Effect of Mechanical Ventilation System(s) to Indoor Chemistry Products in Air Conditioned Buildings: Quest for Tropical Research

The potential for reactions among indoor pollutants to generate reactive and highly irritatingproducts is a reason to maintain adequate ventilation rates and clean ventilation filters.Terpenoid (from recirculated air, a scenario common in the tropics) captured by ventilationfilters can react relatively quickly with ozone which may lead to downstream air supply thatcontain oxidized terpenoid and this may be perceived to be less acceptable than outdoor air.The chemical composition (water solubility and chemical reactivity) of these particlesstrongly governs their toxicity. The composition determines either how the respiratory tractreacts or how the body responds. There are few studies examining the impact of ventilationrate and ventilation filters on indoor chemistry. Studies documenting the effect of filters,ventilation and recirculation rate on ozone initiated chemistry in buildings utilizingrecirculation of conditioned air are lacking. Thus the need to stimulate research in this area tobetter understand the effect, recirculation of conditioned air phenomenon could have onindoor air quality serves as the motive for the quest for tropical research. The paperdemonstrates that reaction between reactive gases to generate highly irritating products mayeven be more important in mechanical ventilation system that utilizes recirculation ofconditioned air.