder-Lindeman case. This illustrates the extent to which mould may deteriorate the livability of a social housing estate. On three houses, different mitigation measures were evaluated before and after implementation: loft space insulation, inside insulation, double glazing outside insulation, natural ventilation, and demand controlled ventilation.The results for one of the three show that the severe mould problems resulted from the cambination of poor overall insulation quality and the impossibility of ventilating properly. A thermal retrofit, together with the installation of a natural ventilation system, proved to be successful.

Notes: This paper describes the techniques used within the ESPR/〉 system to represent and solve the heat and mass conservation equations relation to combined building and plant systems. In Particular, it describes the equation-sets used to represent inter-zonal (building) and inter-component (plant) fluid flow and the method used for the integration of the non-linear heat and muss frow equations. By means of a case study, the application in a real design context is demonstrated.

Notes: The influence of personal activity sources on exposure to indoor contaminants is defined and demonstrated using data from occupational and residential studies. The ratios of measurements from personal exposure monitors to those made by microenvironmental exposure monitors are summarized to be typically 3 to 10 for occupational settings and 1.2 to 3.3 for residential settings. The ratios are shown to be lognormally distributed, and dependent primarily on the proximity of the source to the receptors. Current models are reviewed for possible application to the prediction of indoor concentration gradients and future model development and validation studies are suggested.

Notes: We model radon entry into basements using a previously developed three-dimensional steady-state finite difference model that has been modified in the following ways: first, cylindrical coordinates are used to take advantage of the symmetry of the problem in the horizontal plane, thereby increasing resolution and computing eficiency without signifiant loss of generality; second, the configuration of the basement has been made m e realistic by incorporating the concrete fmtm which sup ports the basement walls and floor; third, a quadratic relationship between the pressure and flow in the L-shaped gap between slab, footer, and wall has been employed; and fourth, the natural convection of the soil gas which follows from the heating of the basement in winter has been taken into account. The temperature field in the soil is determined fiom the equation of energy consmation, using the basement, surface, and deep-soil temperatures as boundary conditions. The pressure field is determined from Darcy's law and the equation of mass conservation (continuity), assuming that there is nofIow across any boundary except the soil surface (atmospheric pressure) and the opening in the basement shell (fixed pressure), Since the energy conservation equation includes both heat advection and conduction, the temperature and pressure equations must be coupled. After the pressure and temperature fields have been obtained, the velocity field is found fiom Darcy's h. Finally, the radon concentration field is found from the equation of mass-transport, assuming that diffusive entry through openings may be neglected. The convective radon entry rate through the opening or openings is then calculated. In this paper we describe the modified model, compare the predicted radon entry rates with and without the consideration of thermal convection, and compare the predicted rates with rates determined from data from seven houses in the Spokane River valley of Washington and Idaho. Although the predicted rate is much lower than the mean of the rates determined from measurements, er-TOTS in the measurement of soil permeability and variations in the permeability of the area immediately under the basement slab, which has a signifiant influence on the pressure field, can account for the range of entry rates inferredfiom the data.

Notes: The interaction of indoor air pollutants with interior surfaces (i.e., sinks) is a well known, but poorly understood, phenomenon. Studies have shown that re-emissions of adsorbed organic vapours can contribute to elevated concentrations of organics in indoor environments. Research is being conducted in small environmental test chambers to develop data for predicting sink behaviour. This paper reports on the development of sink models based on fundamental mass transfer theory. The results of experiments conducted to determine the magnitude and rate of adsorption and desorption of vapour phase organic compounds for several materials are presented. Five materials were evaluated: carpet, painted wallboard, ceiling tile, window glass, and upholstery. Two organic compounds were tested with each material: tetrachloroethylene (a common cleaning solvent) and ethylbenzene (a common constituent of petroleum-based solvents widely used in consumer products). The results of the experimental work are presented showing the relevant sink effect parameters for each material tested and comparing the sorptive behaviour of the two organic compounds evaluated. An indoor air quality (IAQ) model was modified to incorporate adsorption and desorption sink rates. The model was used to predict the temporal history of the concentration of total vapour phase organics in a test house after application of a wood finishing product. The predicted results are presented and compared to measured values. Suggestions for further research on indoor sinks are presented.

Notes: Airborne pollutants can cause failures in switching and computing equipment. This paper focuses on a subset of such pollutants - airborne fine panicles (〈 2.5 μm diameter). It begins by examining the extent to which different improvements in heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) systems reduce indoor concentrations of fine particles. For each modification, the consequent reduction in soiling rate is derived. The concomitant increase in operating costs is also calculated. These costs are then compared with the costs of failures in telephone switching offices, leading to estimates of failure rate reductions that would make improvements cost-effective. Finally, the reduction in failures required to offset the costs of the improvements are compared with documented differences in failure rates between unimproved and improved environments. This study suggests that, in many telephone switching offices, the added operating costs associated with more efficient building filters and continuous fan operation are more than offset by reductions in failure rates.

Notes: A numerical study has been carried out to predict the indoor air quality in a newly painted partitioned office and to assess the effect of ventilation rate and partition layout on the pre-ventilation time required to allow the contaminant concentration level to drop to an acceptable level. The air-flow pattern, the time history of the average contaminant concentration level in the occupied zone, and the pre-ventilation time were computed by a CFD code with a K-ε turbulence model.A displacement ventilation system, with different operating conditions, was used to remove contaminants in the office. The VB emission model, developed by Guo and Tichenor (1992), has been improved to include the influence of non-uniform concentration distribution on contaminant emission rate from the paints. The average contaminant (VOC) concentration levels in the occupied zone and in each chamber were recorded hourly until the average concentrations in the office were less then 0.0005 g/m3.It has been found that the non-uniform concentration distri- bution greatly influences the decay rate of VOC emissions. The time required for the average concentration in each chamber to reach the threshold level is different, since they are non-uniform. The time differences between the chambers having the highest and lowest concentrations were 3 to 8 hours. The results also show that the time required to reduce the concentration in the occupied zone to the threshold level is dependent on the partition layout. For the same ventilation rate, the required time is approximately 4-8 hours longer when using a side layout than when using a central layout.

