Reviews current knowledge about the sources of a number of indoor pollutants and their concentrations: tobacco smoke, NO2, CO, radon, formaldehyde, SO2, CO2, O3, asbestos, mineral fibres, organics and allergens. Lists the adverse health effects from exposure to each of the pollutants. Finds instrumentation for measuring exposure acceptable, but monitoring and knowledge of distribution of sources and concentrations inadequate or marginal. Knowledge of exposure-effects relationship is inadequate, especially with regard to delayed effects of chronic exposures.
Long-term monitoring of radon, aerosol and carbon dioxide concentrations was carried out in two Finnish public buildings. In each case, a distinct periodic behaviour of pollutant concentrations was observed. CO2 and aerosol showed maxima during the working hours, but the fluctuations of the aerosol concentration were faster and more irregular. The radon concentration peaked at night and on weekends, dropping off rapidly in the working day mornings when ventilation was turned on.
As part of an investigation into the influence of a residential weatherization program on indoor air quality and energy efficiency, a multi-pollutant survey of the air inside 50 Wisconsin homes was conducted three times during the heating season
Decreased ventilation, achieved by weather stripping and other tightening measures, is the most cost effective way to energy conservation. A very low investment can result in a considerable decrease in ventilation rate. For a typical detached
The simple steady state model which is frequently used to relate radon concentration (C), source strength (S) and ventilation rate (l/tau) is expressed in the equation C=S tau. The assumptions of this model are given and their validity explor
The general principles and mechanism of how soil gas infiltrates and carries radon from the foundation bed and subsoil into buildings are discussed. The Swedish Building Research Council has funded experiments and evaluation of cost effective remedial actions. The work has concerned existing dwellings with high concentration of radon, resulting from infiltrating soil gas and/or exhalation from building materials. A review and evaluation is given of experience and results acquired up to the summer of 1984.
As part of a comprehensive indoor air quality and infiltration field study, radon concentrations were measured in 60 houses in upstate New York using passive integrating monitors. Indoor air radon concentrations ranged from 0.2 pCi/1 to 50 pCi/1. Four houses with the highest radon levels were then extensively monitored using real-time continuous instruments for the measurement of radon, radon daughters, respirable particles, infiltration, inside-outside pressure difference, and weather parameters.
Plastic track detectors LR-115 and CR-39 were used to estimate the concentration of radon-222 and its daughter products (218Po, 214Po) in a room by recording tracks of their alpha-particles. Although the ventilation rate is the main factor th
Complaints related to moisture problems in houses which had been air sealed, led to a study of indoor air quality in 20 weatherized demonstration homes in the Cambridge, Ontario area.
Indoor radon concentrations have been measured in a 13 year old two story concrete building of the University of Texas at Dallas. Variations of the radon concentration from the basement to the second floor in offices, classrooms, laboratories, storage rooms, corridors and other locations have been measured. Dependence of the above concentrations on the location and ventilation rates have been studied.
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