As occupants in a hospital, patients are susceptible to air contaminants that can include biological agents dispersed throughout the premise. An exposed patient can become ill and require medical intervention. A consideration for patients is that they may have become environmentally sensitive and require placement in an environment that does not compromise their health. Unfortunately, the hospital environment often contains more biological substances than can be expected in an office or home environment. When a hospital also experiences water intrusion such as flooding or water leaks, resulting mold growth can seriously compromise the health of patients and others such as nursing staff and physicians (Burge, Indoor Air and Infectious Disease. Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, 1980; Lutz et al., Clinical Infectious Diseases 37: 786-793, 2003). Micro-organism growth can propagate if the water is not addressed quickly and effectively. Immunocompromised patients are particularly at risk when subjected to fungal infection such that the US Center for Disease Control issued guideline for building mold in health care facilities (Centers for Disease and Control [CDC], Centers for Disease and Control: Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and Other Molds, 2000). This paper is based on mold remediation of one portion of a hospital unit due to water from construction activity and inadequate maintenance, resulting in mold growth. A large proportion of the hospital staff, primarily nurses in the dialysis unit, exhibited health symptoms consistent with mold exposure. Unfortunately, the hospital administrators did not consider the mold risk to be serious and refused an independent consultant retained by the nurse's union to examine the premise (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation [CBC], Nurses file complaints over mold at Foothills. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2003). The nurse's union managed to have the premise examined by submitting a court order of detention and inspection and for an interlocutory injunction to allow their consultants to undertake air quality testing. Mold remediation procedures are readily available and are not to be discussed here (Silicato, http://www.nibs.org/BETEC/M6/ 13-Silicato_Mold-Remediation.pdf, 2004). However, the difficulty of determining the qualifications of consultants, contactors and project managers are discussed. It also describes the need and importance of a buffer zone between the occupied areas and the mold abatement containment area.
The influence of artificial classroom light source’s colour temperature to students’ learning efficiency and physiology rhythm is the focus of this study. An experiment compares a subjects’ learning efficiency, asthenopia and brain fag under different luminance level of three typical colour temperatures from T5 fluorescent lamps and LED. Using comprehensive index ε and norm identification Ψ for quantitative evaluation and testing under different lighting environments, we determined the best colour temperature of two experimental light sources. We also determined the best combinations of illuminance value and the colour temperature that should be avoided in classroom lighting. Experiment shows that spectrum difference obviously effects comprehensive index ε and norm identification Ψ. For learning efficiency and health of people, there need to be improvement in the spectrum of fluorescent lamps and LEDs
This paper discusses a novel method to clean VOC from any sources. Photocatalysis surpasses any other technologies in air purification for absorption of volatile organic compounds. A key component is the use of ultraviolet light to activate a photo-catalysis process that can also disinfect microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, moulds and even infectious diseases. The by-products of the photocatalytic process is only carbon dioxide and water. Results as tested by the Chinese government agency for its VOC removal efficacy at several factories is most encouraging. In conclusion, we have found a technology that can help clean the increasing air pollution in China to improve public health.
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