Notes: The performance of sub-slab-ventilation (SSV) systems has been parametrically studied with a numerical model that was earlier compared successfully with experiment (Bonnefous et al., 1992). The model distinguishes between the sub-slab gravel and the underlying soil. It is used w examine system performance for the following system parameters: the permeability of the soil and of the sub-slab gravel, the magnitude of pressurization (or depressurization) applied by the SSV system, and the mode of SSV application (i.e. pressurization (SSP) or depressurization (SSD)). The mechanisms contributing to the successful performance of SSP and SSD systems are identified. For SSD systems, the mechanisms are (1) the inversion of the pressure gradient across the basement slab, and (2) the reduction of the radon concentration in the soil. For SSP systems, the mechanisms are (1) the elimination of convective flow of soil-gas from the soil into the sub-slab gravel by pressurization of the sub-slab region, (2) the reduction of the radon concentration in the soil, and (3) the suppression of diffusion of soil-gas from the soil into the sub-slab gravel by advective flow of air from the gravel bed into the subgravel soil. Numerical modeling demonstrates that placement of a sub-slab gravel layer substantially improves the SSV system performance. Except in the case of highly permeable soils, SSD systems are predicted to perform better than SSP systems. This prediction is consistent with reported field experience. The numerical model is used to elucidate the reasons for this difference in performance.

Notes: Deciding between the different policy approaches available for reducing human exposures to indoor pollutants is an exceptionally complex task. These options can range from waiting until more definitive information is available to enacting regulatory standards, with many variations in between. This paper presents some of the factors policy-makers must consider in establishing indoor air quality policies, and the role researchers should play in ensuring that indoor air policies are based on the best available scientific information.

Notes: We tested nasal detection thresholds for airborne chemicals in a group of anosmics (i.e., subjects lacking a functional sense of smell) and in a group of age-, gender-, and smoking-status-matched normosmics (i.e., subjects with normal olfaction). Anosmics provided odor unbiased nasal pungency (irritation) thresholds. Normosmics provided odor thresholds. Homologous series of alcohols, acetates, and ketones served as stimuli. Eye irritation thresholds were also measured for selected acetates. Most substances evoked pungency (i.e., were detected by the anosmics). All sensory thresholds decreased systematically with carbon chain length. The gap between pungency and odor grew larger with increasing carbon chain length. Pungency thresholds-but not odor thresholds-showed a uniform linear relationship of slope close to unity with saturated vapor concentration, irrespective of chemical functionality or carbon chain length. This suggests that pungency from nonreactive airborne chemicals rests heavily on a relatively unspecific physical interaction with a susceptible biophase. Of relevance to indoor environments, such an interaction opens the possibility for a high degree of sensory addition of pungency from individual components of complex mixtures resulting in noticeable irritation even when each component is at a level well below threshold value.

Notes: A health and housing questionnaire was administered to children, ages 9-11, living in 24 communities in the United States and Canada. Logistic regression analysis examined the relationship between respiratory health symptoms (bronchitic, asthmatic and lower respiratory) and housing factors. The health risks (expressed as relative odds) were controlled for gender, parental asthma, parental chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and parental education, as well as between-city differences. Lower respiratory symptoms had significantly higher odds ratios reported in older homes (1.12), homes with smokers (1.24), air conditioners (1.14), air cleaners (1.37), and humidifiers (1.47). Home dampness (1.48) and the individual mold and water variables were all significantly associated with increased symptoms. Similar results were reported for bronchitic and asthmatic symptoms. While air conditioners and air cleaners were confounded with symptoms, humidifiers remained significant after controlling for childhood atopy.

Notes: In two case-referent studies the associations between questionnaire symptom reports, expressed as SBS (Sick Building Syndrome) in office workers or facial skin symptoms among VDT-workers, and physical data from offices in 160 buildings were investigated. The results show that low outdoor airflow rate and presence of certain pollution sources, such as copying machines, tended to be associated with an elevated prevalence of SBS. Buildings built or remodeled between 1977 and 1986, low-rise buildings with a horizontal roof and a foundation of the type “concrete slab on the ground”, as well as rooms with flourescent tube lighting with metal shields were also associated with higher SBS risks. A number of factors were associated with an overrepresentation of skin symptoms among VDT-workers such as type of foundation (concrete slab on the ground and crawlspace), the frequency of floor cleaning and type of lighting (fluorescent tubes with glass/plastic shields). It has not been possible to establish conclusive explanations for these associations. The difference in associations between building factors and S B S, and between building factors and skin symptoms among VD Tworkers points to different etiologies.

Notes: Sensory ratings, respiratory behavior and eye blink rate were recorded in 11 nonsmokers exposed to a no-smoking (CONTROL) condition or to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) from one of three kinds of cigarettes: a Kentucky reference (1R4F), an ultra-low tar (ULT) and one that heats tobacco (TEST).For each two-hour session in a controlled-environment room, two smokers “puffed” unlit cigarettes, for the CONTROL condition, or smoked 16 cigarettes to generate ETS (sidestream plus exhaled mainstream smoke). Concentrations of nicotine and respirable suspended particles (RSP) observed with the 1R4F and ULT cigarettes were 10- to 20-fold higher than those typically found in field sampling studies of office and restaurant smoking environments. The ULT and TEST cigarettes resulted in ETS analyte concentrations that were 77-100% and O-56%, respectively, of those observed with 1R4E Sensory ratings (odor, irritation, annoyance, acceptability) with the two tobacco-burning cigarettes were similar and were much greater than those recorded for the TEST or CONTROL conditions which were, in turn, rated similarly. Respiratory parameters (respiratory rate, tidal volume, expiratory time), which generally failed to discriminate the TEST and CONTROL conditions, were altered during exposure to ETS from the 1R4F and, to a lesser extent, the ULT cigarette. Eye blink rate was not significantly altered by ETS from any of the cigarettes.

