Current State of the Science: Health Effects and Indoor Environmental Quality

Abstract

Our understanding of the relationship between human health and the indoor environment continues to evolve. Previous research on health and indoor environments has tended to concentrate on discrete pollutant sources and exposures and on specific disease processes. Recently, efforts have been made to characterize more fully the complex interactions between the health of occupants and the interior spaces they inhabit. In this article we review recent advances in source characterization, exposure assessment, health effects associated with indoor exposures, and intervention research related to indoor environments. Advances in source characterization include a better understanding of how chemicals are transported and processed within spaces and the role that other factors such as lighting and building design may play in determining health. Efforts are under way to improve our ability to measure exposures, but this remains a challenge, particularly for biological agents. Researchers are also examining the effects of multiple exposures as well as the effects of exposures on vulnerable populations such as children and the elderly. In addition, a number of investigators are also studying the effects of modifying building design, materials, and operations on occupant health. Identification of research priorities should include input from building designers, operators, and the public health community.

Quantifying human exposure to air pollution—Moving from static monitoring to spatio-temporally resolved personal exposure assessment

“…Indoor air quality has become an inherent part of exposure research in recent years, gaining particular attention in policy making (Colbeck and Nasir, 2010) and for the development of guidelines for certain pollutants (WHO, 2010). Indoor air quality and health are discussed by several authors, for instance Colbeck and Nasir (2010), Mitchell et al (2007) or Wallace (1996) provide a good overview of research focusing on indoor air/environments since the 1980s. Diffusion of outdoor air into buildings contributes to a mixture of indoor and outdoor pollutants and resulting indoor exposure levels (Branis, 2010;Lai et al, 2004) depending on ventilation, air conditioning and on the indoor-outdoor temperature gradient.…”

“…These indicators can all be qualified and quantified with the help of TADs and questionnaires (Mitchell et al, 2007). Compiling TADs and questionnaires is relatively inexpensive and can be used in manifold ways.…”

Human-Induced Particle Re-Suspension in a Room

“…Indoor air quality (IAQ) is fundamental to the well-being of the occupants in residential buildings as well as in work environments. Contaminant sources include combustion by-products, tobacco smoke, pesticide, synthetic paints, bio-effluents, building products, toxic gases, and infiltrated material from the outdoor environment, such as traffic pollutants, dust, and pollen (Mitchell et al 2007). In addition to source identification of the indoor contaminants, it is important to investigate the dynamics of the indoor particulate matter (PM) transport both quantitatively and mechanistically for a better understanding of IAQ.…”

Diffusive Uptake Rates of Volatile Organic Compounds on Standard ATD Tubes for Environmental and Workplace Applications

“…Volatile organic compound (VOC) contamination represents a health concern in indoor, outdoor and occupational environments [1,2]. Current exposure and risk assessment of VOCs requires representative exposure measurements, which are achieved by large sample sizes and frequent and long-term sampling [3].…”