This study investigates the connection between indoor climate and eczema. Nine patients suffering from atopic dermatitis (AD) were examined by doctors before and after moving to houses with better air exchange, low relative humidity and optimal temperature control. Every month for two years, three clinical and subjective assessments were made of disease activity, and compared with changes in suspended and respirable dust particles, room temperature, air exchange rate, number of house dust mites in bedrooms, and the levels of organic solvents in the indoor air.
Describes how workers at altitude are subject to hypoxia, which impairs the ability to sleep, mental performance, productivity and general well, being. Discusses the effectiveness of injecting oxygen into the air conditioning systems for these workers, which has the effect of reducing the equivalent altitude. Several studies have been made to test oxygen enrichment and have shown improvements in sleep quality and cognitive function. The fire hazard is less than in air at sea level.
The environment inside museums such as the Field Museum of Natural History in Chicago, USA is of utmost importance since permanent damage can be caused to artifacts in the environment is not correctly maintained and controlled. The article describes a longitudinal environmental survey carried out to assess the performance of the facility's HVAC systems and controls. A series of hypotheses was developed and tested to explain deterioration of a number of mammal mounts in the museum's exhibition halls.
A good air quality control system ensures that the most common harmful gaseous contaminants are kept below permissible levels particularly in forced ventilated spaces. Such a system can ensure a high standard of indoor air and a healthy environment. The volume of fresh air in a room can be adjusted according to the number of occupants and their level of activity. It is important to keep a vigilant eye on the levels of the most common harmful gases, because most of them cannot be detected by human senses.
The importance of IAQ to Finland's society and economy has led to the realisation that nationally planned and coordinated activities are necessary to achieve reliable results. For 20 years the Finnish government has had a national policy to coordinate different governmental, local and private policies to improve IAQ in homes, schools, offices, public places etc. This program has been very successful although there are still many buildings with damp, mould and other similar problems and the quality of construction falls below that required.
Many buildings in Austria experience poor indoor climate states and critical states of their construction. Possible causes of the high moisture content of indoor air might be bad ventilation or high moisture content of the buildings because of rising damp or weathering. Retrofitting is needed to increase indoor climate comfort levels. It is essential when designing the retrofitting to understand and predict the influences of different actions on the building's indoor climate and behaviour.
Reviews several key aspects of ventilation and indoor air quality standards. Also highlights the complexity of the IAQ issues from the standardization viewpoint. Detailed technical solutions are dependent on project-specific criteria including climatic, cultural and other aspects as well as differences in national regulations, standards, guidelines and available IAQ technologies.
Relates exposure measurements for indoor air quality in schools to perception of IAQ by employees. A questionnaire was used to gather information on subjective air quality, domestic exposures and health aspects. 38 schools were covered in the study. A 53% section of personnel reported bad or very bad indoor air quality. Worst reports came from the younger personnel, those dissatisfied with their psychosocial work climate and those not exposed to domestic tobacco smoke. Less IAQ dissatisfaction was reported for older schools and those with displacement ventilation.
A cross sectional study with control was performed to identify sick building syndrome symptoms in office workers in northern France, based on an air conditioned and a naturally ventilated building. Found that exposure to air conditioning was linked to an increased prevalence of symptoms, and increased sickness absence. Two determinants not previously described resulting from logistic regression were family history of respiratory diseases and 'do-it-yourself' activities.
Environmental conditions, sick building syndrome symptoms, job satisfaction, job stress, and occupational and personal information were assess by questionnaire of 4479 employees from 27 air conditioned offices, and indoor air quality measurements taken. IAQ met the ASHRAE guidelines for all the buildings. Found that the number of sick building syndrome symptoms per employee was linked linearly to computer use, job stress, job satisfaction, number of allergies, migraine and eye wear.
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