Indoor Air Quality - Research Paper Example

Indoor Air Quality Indoor air quality is a subject that continues to attract the concern of the modern world, particularly due to its association with matters of environmental pollution and the resultant health challenges on humans. Historical origins of concerns over the pollutants in industrial spaces and the air quality could be traced from the point in time of the origin of industrial processes (Spengler, Jonathan and John 40). The impact of industrial pollutants in air could be traced from the early phases of industrial revolution. Europe and America, which was the cradle of industrial developments, witnessed increased cases of pollution-related health concerns to such levels that captured the attention of early environmentalists. In essence, industrial processes were anchored on a range of issues that related to the nature of safeguards that were put in place to mitigate the impacts of air pollution in enclosed places. It was during this period that governments began legislating on laws meant to protect the environment and workers from air pollutants. Over the times, these laws have evolved in various ways in order to capture the diverse nature of the challenges (Spengler, Jonathan and John 61). Generally, industrial environments are regarded as some of the most hazardous environments in the modern world. Industries are known for various emissions, chemical pollutants, and other substances that are found within the environments. Many of these pollutants are found within the precincts and enclosed places in the industrial space. Some of the issues that affect the issues of the industry relate to the ability of the industry to engage actively in processes that are designed to mitigate the impacts of pollutants in the air around and above the enclosed places in the industries. Statistics show that tens of thousands of industry workers in Europe and the United States continue to feel the perils of air pollutants due to the increased levels of air pollutions in industrial spaces (Cheremisinoff 55). The increasing prevalence of lung cancer in industrialized countries is considered as evidence of the challenges that confront efforts of maintaining quality air in industrial spaces. In essence, some of the issues that attend to matters of industry are regulated under specific laws that have emerged to defend humans from the diverse effects of the pollutants. Factories are also required to engage in a range of processes that are necessary for the implementation safety standards within enclosed spaces. Some of these laws are also required under the international law. The right to quality care and the ability for companies to engage in processes meant to safeguard the welfare of workers are some of the issues that are included in some of these laws. Generally, the process of maintaining indoor air quality involves the implementation of safety actions at the individual level and at the level of the indoor environment. In essence, indoor air quality is regulated through physical processes such as ventilation and structural moderation processes that are designed to minimize the adverse impacts of pollution. Some of the physical processes include adequate ventilation, and the determination of matters of capacity. Protective legislation requires buildings to have certain amounts of open spaces that allow free flow of air around the enclosed spaces. In essence, the processes of ventilation may be organized in such a manner that includes special mechanized systems that supply fresh air for the environment. Technological developments have made it possible for companies to engage in processes that are generally aimed at developing structures for maintaining the quality of health within the acceptable safety standards. In essence, some of the issues that relate to the development of safety processes could be determined through the active engagement of details of pollution in terms of their capacity to impact on the health of the industry workers and other people who are exposed to these processes. Still on environmental regulation, some studies have established that architectural designs play a significant role in the management of indoor air pollution. These studies point out aspects of roofing and the size of windows, and doors as some of the factors to be considered when determining the appropriate levels of ventilation that is necessary to achieve indoor air quality. Industrial roofing is supposed to be significantly higher as compared to the domestic roofing. According to some studies, the roofing space must be increased in order to accommodate the many groups of people who normally spend hours within the factories. As such, the number of workers and the duration of stay are some of the determinants that must be considered when designing the capacity of buildings. At the individual level, factories are required to provide sufficient protection gear for the workers in order to shield them from the diverse effects of the smokes and chemical pollutants that occur within the working space. Gas masks and other items for protection must be provided under the laws stipulated to guarantee some element of safety for the workers. In order to achieve the recommended safety standards for air quality, it is important to consider the fact that some of the most common determinants of health must be practiced at the perspective of health surveys and concerns that determine the essence of safety within the understanding of human needs. Some of the issues that determine the levels of