Sensory detection of VOCs singly and in mixtures: odor and sensory irritation

To increase our understanding of the olfactory and trigeminal (i.e., sensory irritation) impact of chemical mixtures we have studied the binary mixture butyl acetate/toluene. First, we measured complete concentration-response (i.e., psychometric) functions for the odor, nasal pungency, and eye irritation detectability of the single chemicals. Second, we selected fixed detectability levels between chance (p=0.0) and perfect (p=1.0) detection (e.g., p=0.6).

Do indoor environments in schools influence students performance ? A review of the literature

The study is a review of 600 articles to determine if indoor environments does influence student performance at school. The study has been extended to other categories (laboratories, offices). No direct relationship has been statistically shown but results suggest a link between ventilation rate and performance, as well as for presence of carpets, pollens or low efficiency filtration.

Worker performance and ventilation : analyses of time-series data for a group of call-center workers

The aim of a study is to determine if on site, in a call-centre of 4600 m2, a correlation can be found between ventilation rate and performance of worker. No clear effect of ventilation rate on worker performance has been found in this case on the air flowrate variation range (12 to 48 l/s). Yet some improvements of performance are shown at very high ventilation rate.

Impact of ventilation rate, ozone and limoene on perceived air quality in offices

Three offices ventilated with charcoal filtered outdoor air were investigated with different air change rates, ozone level and limonene, using the perception of a sensory panel. Results confirm that ventilation is necessary for ensuring good indoor quality even in low-polluting offices.

Perceived air quality, thermal comfort, and SBS symptoms at low air temperature and increased radiant temperature

This study investigated if low air temperature, which is known to improve the perception of air quality, also can reduce the intensity of some SBS symptoms. In a low-polluting office, human subjects were exposed to air at two temperatures 23 C and 18 C both with and without a pollution source present at the low temperature. To maintain overall thermal neutrality, the low air temperature was partly compensated for by individually controlled radiant heating, and partly by allowing subjects to modify clothing insulation.

Effect of outside air ventilation rate on VOC concentrations and emissions in a call center

The relationship between outside air ventilation rate and indoor VOC concentrations was studied through measurements in an office building (the call center of a health maintenance organization - 4600 m2 - 290 persons). Direct relationships between ventilation rate and concentrations were not found for most VOC's.

A case of sick building syndrome caused by incorrect ventilation design of the tight building

A survey was conducted in a new office building in Beijing (China) with mechanical air supply and natural exhaust, in which sick building symptoms were reported. Measurements and data from a questionnaire suggested that ventilation was insufficient.

Personal computers pollute indoor air: effects on perceived air quality, SBS symptoms and productivity in offices

30 human subjects were exposed to simulated office conditions to study perceived air quality and sick building symptoms. The sensory pollution load of personal computers was found to be 3 olf each.

Two distinct causal paths from indoor air problems to sickness absenteism

In a building with two parts, one with bad indoor air quality, workers have been moved around from one to another and absenteeism rate and causes have been monitored.

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