Notes: Some operators of climate installations still prefer the use of water humidifiers. Soaked surfaces and circulating water; together with impuritiesfiom the ventilation air, create a favourable environment for the growth of numerous microorganisms. Faulty operation of air-conditioners can constitute a risk to health. This has been proved many times in cases of certain hospital-acquired infections, a classic example being pneumonias caused by Legionella pneumophila. For this reason, the possibility of suppressing microbial contamination of circulating water in humidifis by using the oligodynamic potential of silver ions was investigated. Basic hygienic requirements were put fmard to ensure adequate quality of water in humidifis of air-conditioning installations.

Notes: This paper presents a series of fill-scale measurements of the concentration distribution in the centre plane of a room with isothermaI mixing ventilation.Vertical projiles of the concentration in the middle of the room have been measured under different conditions. With the contamination source in the middle of the room the vertical profiles were changed radically with an increase of the air change rate from n = 1.5h−1 to n = 6h−1 due to a change in the flow structure in the room. With a constant air change rate, the location of the contamination source in the room showed a great influence on the vertical profile. A high velocity around the contamination source resulted in a uniform contaminant distribution in the room, while a low velocity resulted in considerable differences.Contours of concentration in the centre plane of the room have been measured using different contaminant densities. The densities were low, neutral and high in relation to the density of air. The results showed that the contaminant distribution in the room with the chosen flow conditions depended strongly on the contaminant density, and that the high density case gave the highest concentrations in the occupied zone.

Notes: The most important features of Tenax and Carbotrap, solid sorbents used widely for sampling organic pollutants in air, have been tested under the conditions requested for surveys in indoor spaces and for determinations of VOC emitted from indoor sources by chamber experiments. The performances of samplers, tested with 10 nonpolar and polar (mostly lipophilic) hydrocarbons, present as vapours in 0.5 to 2.0 litre air samples, include: (a) accuracy and reproducibility of the measured concentration, (b) background or “blank” of samplers, (c) stability upon storage (at ambient and below ambient temperatures) of clean samplers and of samplers loaded with VOC, and (d) performance stability after several sampling desorption cycles. The results fulfil the requirements for both adsorbents, though each presents some different drawbacks. In particular (a) Tenax samplers show a “blank” (90 percentile) of 16 ng of benzene and 5 ng of toluene, Carbotrap samplers roughly twice as much; (b) the samplers may be stored for one month either before or after use and (c) they may withstand many cycles without discernible deterioration.

Notes: This report derives an exact, but practical, expression for calculating the stack effect from air densities and leakage distribution using the power law formulation of envelope leakage. The neutral height-the height at which there is no stack-related indoor-outdoor pressure difference-is a key intermediate in stack modeling. This report defines a computable parameter called stack height, which contains all of the leakage distribution information necessary for estimating stack flows, thus freeing the model from specific assumptions (e.g. that the leakage is separable into evenly distributed floor, wall, and ceiling components). Example calculations, including comparisons with other models, as well as validations using measured data from dwellings, are also presented. The dimensionless neutral level, which is related to the neutral height, is often used as an indicator of leakage distribution and in superposition. Its definition and role in these instances are discussed in detail. The more exact formulation is then used to analyze the simple box cases normally assumed in infiltration modeling and other approximations. Measured ventilation data will be used to infer leakage distributions and neutral levels as well as for example calculations.

Notes: The main source of high radon concentration indoors is the exhalation of radon from the soil. In the western part of Germany, two interesting regions, “Eifel” and “Hunsrück”, are selected for these radon investigations. The first region is an area with silt and sandstone of low uranium content but with tectonic fractures caused by postvolcanic activity, whereas in the part of the “Hunsrück” under consideration, the uranium concentration in the ground formerly allowed the extraction of uranium ores. An electrostatic deposit of the first radon daughter (Polonium-218-ion) onto a surface barrier detector and the subsequent analysis of the measured alpha spectra enables the determination of the concentration of radon in dwellings, its diffusion through and its exhalation rate from the soil. A maximum indoor concentration of radon of 8 kBq★m−3 in a bedroom and approximately 35 kBq★m−3 in a cellar room were determined in a house built in 1976. The daily variation between the minimum and the maximum concentration indoors amounts to a factor of ten. In these regions the radon concentration outdoors varies between 20 and 150 Bq★m−3. The exhalation rates of radon from the soil are found to range from 0.002 to 1 Bq★m−2★S−1 The effects of sealing the ground slab with polyurethane and removing the air under the ground slab by suction will be presented.

Notes: The purpose of the study was to gather information about the actual ventilation and indoor air quality and to evaluate the differences between houses and apartments with different ventilation systems. A sample of 242 dwellings in the Helsinki metropolitan area was studied over periods of no weeks during the 1988-1989 heating season. The mean air-exchange rates had a high variation (average 0.52 l/h, range 0.07-1.55 l/h). The ASHRAE minimum value of 0.35 l/h was not achieved in 28% of the dwellings. The air-exchange rates were significantly her in the houses than in the apartments (averages 0.45/0.64 l/h, p 〈 0.001); in the natural ventilation systems they, were slightly her than in the mechanical systems. The average temperature in the bedrooms was approximately 22 °C (range 18–27 °C), slightly but significantly higher in the apartment than in the houses. The average dust depositions were higher in the balanced ventilation systems than in the other systems. The median radon concentration was 82 Bq/m3 (range 5-866 Bq/m3); the Finnish target value of 200 Bq/m3 was exceeded in 17% of the houses but in none of the apartment. The measurements indicate that the indoor air quality in Finnish dwellings is not always satisfactory with reference to human health and comfort.

