Notes increasing concern with the quality of indoor air, allied with the desire to conserve energy by minimising ventilation rates. Examines on the basis of a literature search the sources of indoor air pollution and the characteristics of the pollutants. Pays particular attention to tobacco smoke and its deleterious effects on health. Discusses minimum ventilation rates for rooms in which people smoke. Points out that ventilation alone cannot ensure that the strictest criteria for room air quality are met with smoking.
Introductory talk on the indoor air quality problem. Compares risk of radon pollution in houses to the risks of smoking tobacco, and gives a definition of levels of concern. Mentions filtering of indoor air by means of an air-to-air heat exchanger, the interaction between ventilation and sources, e.g. unvented combustion heaters and carbon dioxide emissions; measurements of nitrogen dioxide are compared, and formaldehyde concentrations in 28 different commercial buildings.
Methods of monitoring passive smoking vary in accuracy and expense. Annoyance is easily identified among smokers and non-smokers alike. Sensory irritation does occur, but the threshold is difficult to establish. Infections in children appear to be generally correlated with mother's smoking and by amount of smoking per day. The effect on children's lung function growth has been established, but amount varies. Passive smoking has a blunting effect on response to other irritants and asthmatics are more susceptible than others.
Contains further papers, reports and conference summaries from the 3rd International Conference on Indoor Air Quality and Climate, 1984, as well as afull list of authors and titles of papers printed in this and the previous volumes.
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