safety are considered within the aspect of environmental conservation. In the modern times, industrial players are required to choose less dangerous chemicals as substitutes to some of the chemicals that are known to have more consequences that are adverse on the users. The achieving of indoor air quality is a matter that is determined through a comprehensive engagement of all related processes. The connection between the individual, the system, the environment and the legal structures must work in a uniform continuum in order to harness the disparate values and qualities towards the general process of environmental conservation (Reitze 78). One of the most important attributes for the provision of indoor air quality is the empowering of all concerned parties in order to develop a comprehensive approach to the matter of indoor air quality. It is important to consider the fact that some of the issues attending to environmental safety require the implementation of certain procedures and actions. The reason for this is to engage meaningfully with all the aspects of indoor air quality processes as understood together with the various aspects of change. The processes are understood within the understanding of safety and the maintenance of clean air and the elimination of hazardous substances in the environment. Many issues that attend to the issues of change have to be understood within the general umbrella of change as determined within the general process of improving the quality of air in industrial processes. The development of safety systems in indoor air quality differs from one region to another and from one country to another. The highly industrial countries have demonstrated more developed technologies of enhancing the quality of air in the indoor processes. The United States, Canada, Japan, China and Russia are some of the countries that have highly developed systems that ensure the preservation of clean air in enclosed industrial spaces. India, Pakistan, and the developing world such as Sub-Saharan Africa have fared poorly in matters of safeguarding the safety of the environment with particular regarding the development of robust structures for maintaining clean air in the region. The reason for difference is often attributed to the relative difference in the pace of technological techniques required to maintain indoor air quality. Some of the technological devices employed involved highly developed systems such as modern chimneys that offer multiple advantages with regard to purifying the spaces within the industrial enclosed spaces. Assembly plants and other major industrial spaces are some of the areas that require sufficient attention in terms of developing solid infrastructure for the safeguarding of the interests and processes of air safety. In essence, there is a sense in which some of the issues that relate to environmental conservation could be regulated through the application of the processes of International Organization Standards (ISO). The standardization processes are usually tied on the need to develop certain thresholds upon which the quality of the process is based. The standardization process enables companies to strive towards attaining the required standards of air safety in order to improve their own local systems towards the attainment of global commerce. Cost implications have some significant impact on the development of sufficient safeguard for maintaining quality indoor air. Modern technologies are expensive and inaccessible to individuals, groups, or organizations with relatively lower spending capacities. Cost implications remain among the dominant reasons that occasion the disparities in the standards of safety between the developed economies and the developing world. Partly, the disparities in the spending power between the developed and developing economies are regarded as an indication of the financial strength and weakness between the developed and developing industrial powers respectively. Some countries often engage in the creation of systems that require the application of multiple standards for the enhancement of indoor air quality. Anchoring the international standards of operations within the processes of environmental conservation should be considered as a fundamental step towards achieving indoor air quality around the globe. Ultimately, the achieving of a hazard free environment in enclosed places within industries and even in domestic spaces should involve multiple strategies and approaches. Technological, architectural, legal, and individual processes must be harnessed in order to achieve a comprehensive state of indoor air quality. Whereas the public knows some of the common hazards, other more dangerous agents of air pollution such as radiation from building materials require some level of information in order to protect the environment. As such, there is the need to increase the level of awareness in the general public and industrial workers in particular in order to develop a participatory approach across the board. In essence, consistent education, sensitization, and improvement of physical conditions remain the best multi-faceted approach that could be relied upon to improve indoor air quality in industrial spaces. Works Cited Cheremisinoff, Nicholas. Handbook of Air Pollution Prevention and Control. New York: Butterworth-Heinemann, 2002. Reitze, Arnold. Stationary Source Air Pollution Law. New York: Environmental Law Institute, 2005 Spengler, John, Jonathan Samet and John McCarthy. Indoor Air Quality Handbook. McGraw Hill Professional, 2001 Read More