Notes: The influence of location of airborne particle source, ventilation rate, air inlet size, supply air velocity, air outlet location, and heat source on the dkributiuns of airborne particle concentration and draught risk in an operating room is investigated. The investigation is carried out by using a flow program with the k-E mdel of turbulence. Based on a standard case, five cases, each with one changed parameter, are computed, and the detailed field distributions of air velocity, temperature, airborne particle concentration, and draught risk are presented.The parametric study concludes that, for a better air quality and thermal comfort, it is desirable to use a higher inflow rate, a larger inlet area, and a uniform velocity profile of supply air. Outlet location and heat source have little influence on the disrributions of the particle concentration in the room. It has also been found that the distributions of particle concentration in the recirculating zone are very sensitive to the location of the particle sources.

Notes: Simplified, physical models for calculating infiltration and ventilation in a single zone usually calculate the airflows from the two natural driving forces (i.e., wind and stack effects) separately, and then use a superposition rule to combine them. Similarly, superposition rules may be used to ascertain the effects of mechanical systems on infiltration. In this report a general superposition rule will be derived for combining wind, stack, and mechanical ventilation systems together. The superposition rule will be derived using general principles of leakage dismbution and airflow and will not depend on the details of a particular infiltration model. In the process of generating this rule, a quantity called leakage distribution angle is developed to quantify the separation of areas of the building envelope which are subject to infiltration and exfiltration. The general superposition rule is compared to other proposed superposition rules including those based on measured data, and the general rule is shown to have strong explanatory power Results are generated for typical buildings. The concept of fan addition efficency is developed to determine the effectiveness of unbalanced (mechanical) ventilation systems at augmenting infiltration.

Notes: Indoor air bacteria and fingal spore levels were studied in 71 non-complaint homes. lk data were analyzed according to the season and the higher limit of the range within which 95% of the cases fall was computed. On the basis of the data the following highest normal levels are proposed for winter: for bacteria 5000 cfulm3 and for fingal spores 500 cfulm3. The recommended levels apply in a subarctic climate for urban and suburban homes when the measurements are made using the same method as in this study. We recommend that if abnormal indoor sources are suspected, indoor samples should be taken in winter when the ground is frozen and covered with snow. At that time, the background levels are at their lowest and the abnormal indoor sources are most easily detected. lk recommended levels should not be used as an indicator of a health risk, but as an indication of abnormal indoor sources or insufficient ventilation.

Notes: Two models, one physical and the other empirical, have been applied to the characterization of emission data of thin film products tested in small environmental chambers and have been compared in temts of emission results and m e of use. The physical model, being based on equations with coefficients bearing a physical meaning, is, in principle, more informative than the empirical one. However, it is uncertain whether it always gives accurate and unambiguous results. Moreover, in orakr to be exploited in a reasonable amount of time, it requires the use of non-linear regression routines, e.g. those fom SAS Institute Inc., implemented on mainframes and, even then, it is often quite diffiult to handle. The empirical model does not rely explicitly on physical effects. Although by definition it can only describe but not interpret the experimental data, it does estimate parameters describing the emission with an accuracy comparable to that of the physical model. It is easier to handle than the latter as it can employ non-linear regression routines such as those used on personal computers.

Notes: Indoor carbon dioxide (CO2) concentration can be used to estimate the degree of air recirculation and outdoor air supply rate. Three types of CO2 detector tubes were evaluated by using Fourier Transform Infra-Red (FTIR) Spectroscopy as a reference method. Two types of detector tubes (Draeger CH 30801 and Kitagawa 126 B) showed a good correlation with the reference method (r = 0.98), the 95% confidence interval of the slope being 0.89-1.06 and 0.80-0.95, respectively in linear regression analysis. The third type (Gastec 2LL.) showed lower correlation (r = 0.91) and a wider 95% confidence interval (0.52-0.80) of the slope. A t CO2 concentrations in the range 800-1000 5 l/l(ppm), control values suggested for the indoor environment, the Draeger and the Gastec tubes underestimated the CO2 concentration, while the Kitagawa tube showed a correct value. The difference in reading between observers was similar for all three brands of detector tubes (5-7%), expressed as relative standard error No significant influence of the air humidity or temperature on the readings could be demonstrated. It is concluded that some brands of CO2 detector tubes can be used to measure indoor carbon dioxide concentration with sufficient precision and accuracy. Since the relative error is relatively large at lower CO2 concentrations, the use of such tubes for the determination of air recirculation in ventilation systems should be avoided. As a crude estimate of the outdoor air supply rate, however, CO2 detector tubes may be used. In order to minimize the error in reading, the type of detector tube and the need for recalibration should be considered. When using CO2 measurements as an estimate of outdoor air supply rate, the influence of age and work-load on the individual's emission of CO2 and the time needed to reach equilibrium, should also be taken into consideration.

