Mobile laboratory for sensory air quality studies in non-industrial environments

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

The office environment - how dangerous?

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

Concentrations of airborne formaldehyde in modern dwellings with low rate of ventilation

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.

Ventilation measures that affect the content of air ions in office premises

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.

Carbon dioxide measurement as a means of ventilation control

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.

Urea-formaldehyde foam cavity wall insulation. Reducing formaldehyde vapour in dwellings

Methods discussed include ventilation, excess foam removal and sealing accessible gaps.

Indoor air pollution by building materials

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.

Radon and radon daughter measurements in solar energy conservation buildings

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.

Survey of radon concentrations in Dutch dwellings

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.

Exposure of the Swedish population to radon daughters

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.

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