Poor indoor air quality - Essay Example

POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ) Poor Indoor Air Quality Indoor air quality (IAQ) is the quality of air (breathing area) within and around structures and how it affects health of the occupants. This phenomenon has become widespread and recognized globally as an important health and safety issue. The term became popular in tandem with the energy conservation measures that minimized fresh air circulation in buildings to save cost of conditioning outdoor air. Various organizations and agencies (ASHRAE, WHO, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency) across the globe are actively working to create awareness and improve quality of life hampered in this regard.

People spend majority of their time indoors and are exposed to numerous indoor contaminants / pollutants from other occupants (exhaled carbon dioxide, second hand smoke, perfume, body odors), building materials (gases, dusts, asbestos etc), furniture and fixtures (dust mites, vapors, gases), dampness (fungus, mould, bacteria) and cleaning agents used (toxic vapors, volatile toxic compounds). High or low level of humidity, improper ventilation, infiltration, lighting and noise also effect air quality.

There are standard tests for gauging the air quality and remedies for improving IAQ to the set standards that verify good living condition for us. Poor IAQ can adversely affect health of a person which are summed up as a) Sick Building Syndrome (SBS): where health is adversely effected linked to how much time a person spends indoor yet the cause or illness cannot be identified, b) Multiple Chemical Sensitivities (MCS): where some might come under the effect, however medical opinion remains divided, c) Building-Related Illness (BRI): these are more serious yet less frequent cases with clinical symptoms proven linked to the IAQ, d) Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS): arises from passive smoking and increases the risk of coronary heart diseases (The International Agency for Research on Cancer IARC, 2002).

In a poor IAQ people mostly complain of aggravated allergies and asthma, infections (eyes, nose, throat, and skin), respiratory problems, headaches, nausea, coughing & sneezing, sinusitis, bronchitis and even pneumonia. People may feel the symptom shortly after they are indoors or after a while and feel relieved when away for a longer interval like at home or during weekends. Smaller symptom might lead to severe symptom such as rashes, conjunctivitis, tachycardia, fever even hearing loss. People also complain about being uncomfortable with the indoor temperature, humidity levels being too low or too high, lack of proper ventilation and air circulation causing stuffiness, strange odors from occupants and building fixtures along with various health related issues mentioned above.

IAQ assessment is conducted for areas likely to be effected to take on appropriate control measures as well as to develop necessary monitoring methods. These include identification of the source of contamination (whether it is from within the building or from outside), level of exposure on the occupants, existing measures and their adequacy, and lastly take or recommend measures to reduce and prevent the risk. Sampling for IAQ and monitoring chemical hazards can be done through various devices available in the market using OSHA, EPA and NIOSH (National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health) air sampling procedures / standards.

Air sampling pumps are used to test for mold, asbestos, lead, etc. Primary flow Calibrators are used to measure gas flow. Personal sampling pumps or hand held air quality monitors are used to gauge particles in the breathing zone by a person. Using per fluorocarbon tracer or tracer gas for determining air exchange rate. Using non-dispersive infrared spectroscopy or gas filter correlation to determine carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide. Using VOC testing (volatile organic compounds to evaluate vapor intrusion from underground contamination.

Sampling to detect formaldehyde a common indoor air pollutant found in glue and fabrics, paints and paper can be done by using calibrated sampling pumps and sorbent tubes or passive sampling badges. Samples should be collected from adequate number of locations to clearly identify the sources of pollutants and assess potential exposure to occupants in various locations. Samples taken from devices are then sent to analysis and identification in various laboratories. Poor IAQ can be controlled and minimized accordingly by adopting changes in lifestyle and adhering to the set standards.

Creating better ventilation or increasing ventilation rates allowing chemical and gas buildup to be replaced by fresh outdoor air however it increases the inflow of outdoor pollutants. IAQ can be improved by operating upon ASHRAE Standard 62-1989 few examples of which are periodic cleaning and replacement of air filters, replacement of carpet and allowing time to off-gas pollutants in new buildings before occupancy can also help. Reducing / eliminating the pollutant sources can help significantly for example making indoor premise a non-smoking area or only allowing smoking in open air.

Placing air purifiers or buying air conditioning equipments equipped with technology that reduces air pollutants and filters air. Foremost important step is educating occupants and communicating effectively affects poor IAQ can have on health, its detection and remedies. Communication should be smooth between occupants, management and maintenance personnel so that they can all work together to effectively make working environment healthy and safe. References American Society for Heating, Refrigerating and Air-conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE). 1981. Thermal Environmental Conditions for Human Occupancy.

 ASHRAE Standard 55-1981.  Bluepoint environmental (2011). IAQ Testing. Retrieved from http://www.bluepointenvironmental.com/indoor-air-quality-testing.php#indoor-air-quality-test-kits Spengler, J.D., Samet, J.M. & McCarthy, J.F. (2001). Indoor Air Quality Handbook. New York: McGraw–Hill. United States Environment Protection agency (EPA) (2011). Learn the issues: Air. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/gateway/learn/airpollution.html United States Environment Protection agency (EPA). (Feb 1991).

Indoor Air Facts No. 4 (revised) Sick Building Syndrome. Retrieved from http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/sbs.html