A mobile laboratory has been constructed for the sensory analysis of air quality in the field. It is used as a human exposure chamber for prolonged exposure to low concentration pollutants, a generator chamber for air pollutants, and a pollut
During the past few years it has become apparent that office environment problems have reached epidemic proportions. The Department of Environmental Health, School of Public Health and Community Medicine in 1963 was empowered by the State Legisl
Formaldehyde concentrations and ventilation rates in Finnish housing were measured. Results are discussed with reference to the recommended minimum ventilation rate of 0.5 ach.
Results are given of the effect of ventilation rate, duct length and particle concentration on ion concentration under laboratory conditions. The effect of electrostatic fields is discussed.
Notes the considerable savings in heating energy that could be made if ventilation rates could be modulated so that only the requirements of the actual number of occupants was supplied. Explains how this can be done by ventilating to maintain a constant concentration of carbon dioxide. Describes carbon dioxide monitoring system based on infrared absorptiometry. Illustrates diagrammatically the layout of a cinema ventilation system which monitors carbon dioxide levels and explains its operation. Notes other buildings where the system is used.
Due to better insulation and improved airtightness of doors and windows, the supply of fresh air entering a room has been greatly reduced. This in turn causes an increase in the amount of pollutants emitted by different insulation and building materials. Measurements of the formaldehyde concentration in newbuildings have shown that the admissible limits are still exceeded even after a year. Stricter regulations limiting the emissions of pollutants are therefore urgently necessary.
Measurements of radon and radon daughters in 11 buildings in five states, using active or passive solar heating showed no significant increase in concentration over the levels measured in buildings with conventional heating systems. Radon levels in two buildings using rock storage in their active solar systems exceeded the U.S. Nuclear Regulatory Commission's 10 CFR 20 limit of 3 pCi/l for continuous exposure. In the remainder of the buildings, radon concentrations were found to be at levels considered to be normal.
Radon concentrations were measured in about 1000 Dutch dwellings and at 200 outside locations using passive monitors. A median concentration of 24 Bq/m3 was found for the dwellings with a highest value of 190 Bq/m3. Seasonal effects were found to be small. Correlations were observed between median radon concentrations and construction parameters including ventilation rate. The concentrations outside show an unexpected dependence on the location. Comparison with previous grab-sampling data on radon-daughter concentrations reveals an average equilibrium factor of 0.3.
Three different investigations of radon in Swedish dwellings are presented - a nationwide study conducted primarily to determine the collective dose to the Swedish population from exposure to radon and radon daughter, a supplementary study of newly built detached houses in order to find out whether theregulations in the Building Code prescribes acceptable radon levels in new houses built on normal ground, and measurements made by the local authorities in order to find houses with levels of radon daughters above the norm.