Notes: Monitoring of human reactions to the emission of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds (VOC) from four commonly used building materials was carried out. The building materials were: a painted gypsum board, a rubber floor, a nylon carpet, and a particle board with an acid-curing paint. The exposures were performed in climate chambers. The air quality was quantified on the decipol scale by a trained panel, measurements of formaldehyde and VOC being performed simultaneously. The irritating potency of the materials was measured by a mouse bioassay. The VOC measurements showed several malodorants and irritants. Some abundant VOC identified in the head-space analyses were absent in the climate chamber air. The rubber floor and the nylon carpet exhibited a marked increase in decipols compatible with a number of odorous VOC identified in the air. A high formaldehyde concentration (minimum 743μg/m3) was measured for the particle board coated with an acid-curing paint. This was not reflected by a corresponding relatively high decipol value but a long-lasting irritating potency was observed in the mouse bioassay. TVOC sampled on Tenax and expressed in mass per volume as well as in molar concentration, and decipol evaluation both have limitations and should be used with caution as indicators of (perceived) indoor air quality. Eye irritation expressed by means of the eye index reflecting the tear film quality index (comprised of break-up time, foam formation, thickness of the precorneal lipid layer of the tear film, and epithelial damage) was found to be insensitive to formaldehyde and a VOC mixture but sensitive to TVOC concentrations of 1–2 mg/m3. Lipophilic VOC may be the cause of reduced tear film quality by destabilization of the lipid multilayer of the tear film.

Notes: The aim of the study was to compare the results of a self-administered questionnaire, designed to estimate the prevalence of the sick building syndrome, with an independent medical interview and clinical opinion. Six buildings were chosen for study from a sample of 47 with known measurements of the building symptom index. One building with a high and one with a low score was selected from each of three ventilation classes (natural ventilation, air-conditioning with induction units and air-conditioning with variable air volume systems). A stratified random sample of 160 workers in these buildings was studied. Each received, in random order, a self-administered questionnaire, and a medical opinion based on a free medical history. The doctor had no access to the self-administered questionnaire at the time. The average number of work-related symptoms per worker (the building symptom index), which is used to compare one building with another, showed a good agreement between the two methods. There were, however, consistent differences between the two assessments in individual symptoms. The self-administered questionnaire produced a higher prevalence of work-re-lated runny nose and flu-like symptoms, which were often regarded as being due to infections in the medical opinion. In individuals, work-related symptoms on the self-administered questionnaire were validated by the medical opinion in over 75% of cases for eye and throat symptoms, lethargy and headache. Only 31% of work-related runny nose and 21% of work-related flu-like symptoms were thought by the medical opinion to be work-related. The medical opinion identified an extra 5% of work-related symptoms that were missed on the self-administered questionnaire. The self-administered questionnaire therefore produced a satisfactory estimate of the building symptom index, removing the potential bias of an interviewer. The questions on ninny nose and flu-like symptoms would be improved by including only those that occurred more frequently. The building symptom index was calculated for the six buildings twice, with separate random samples of workers completing the questionnaire two years apart. The buildings were ranked in the same order (for the building symptom index) on both occasions, again confirming the validity of the self-administered questionnaire.

Notes: Thermal comfort measurements were taken in 17 enterprises at 129 work sites in shops, stores and offices. The measurements included air temperature, air velocity, relative humidity and radiant temperature asymmetry according to ISO 7726 and ISO 7730 standards. The workers also answered a questionnaire dealing with thermal comfort. Predicted mean vote (PMV) and the percentages of workers complaining of draught (“percentage dissatisfied”, PD) were determined and compared with the workers' assessments of thermal conditions. The estimations of air temperature were always too low, and the estimated PMV indicated that the thermal environment was too warm. The calculated PMVs were usually lower than the estimated ones. Most of the workers complained of draught, even though, according to the PD index, fewer than 17% of the workers should have felt discomfort due to draught. The radiant temperature asymmetry was always small and did not explain complaints of draught on the basis of the reference value. Judged by the present reference values, and the measurement of the thermal environment, the workers overestimated the sensation of thermal discomfort.

Notes: Field measurements of 21 volatile organic compounds (VOC) using diffusive samplers, formaldehyde, temperature, and humidity were performed from the time of building completion throughout the following one-year period in two new semi-detached twin apartments. One of these was occupied after six weeks. Headspace analyses from all building materials and products showed 120 different VOC. Formaldehyde concentrations were strongly seasonally dependent in the vacant apartment and increased to above 400 μg/m3 during the warm season. The formaldehyde concentration generally decreased in the occupied apartment but increased again during the fall season. VOC originating from building materials generally showed a decrease in emission, but strong seasonal variations were observed. It was shown that human activity introduces several VOC to the indoor environment. Storage of motorcycle parts in the crawl space of the occupied apartment resulted in migration and an infiltration of benzene and toluene into the apartment above and probably to a delayed peak concentration in the twin vacant apartment. Similarly, large VOC increases in one apartment were reflected by a later increase of the same VOC in the twin apartment. Hexanal increased during the warm season. TVOC, as the sum of 21 VOC, was generally approximately 50 % higher in the occupied apartment during the cold season. The results indicate the difficulties in interpreting long-term measurements. The “flushing period” recommended for this type of building has been estimated to be about 130 days.

Notes: This paper summarizes the sampling and analysis methods used to collect and quantify polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) and PAH derivatives in indoor and outdoor air at 33 homes heated in two cities, Columbus OH and Azusa CA. Two new samplers were developed far these studies: one with a flow rate of 200 l/min to collect material for bioassay and chemical analysis and a similar one with a flow rate of 20 l/min to collect samples for chemical analysis only. Both samplers simultaneously collect semivolatile organic compounds in the particulate and vapor phases. Both are quiet, transportable, and operate entirely within the sampled environment. The samplers' field performance was evaluated; that of the 20 l/min sampler is discussed in detail. Some typical data and findings from the studies are presented.

Notes: The paper presents the results of preliminary investigations on the applicability of commercial polyethylene films to permeation-type passive samplers for the preconcentration of organic indoor air pollutants. The samplers were calibrated in exposure chambers in the atmosphere of standard gaseous mixtures containing vapours of m-xylene, styrene, m-dichhobenzene and cyclohexanone – volatile organics often encountered in indoor atmospheres. The permeation rates remained constant for all the film in the entire investigation period (9 months). Of the materials examined, the most suitable proved to be Cryovac EFDX 003 (28 μm), ensuring the highest permeation rates.

