The effect of ventilation and air pollution on perceived indoor air quality in five town halls.

This study was based on measuring the physical and chemical characteristics of indoor climate variables in four town halls in Copenhagen in Denmark and on the odour-intensity judgements by a panel. Three of the buildings had high levels of work-related mucosal irritation and work-related general symptoms; the other one did not. There was a significant correlation between the total concentration of volatile organic compounds (TVOC), the air temperature and the panel's ratings of odour intensity and acceptability in the rooms. There was also a significant correlation between the concentrations of volatile organic compounds, the air exchange rate, the odour intensity and acceptability, and the number of olfs and decipols in the rooms. There were no clear difference in the number of olfs/n2 between the three buildings with high levels of nasal irritation and the one with low levels. The results suggest that the threshold for reduced indoor air quality caused by TVOC in these four buildings is estimated to be between 0.19 mg/m3 and 0.66 mg/m3.