Epistemic evaluation of policy influence on workplace indoor air quality of Hong Kong in 1996—2005

Abstract

Long-term measurement results of indoor air quality (IAQ) over a general community can be used to evaluate the effectiveness of mitigation measures for IAQ improvement of premises. However, this approach requires considerable measurement efforts and thus the complete data sets are not available in many circumstances. This study proposes an epistemic approach in estimating the probable influences of an IAQ policy for Hong Kong offices, using the regional IAQ measurement databases results of IAQ in offices were collected and were used to quantify the IAQ improvement for Hong Kong offices. It is noted that IAQ dissatisfaction due to air pollutants predominated by indoor emissions of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) might need additional attentions for an effective IAQ improvement programme. Practical application: This study provides updated information on the forecasts of IAQ in air-conditioned offices of Hong Kong due to the influence of the IAQ policy implemented in 1997-1999. It is a useful source of reference for policymakers and decision makers in evaluating an indoor air pollution control policy for air-conditioned offices.

Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality Screening Strategies: A Step-Wise Approach for IAQ Screening

“…IAQ Database A contained a total of 525 random samples of Hong Kong air-conditioned open-plan offices (of which 422 were surveyed in 2006 and 103 in 2011) taken from some previous studies [9,14,15]. The offices chosen in this database had similar building materials, style, and age so that the impact of different building factors on the pollutant sources would be minimized.…”

Diagnostics of Unsatisfactory Indoor Air Quality in Air-Conditioned Workplaces

“…An initial regional IAQ investigation at 40 selected Hong Kong air-conditioned offices was commissioned in 1995 as a consequence of the second review of the 1989 White Paper on pollution, which was issued in 1993 by the Hong Kong government [4]. This investigation result served as a legislative cornerstone of developing an indoor air pollution control policy for workplaces in Hong Kong.…”

“…Moreover, the ABCs and the formaldehyde levels had also exceeded the recommended IAQ standards. Subsequent field IAQ monitoring and Diagnostics of Unsatisfactory IAQ Indoor Built Environ 2011;20:313-320 315 assessment results in the past 10 years were reviewed and used to estimate the pre-assessed probability of unsatisfactory IAQ regarding the listed IAQ parameters [4]. Taking the exposure limits in an existing guideline as a reference, measurements in 516 offices reported that the probabilities of unsatisfactory IAQ in air-conditioned offices were less than 1% for CO, RSP, NO 2 and O 3 , 1% for Rn, 3% for CO 2 , 8% for ABC, 13% for HCHO and 16% for TVOC, respectively.…”

“…Together with previously reported samples of 516 offices [4] and the new data from 9 office samples of this study, a total of 525 Hong Kong offices were used to evaluate the screening levels of nine common IAQ parameters: CO 2 , CO, RSP, NO 2 , O 3 , HCHO, TVOC, Rn and ABC; based on the IAQ index to provide a crosssectional survey of IAQ in air-conditioned offices in the region. Simple random sampling technique was adopted and the surveyed samples covered all regions of office development as well as various grades, types and ages of premises and ventilation systems.…”

“…For other kinds of health concerns such as cancer, infections and persistent toxic reactions, however, objective measurements would be more appropriate. IAQ assessment parameters based on IAQ-related human health and/or the adverse effects due to indoor environmental factors, such as air-conditioning system and pollution, emissions from building materials and ingress of traffic fumes, have been suggested for practical application [3][4][5].…”