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The Importance of Indoor Air Quality in Office Buildings
Camilla BrasherETIS 6020
Indoor Air Quality In the news since the energy crisis of
the 70s necessitated tighter construction
Same time frame more workers become white collar due to the computer revolution
More people in tighter environment
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is born
Sick Building Syndrome Workers become ill at workplace and
get better at home NIOSH uses the term Indoor
Environment Quality (IEQ) to describe this
Examples include:› Legionellosis› Allergic reactions› Mold and Fungus› Hypersensitivity
NIOSH believes the problem is not just what one breathes
Factors in Building-Related Illness› Job stress› Ergonomic stress› Lighting› Noise › Temperature extremes
These factors may occur individually or combined
Symptoms of SBS
Itching, burning eyes Irritated skin Nasal congestion Fatigue Dry irritated throats Nausea headaches
NIOSH found that high stress environments include:
Humidity problems Unacceptable noise levels Adverse ergonomic conditions Improper temperature conditions Inadequate ventilation
Seventy percent of employed Americans work in non-agricultural, non-industrial environments…
Improving building environments
There are 89 million workers in the US who mainly work indoors
Cleaner indoor environments could help an estimated 15 million of them
There is no OSHA regulation regarding indoor air quality in offices
OSHA’s recommendations
There is no mention of office standards Inquiries are delegated to either
NIOSH, EPA or ASHRAE ASHRAE standards were set in 1973
and updated in 1975› Recommend an exchange rate of 5 cubic
feet of outside air per minute for every person working in a building
› This has become a part of many municipal codes around the country
OSHA Major Indoor Air ContaminantsCompound Source Health Effects
Acetic Acid Silicone caulk, x-ray equipment Mucous membrane irritant
Carbon Dioxide Unvented appliances, human respiration, combustion
Loss of concentration, sleepy, quicker respirations
Carbon Monoxide Tobacco smoke, improperly vented exhaust or appliances
Headache, nausea, cyanosis, cardiovascular effects, death
Formaldehyde Foam insulation, plywood, particle board, paneling, carpeting, fabrics, glues
Allergic reactions, rashes, eye, respiratory, and mucous membrane irritation, odor
Nitrogen Oxides Improperly vented exhaust or appliances, tobacco smoke, welding
Irritation to mucous membranes
OSHA Major Indoor Air Contaminants Source: OSHA Technical Manual: Section III: Chapter 2, pp.2-3
Ozone Copy machinery, air cleaners, electrical arcing, smog
Mucous membrane irritation, aggravated chronic respiratory diseases
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)
Copiers, glue, paint, asphalt, gasoline and tobacco smoke, cosmetics, glue, dried floor drains, cleaning compounds…
Dizziness, nausea, mucous membrane irritation, fatigue, headache
Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide
Microfilm, window cleaner, drain cleaners blue-print equipment, tobacco smoke, combustion products
Mucous membrane irritation, aggravated chronic respiratory diseases
Synthetic Fibers Fibrous glass and mineral wool
Dermatitis, eye, skin, lung irritant
Tobacco Smoke Pipe, cigar, cigarette smoking
Respiratory system, eye and nasal irritation, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, headache, sinus problems, contains several hundred toxic substances
Microorganisms and biological contaminants
Air conditioning condensate, cooling towers, water damaged materials, indoor high humidity, hot water systems, plants, animals, insects, food and food products
Allergic reactions, pneumonias, humidifier fever, infections such as legionellosis. Symptoms include chills, fever, aching muscles, tight chest, cough, headaches, diarrhea and nausea
Smoking…. Smoking should be banned from
inside buildings Outside smoking areas should
be kept away from ventilation uptakes and away from doors or windows
Ventilation is key
Good ventilation moves a lot of air Humidity should be kept low indoors to
prevent mold and fungus growth Moisture should not accumulate in drip
pans and there should be no water damage due to leaky roofs
Any damage should be repaired immediately
Molds…
Biological threat to indoor air quality Moisture either due to water damage
or high humidity Mold will grow where it has food and
water Eliminating water from the indoor
environment will limit mold growth
Places mold loves…
Leaking roofs Substandard maintenance Cold spots Localized flooding Malfunctioning humidifiers Leaky plumbing
Mold
Mold is big business and business is thriving
Mold in buildings can cause Aggravation of asthma symptoms Headaches Allergic reactions Some molds are toxic Severity of symptoms
› Depend on the ages of the individuals that are exposed
› Length of exposure › Sensitivities that might already exist
Radon Radioactive gas produced as radium
decays Present in almost all soils and in rocks Migrates through groundwater and soil Seeps into homes and buildings
through the foundations Second to smoking in causing lung
cancer EPA had success in homes now wants
to test in commercial buildings
Asbestos Fibrous mineral found in rocks Extruded into filaments that cannot be
seen with the naked eye Under the right conditions can suspend
in the air and be inhaled Causes asbestosis, lung cancer and
mesothelioma Can take up to 20 years after exposure
to manifest
Asbestos More of a threat to maintenance
workers because it was used as insulation in boiler rooms and service areas
If it is intact OSHA does not recommend moving it, just monitoring
NIOSH advocates its removal in all cases and believes there is no safe amount of asbestos
More of a danger during demolition or renovation
Asbestos
Asbestos EPA estimates that friable (easily crumbled)
asbestos exists in 700,000 public and commercial buildings
EPA and NIOSH 5 facts about asbestos:› Asbestos is dangerous but only if airborne› Average amount in buildings is low making
health risks low› Ill advised removal is more dangerous than
monitoring› Removal is only necessary in renovation or
demolition› Proper management and monitoring will
protect workers
Research into economics Benefits that result from improving air
quality should be added in› Less sick leave days› Less worker complaints› Change in workers comfort level› Increase in productivity› Increase in moral› Reduced healthcare costs› Less maintenance costs› Less turnover of employees
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References (continued)Seppanen, Olli, and William J. Fisk. "A Model to
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