Notes: A total of 115 Danish dwellings were investigated during the winter season in order to evaluate the indoor environment. The sample was considered representative of Danish dwellings. Measurements of air-exchange rates in the bedrm showed a very low natural venthtion with a median air-exchange rate of 0.28 air changes per hour (ach) (interqmmle range (IQR): 0.12 –0.56).18% of the dwellings had a natural air-exchange below a detectable limit of 0.10 ach and 72% had air-exchanges rates below the requirements in Danish Building Codes of 0.50 ach. The investigations showed a statistically signifiant inverse correlation between air-exchange rates and absolute indoor humidity. Concentrations of formaldehyde and volatile organic compounds were measured in 36 dwellings. The median formaldehyde concentration was 0.037 mg/m3 which is well below the recommended indoor TLV The concentration of VOC in some cases reached a level that may be of importance for persons with sensitive airways. It is concluded that natural ventilation in a great number of Danish dwellings is too low fiom a health point of view and that the requirements in Danish Building codes are insufficient to ensure acceptable air-exchange rates.

Notes: Where indoor concentrations are high, radon entry into houses with basements is usually due primarily to the convective transport of soil gas through openings in the subsurface part of the building shell. The factors determining the rate of entry may conveniently be divided into those associated with the undisturbed soil and those associated with the structure and its surroundings. This paper uses a numerical model to determine the influence of the latter factors on the soil gas and radon entry rates. The most important of these is the presence or absence of a gravel layer below the slab; the presence of the gravel can increase the radon entry rate through the perimeter gap betureen the foundation footer, slab, and wall (slab-footer gap) by as much as a factor of 5 over that for homogazeous soil. The permeability of the gravel becomes important when the soil permeability is unusually high, i.e., greater than 10−10 m2. Of lesser importance are the thickness of the gravel layer and the radium content of the gravel. The sizes and numbers of openings in the slab are relatively unimportant so long as the total opening area is vey small compared to the slab area. If cracks in the basement walls are major radon entry paths, as in concrete-block construction, the permeability of the soil restored to the region adjacent to the walls after completion of construction (backfill) is the determining factor in convective radon entry through these openings; if the soil is packed loosely, so that there is a gap between wall and soil, radon entry through a wall crack may be further increased by as much as a factor of 7.5. Radon entry rates through the slab-footer gap and through openings in the slab are only weakly influenced by the permeability of the backfill. The resistance of the perimeter gap to soil gas entry becomes significant when the gap width falls below 0.001 m, assuming a soil permeability of 10−11 m2.

Notes: This publication summarizes field investigations and controlled experiments on the relation between low levels of indoor air pollution with volatile organic compounds (VOC) and human health and comfort. The Henle-Kock criteria from epidemiology are revised for the dose-response relation between VOC's and health as comfort effects and existing evidence for each criterion are discussed. A biological model for human responses is suggested, based on three mechanisms: sensory perception of the environment, weak inflammatory reactions, and environmental stress reactions. Further, the TVOC-indicator concept for exposure is discussed. The conclusion is that no experimental or field data contradict the proposed causality. On the contrary, evidence supports the suggested causality. The biological model, however, is not yet based on acceptable measures of the variables for exposures, co-variables or health effects. A tentative guideline for VOC's in non-industrial indoor environments is suggested. The no-effect level seems to be about 0.2 mg/m3. A multi-factorial exposure range may exist between 0.2 and 3 mg/m3. Above 3 mg/m3 discomfort is expected.

Notes: The purpose of this study was to predict how indoor air is perceived when polluted by different materials simultaneously. A panel of five trained judges was exposed to air polluted by each of 11 different single pollution sources. The panel was also exposed to 13 pair combinations of these single pollution sources and to one combination of five sources. The pollution sources comprised typical indoor building materials, materials from ventilation systems and other frequently occurring indoor pollution sources. The results indicate that the total sensory pollution load in a space may, as a first approximation, be predkted by simple addition of the olf values of the single sources.

Notes: This is a case study of the radon diagnostics and mitigation performed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA's) Office of Research and Development in a New York State school building. Research focused on active subslab depressurization (ASD) in the basement and, to a lesser degree, the potential for radon reduction in the basement and slab-on-grade sections using the heating, ventilating, and air-conditioning (HVAC) system.Based on radon diagnostic measurements in the basement, a five-point ASD system was installed, and recommendations were made to increase the outdoor air supply through the basement unit ventilator. Because of the high radon levels in the basement (1720 bequerels per cubic meter, Bq m−3) and limited subslab pressure field extension, both mitigation approaches were needed to reduce radon to below the current EPA guideline of 148 Bq m−3. The effects of excavating a suction pit under each of the five suction points were also investigated. Pit excavation, together with adjustment of the airflows at the suction points, decreased average radon levels in the basement by an additional 40 percent.In the slab-on-grade section, it was recommended that the school hire a HVAC contractor to evaluate the unit ventilators for increased outdoor air supply. This was recommended both to improve indoor air quality and because diagnostic measurements indicated that an ASD system would require an excessive number of suction points in the slab-on-grade classroom.

Notes: The emission of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from five different waterborne paints was measured in small climatic chambers under standard conditions over a one-year period. The aims of the study were to evaluate the time emission profiles and to develop methods for comparison of different paints. The paints were applied to tin-plated steel sheets. VOCs were sampled on Tenax TA and analysed by thermal desorption and gas chromatography. The chamber concentrations increased rapidly during the first few hours and then decreased as the emission rates dropped. A model expression including an exponentially decreasing emission rate of the paint film, the air exchange rate, and a normalization of the film thickness was fitted to the concentration versus time data. The time required to reach a given emission rate was estimated and found suitable for comparison of the emission of VOCs from the paints. It was found that data sampled within three weeks or less may be sufficient to predict the emission of VOCs up to one year. Reduction of long-term emissions may be achieved most efficiently by (1) substituting a more -volatile VOC whose emission is controlled by evaporation for a less volatile VOC characterized by diffusion-controlled emission and (2) reducing the paint film thickness rather than reducing the initial VOC content of the paint.

