indoor air quality

One challenge in indoor air quality studies is the measurement of three-dimensional air velocity profiles in an airspace so that the nature of airflow can be better understood and appropriate ventilation systems can be designed. There is much dispute over a variety of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) models, primarily due to a lack of credible data to validate those models. This study aimed to develop a stereoscopic particle imaging velocimetry (SPIV) system suitable for easurement of full-scale room three-dimensional airflow.

Pollutants found in indoor air are often several times higher than outdoors. Indoor air pollutants cause effects ranging from odor, annoyance, and irritation to illness, cancer, and even death. Since people spend the majority of their time indoors, it is important to recognize and control indoor air pollution. Some indoor air pollutants also adversely affect materials in the building and the building structure itself. The majority of indoor pollution comes from the building itself, its contents, or its occupants and their activities.

This paper is a commentary on comments made by Drs Molhave and Wolkoff regarding indoor air pollution indices presented by the authors in 2003. They make it clear that IAPI attains the following aims : it is easily understood by all stakeholders, it associates well with symptoms, and provides a setting for management of the indoor environment.
Bu this index is a metric of in-office pollution and not a metric of a specific pollutant.

The authors agree with the arguments by Mendell for seeking a composite index relating indoor environmental quality (IEQ) and building related symptoms (BRS). The determination of the (IPSI) Indoor Pollutant Standard Index is a useful first-step for the practitioners. It provides scope for further refinement that could incorporate the relative impact of more than just one measured indoor pollutant.

The indoor environment is dynamic in nature, in particular, because of various emissionsources contributing with volatile organic compounds (VOCs). Indoor air pollution is aconsequence of increased use of synthetics as building materials, cleaning and renovation ofbuilding process, constructing airtight buildings to reduce energy costs and inadequateventilation efficiency. VOCs are ubiquitous in indoor air and by far the largest group ofpollutants.

The results of an investigation into the capacity of the indoor potted-plant/growth mediummicrocosm to remove air-borne volatile organic compounds (VOCs) which contaminate theindoor environment, using three plant species, Howea forsteriana Becc. (Kentia palm),Spathiphyllum Schott. Petite (Peace Lily) and Dracaena deremensis Engl. Janet Craig arepresented. The VOCs selected were benzene and n-hexane, both common contaminants ofindoor air.

Before starting a French nationwide survey, a pilot study was conducted in 2001 on 90dwellings in three geographical areas (North, East and South of France). This survey includedmeasurements on 40 priority indoor parameters (VOC, NO2, CO, CO2, bacteria, moulds,allergens, MMMF, temperature, humidity) and questionnaires on building characteristics,occupants description and time activity diaries. The paper focuses on the chemical levelsfound in dwellings.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) in a house using building materials with low chemical emission wasinvestigated for 8 months. Indoor air concentration, emission rate of aldehydes and VOCsfrom floor and wall, air change rate, temperature and relative humidity were measured toevaluate the IAQ of the house. Air change rate was measured by two methods. Indoor airconcentration and emission rate from building materials were measured at differentconstruction phases (before and after completion) and after being occupied. A questionnairewas used to examine the influence of lifestyle on IAQ.

A 3-year research project was established in 1999 to create numerical reference data forindoor air quality follow-up in new buildings. A total of 12 measurement sites, representingthe present construction practice in Finland, were chosen for investigation. Low-emittingsurface materials according to the Finnish Classification of Building Materials were used atall sites. The indoor air VOCs, formaldehyde and ammonia concentration as well as thetemperature, relative humidity and the air exchange rate were defined for the newly finishedbuilding.

The purpose of this paper is to document the potential impact on indoor air quality of outdoorozone during photochemical pollution episodes. A preliminary one-day experiment wasconducted during summer 2002 in a room of the CSTB experimental house MARIA. Ozone,VOC and aldehyde concentrations were monitored outdoors and indoors from 8 a.m. to 8 p.m.Outdoor ozone hourly mean concentrations increased from 30 to 100 g/m3 during the day.The indoor to outdoor ratio ranged from 0.10 to 0.25, indicating possible ozone-inducedreactions occurring indoors.