pollution

Reviews sources of indoor air pollution, factors which influence pollutant concentration, and health aspects. Reports on investigations into carbon monoxide concentrations in kitchens with geysers. Treats various factors including geyser type, state of maintenance, frequency of use, occupant type, cooking and ventilating behaviour, time and location of measurements etc.Reports nitrogen dioxide concentration measurements in kitchens and livingrooms relating to cooking and smoking.

Describes the monitoring of indoor air quality in a San Francisco office building where occupants had registered eye, nose and throat irritation complaints. Data was taken under two different ventilation rates. Carbon dioxide concentrations increased as the ventilation rate decreased, odour perceptibility increased slightly at the lowest ventilation rate, and other pollutants generally showed very low concentrations, which increased when ventilation was reduced.

The radon contents in the two wings of a university building in Tampere were measured. Outside air was supplied to the corridors where it flowed to the rooms via ceiling ducts. Lower radon values were obtained in the rooms located close to the air supply end of the corridor. Radon content was also higher on the first floor then on higher floors, probably because of radon emission from the gravel layer in the foundation. Notes that the main source of radon in a wooden building is the ground, and the tightness of the floor construction is therefore very important.

Describes detailed experimental analysis of the low energy Plainevaux House with regard to:< 1. Air infiltration, measured by the decay rate of CO2 tracer gas< 2. Air tightness, measured by the fan pressurization technique< 3. The evolution of inside temperature in a period of no-heating< 4. The corresponding air contamination.

Presents author's impressions from 2nd International Indoor Climate Symposium at Amherst, USA, where 130 new research papers were presented. Considers pollution sources such as NO2, CO and the use of UF foam for thermal insulation.

Studies indoor air pollution (and its effect on health) arising from gas cooking. 6-11 year olds from selected primary schools were studied annually from 1973-1977 to see if there was any association between gas cookers in the home and respiration illness.

Defines term `ventilation efficiency' and notes factors which determine it: air change rate and temperature, sources of heat and pollution and their locations in a room, persons, machinery etc in motion, the design and position of inlet and exhaust air devices. Gives mathematical and illustrative flow models.

Reviews important sources of indoor air pollutants, and discusses ways of measuring the contaminants emitted by the presence of man in a room. In a test chamber the carbon-dioxide and the odour intensity were measured as a function of room occupancy and ventilation rate. When the supply of fresh air was12-15m*3 per person per hour, the CO2 concentration was less then 0.15% and the odour intensity was evaluated only as a `slight annoyance'. Higher ventilation rates are necessary if increased physical activities and smoking is done in the rooms.

Notes that number of houses with radon content exceeding 400 Bq/m*3 is probably far in excess of original estimates. States requirements for new built houses and permitted levels in existing housing. Improved ventilation can reduce risks arising from use of certain building materials now prohibited. Gives details of loans available to combat problem and refers to publication issued by Institute for Radiation Protection on how to assess risk from natural sources and building materials.

Discusses relatively simple and inexpensive method for ventilating house foundations to reduce radon based on results of a trial on detached housing in Sweden. Principle is to extract radon gas from the ground before it enters living accomodation. Table shows radon daughter intensity before and after corrective measures.