Notes: We have developed a new air sampler for collecting parriculate and gas phase polycyclic aromatic compounds (PAC). This sampler was designed to collect a 25 m3 volume of air at a constant sampling rate of 34 l/min over a 12-hour sampling penod. The 25 m3 sample volume is necessary to achieve the desired nglm3 detection limit for PAC. The 34 l/min sampling rate is estimated to cause less than a 5% reduction in the indoor contaminant concentrations. The sampler pump is a I/4 horsepower vacuum pump in an acoustically shielded fan-cooled enclosure and is relatively quiet. The pump draws air through a 47 mm teflon impregnated glass fibre filter for collection of particulate-phase PAC followed by a cartridge containing XAD-4 resin in front and back sections (2.5 g each) for collection of gas-phase PAC. In a pilot field study the mean breakthrough from the front sorbent section to the back section was less than 1% for each of 14 species of gas phase PAC except biphenyl which had a mean breakthrough of 3.7%. The pressure drop increase across the filter is linear up to a loading of 6 mg and causes less than a 10% reduction in the sample flow rate. The sampler was successfully demonstrated in a pilot field test with air temperatures as high as 30°C.

Notes: A chamber method for the characterization of the complex composition and time dependence of volatile organic compound (VOC) emissions from household products is described and the results obtained for five household products (two liquid floor detergents, one wax, a spray detergent for carpets, and a spray polish for furniture) are reported and compared to headspace measurements.An empirical mathematical model has been used to describe the time dependence of VOC concentrations in the chamber. The model allows characterization of complex emissions and their time dependence with relatively few parameters.Significant differences in the composition of emissions determined in the chamber and in headspace air have been observed and are discussed in terms of polarity and water solubility of the emitted compounds.

Notes: Displacement ventilation is acknowledged to be an efficient system for the removal of contaminants and excess heat from occupied zones of rooms. However, airflow rates, temperature and the design of the air supply device strongly influence the parameters which determine thermal comfort. This paper reviews experiments and theoretical models which show the connection between these parameters. The width and shape of the air supply device have been varied, and a porous media has been used on the inlet area of the air supply device. The velocity and temperature profiles have been measured. The results presented show also that the flow can be described with respect to width and form of the profiles for temperature and velocity. The flow does not operate like a turbulent jet due to thermal stratification. It is shown that the Archimedes number of the supply air is the parameter which determines the air velocity in the area close to the floor. (The Archimedes number is here defined as the ratio between buoyancy and inertia forces.) The results show that it is possible to remove considerable amounts of excess heat from a room, typically 40-50 W/m2, without exceeding the limits for thermal comfort. However, this requires relatively high airflow rates and supply air terminal units at least along one of the walls.

Notes: In recent yean, some building design professionals have become more aware of the indoor air quality concerns of owners and occupants and as a result, they have made some important changes to improve indoor air quality and climate. These changes include improvements in site planning and design; overall building design; ventilation and climate control systems; and materials selection and specifications. In addition, changes that limit the chemical contamination of building air during the construction process and during occupancy of buildings are also occurring; some of these changes are specified or controlled by design professionals. However, the majority of design professionals have little or no awareness of indoor air quality considerations. There is inadequate dissemination of building science research results to design professionals. There is a need for a useful general body of knowledge, theory, and practice regarding building-environment-occupant interactions. The lack of such knowledge, theory, and practice is an impediment to developing the necessary professional design tools and practices to address effectively indoor environmental quality and energy conservation issues.

Notes: A parametric cost analysis was conducted to determine the importance of various system design and operating variables on t h installation and operating costs of active soil depressurization (ASD) systems for indoor radon reduction in houses. The objective was to help guide the research and development (R&D) efforts of the US. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to reduce ASD costs. Annual lung canter deaths due to radon cannot be reduced by more than about 14% to 22% unless houses having pre-mitigation levels of 148 Bqlm3 and less receive radon reduction systems. Reductions in ASD costs might increase voluntary use of this technology by homeowners at those levels. The analysis showed that various modifications to ASD system designs offer potential for reducing installation costs by up to several hundred dollars/〉, but would not reduce total installed costs much below $800–$1000. Reductions of this magnitude would probably not be sufficient to dramatically increase voluntary use of ASD technology. Thus, some innovative, inexpensive mitigation approach other than ASD would appear to be necessary. Decreased ASD fan capacity and increased sealing might reduce ASD operation costs (for fan electricity and house heating/cooling) by roughly $7.50 per month. It is unlikely that this amount would be a deciding factor for most homeowners.

Notes: Two families of macroscopic adsorption models are formulated, based on fundamental principles of adsorption science and technology, that may be used for macroscopic (e.g., whole-building) contaminant dispersal analysis. The first family of adsorption models – the Equilibrium Adsorption (EA) Models – are based upon the simple requirement of adsorption equilibrium between adsorbent and room air. The second family – the Boundary Layer Diffusion Controlled Adsorption (BLDC) Models – add to the equilibrium requirement a boundary layer model for diffusion of the adsorbate from the room air to the adsorbent surface. Two members of each of these families are explicitly discussed, one based on the linear adsorption isotherm model and the other on the Langmuir isotherm model. The linear variants of each family are applied to model the adsorption dynamics of formaldehyde in gypsum wall board and compared to measured data. These applications and a more general consideration of the dynamic character of adsorption provided by these models indicate that simple physical adsorption and desorption transport processes h e the potential to significantly affect the dispersal of contaminants in buildings.

