Presents four short articles treating aspects of building ventilation: 1) Achieving a balance - the work of the AIC, 2) House full of horrors - indoor air pollution and progress in eradicating hazards, 3) Letting off steam - test houses with ventilation system for condensation control, and 4) High and dry - condensation in the roof, eaves to eaves ridge ventilation.
Tests were performed in 3 homes for 1) carbon monoxide, 2) nitrogen dioxide, 3) nitric oxide, 4) total hydrocarbons and 5) formaldehyde. Total particulate matter, by a numerical counting method, was also measured in Homes 1 and 2.
Discusses sources of nitrogen dioxide in indoor air in houses in the Netherlands. Measurements were made in a random sample of about 300 houses with a geiser in Enschede and Arnhem. A second sample of 326 houses in Ede were measured a year later. The Dutch outdoor standard for concentrations of nitrogen dioxide was regularly exceeded indoors.
The influence of indoor nitrogen dioxide exposure on respiratory symptoms of school children was investigated in a case-control study. The election method used was useful in obtaining symptomatic children, but insufficient indefining cases and controls without additional information. No relationship between indoor NO2 and respiratory symptoms was found. Bias may have been present, especially because of the high mobility of the study population. Attempts to estimate historical exposure were inaccurate.
A small, personal monitoring study was performed in a subpopulation (14 families) of a case-control study on the relationship between indoor nitrogen dioxide exposure and respiratory diseases of school children.
Describes construction of two townhouses taking into consideration several technical issues: 1) limiting of indoor sources of contamination, 2) limiting contaminants off-gassed from construction materials, 3) limiting entry of exterior contaminants, 4) control of occupant generated contaminants by mechanical and by natural ventilation, and 5) control of indoor humidity The units are to be monitored over the next two years.
Reduced ventilation and infiltration, and new materials and machines have increased levels of indoor contaminants. Investigations of many indoor environments reveal contaminant levels above those set as standards for the workplace environments. The acute and chronic health effects on the population are not well known. This paper discusses the current general status of the research in the USA and the planned future effort. Worldwide research is also summarized and future directions are suggested.
Specific indoor air quality issues that have arisen in the UK in recent years have involved asbestos, formaldehyde, pesticide residues, radon and combustion products. Different measures have been taken with regard to each of these substances. In general, an education approach has been adopted, although national standards, industry self-regulation and some regulatory measures have been used. In the UK, control of ill defined, distributed or non stationary indoor air pollutants such as body odour, tobacco smoke and water vapour, is considered to be best achieved by suitable ventilation.
The influence of the various sources of pollution on the home environment in the Netherlands is reviewed, eg, outdoor air, gas-fired appliances, tobacco smoking and building materials. The pollutants carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particles and radon are discussed in more detail. Available data show that outdoor standards for air quality are often exceeded indoors. However, conclusions on exposure and health effects cannot be drawn until more data are available from random or stratified samples of houses.
Summarizes the state of knowledge about combustion products, surface condensation and mould, formaldehyde and radon, and the guidance currently offered on their control in the UK. Statutory ventilation requirements are outlined and various measurement techniques described.
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