Introduction of the olf and the decipol units to quantify air pollution perceived by humans indoors and outdoors

Two new units, the olf and the decipol, are introduced to quantify air pollution sources and air pollution perceived by humans indoors and outdoors. The olf is introduced to quantify pollution sources. One olf is the emission rate of air pollutants (bioeffluents) from a standard person. Any other pollution source is quantified by the number of standard persons (olfs) required to cause the same dissatisfaction as the actual pollution source. The olf unit is analogous to lumen and watt for light and noise sources. The decipol is introduced to quantify the concentration of air pollution as perceived by humans. The perceived air pollution is that concentration of human bioeffluents that would cause the same dissatisfaction as the actual air pollution. One decipol is the pollution caused by one standard person (one olf), ventilated by 10 l/s of unpolluted air. The decipol unit is analogous to lux and decibel( A) for light and noise. The percentage of dissatisfied as a function of the perceived air pollution in decipols is presented here, based on bioeffluents from more than one thousand occupants, judged by 168 subjects. A method for measurement of pollution sources and perceived air pollution is described. The new units provide a rational basis for the identification of pollution sources, for the calculation of ventilation requirements and for the prediction and measurement of air quality indoors and outdoors.