Notes: The paper evaluates ocular manifestations as reported in two different questionnaires completed within one to Two weeks by 164 office workers in four town halls in Copenhagen. Among 14 previously investigated, these town halls constitute the two with the highest and the two with the lowest prevalence of the Sick Building Syndrome (defined as mucous membrane complaints such as eye, nose or throat irritation, and general symptoms such as headaches or fatigue several times a week). There was a highly significant rank correlation in each of the four town halls between the frequency of self-reported ocular manifestations in the two questionnaires. Furthermore, the eye complaints reported in both questionnaires were significantly correlated with an objective measure for eye dryness, investigated using a biomicroscope. By combining the two questionnaires it was possible to define subgroups using both frequency of eye complaints and consistency of reporting in the two questionnaires. The subgroup of 107 subjects with consistency in the frequency of their eye complaints in the two questionnaires showed a significantly higher correlation with the objective index than did the subjects with inconsistent reporting. Furthermore, with increased frequency of complaints and consistency of reporting, not only the prevalence of microscopically determined eye dryness, but also the number of up to 7 different eye symptoms per subject increased, and an increased percentage of these symptoms was found to be related to sensory reactions in the common chemical sense, which earlier has been postulated to be involved in the Sick Building Syndrome. In conclusion, the study shows that data from two different questionnaires on self-reported ocular manifestations associated with the Sick Building Syndrome are reproducible and associated with objective dryness in the eyes.

Notes: Volatile organic compounds (VOC) in office buildings originate from multiple sources, such as outdoor air, building materials., occupants, office supplies, and office equipment. Many of the VOC found in office buildings are also present in environmental tobacco smoke (ETS), e.g., benzene, toluene, formaldehyde. Measurements made to date in office buildings have been interpreted by some to imply that the contributions of ETS to VOC exposures in office buildings are small. We have made a first order estimate of the contributions of ETS to VOC concentrations based on the VOC content of ETS and a time-dependent mass-balance model. Four different ventilation-infiltration scenarios were modelled for a typical office building.The results indicate that ETS can contribute significantly to total indoor levels of VOC in office buildings, even under moderate ventilation conditions. Ranges of concentrations for three of the four modelled scenarios substantially overlapped measured ranges of the compounds in office buildings. Average daytime concentrations of benzene from ETS, for example, for three of the four modelled scenarios, ranged from 2.7 to 6.2 μg m−3, compared to reported measurements of 1.4 to 8.1 μg m−3 for four office buildings. Under a “worst reasonable” case scenario, the average modelled ETS-contributed concentration of benzene was 33.9 μg m−3 for a 40-hour work week.

Notes: Background. In the Danish Town Hall Study" it has previously been shown that the sick building syndrome is a widespread phenomenon. This has given rise to speculations as to whether biologically active components in dust or whether absorbed organic gases and vapours in the indoor climate may be partly responsible for the sick building syndrome. Therefore, we wished to study whether qualitative conditions in dust, of a physical, chemical, and biological nature, are related to the prevalence of symptoms of the sick building syndrome. Material and methods. The study included 12 town halls in the Copenhagen area. A total of 870 persons participated, 584 women and 286 men. All the participants filled out a questionnaire regarding health and working conditions, and dust samples were collected with a special vacuum cleaner in the working environment of the participants, after which the contents of inorganic and organic particles as well as of human source fragments the (hair, nails, skin) and various fibres were determined. Results. There was a significant correlation (P〈0.05) between the prevalence of gram-negative bacteria in the indoor climate dust, and general symptoms (fatigue, heavy-headedness, headache, dizziness, concentration problems) (corr.coeff.=0.73), as well as symptoms from the mucous membranes of the upper respiratory tract (corr.coeff.=0.76). Also, there was a significant relation between the prevalence of particles in the dust and the prevalence of symptoms from the mucous membranes (corr.coeff.=0.81). There was a strong and significant correlation between the total amount of volatile organic components (TVOC) and lack of concentration (corr.coeff. =0.85) and feeling heavy-headed (corr.coeff.=0.72). Macromolecular dust (potentially allergenetic material) was significantly correlated to the prevalence of headache and general malaise/dizziness (corr.coeff.=0.66), while the ability of the dust to liberate histamine was significantly related to the prevalence of general malaise, dizziness (corr.coeff.=0.65) and lack of concentration (corr.coeff. =0.58). Further analyses including a number of potential confounders did not change the results of the above analyses. Conclusion. The results of this study support the hypothesis that qualitative properties of dust are important to the sick building syndrome. The study was based on relatively few buildings, but nevertheless strong correlations were found. In perspective, epidemiological intervention studies should be carried out to investigate whether minimizing the amount of both dust and bacteria in the indoor climate affect the prevalence of sick building syndrome.

Notes: Settled household dust samples were collected from twelve dwellings in urban areas during an annual winter heating period. Emission of compounds from settled household dust was analyzed under simulated hot surface conditions with a temperature range of 50–300°C. The compounds were analyzed and identified by thermal desorption—gas chromatographic-mass spectrometric technique. The organic emission from household dust was relatively low at temperatures below 70° C, increased appreciably above 100°C, and gained in strength at temperatures above 200°C. Desorption of adsorbed compounds is the main contribution to emissions, but at higher temperatures the thermal degradation seems to affect also the quantity and the quality of the emissions. The organic composition of household dust was found to be equal in quality at different sampling sites; the emissions consist of mainly aliphatic aldehydes (C6—C13), aliphatic carboxylic acids and their esters (C8 C18, C6–C30) and phthalates. Phosphate esters, branched alkanes, n-alkenes, n-alkanones, monoterpenes, aromatic hydrocarbons, and aromatic and aliphatic alcohols were also well represented groups in household dust samples. The potential sources of identified compounds are discussed.