Modeling contaminant exposure and indoor air quality in a single-family house.

In this study, computational fluid dynamics (CFD) and a variety of mixing models is used to evaluate the indoor air quality in a small single-family house. CO2, CO, NO2, formaldehyde (HCHO), and vapor are tracked throughout the house to determine the concentration levels, occupational dosing, and personal exposure for a family of two adults and two children. Variations in metabolic activity, smoking, gas stove cooking, and showering make exposure very dependent on the individual's location in the house due to pollutant migration. Door positions have a significant role in exposure, where the comparative difference in exposure may be as much as 38%. The mixing models predict the average exposure of contaminants within approximately 30% of the CFD models, but the nuances of the flow pattern are not easily observable.