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

Wong, Ling Tim; Mui, KW; Tsang, Tsz-Wun

doi:10.3390/ijerph13121240

Cited by 10 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 12 publications

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“…which may also be sources of health complaints. [16] Therefore, having standardized and highly quantitative methods for measuring indoor exposures, including for mold contamination, might help to identify the relevant exposures and directly link them to health effects. [17]…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of mold contamination in multi-level buildings using the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index

Vesper

Cox‐Ganser

Wymer

et al. 2017

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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The goal of this study was to evaluate the possible use of the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index (ERMI) to quantify mold contamination in multi-level, office buildings. Settled-dust samples were collected in multi-level, office buildings and the ERMI value for each sample determined. In the first study, a comparison was made between two identical four-story buildings. There were health complaints in one building but none in the other building. In the second study, mold contamination was evaluated on levels 6-19 of an office building with a history of water problems and health complaints. In the first study, the average ERMI value in the building with health complaints was 5.33 which was significantly greater than the average ERMI value, 0.55, in the non-complaint building. In the second study, the average ERMI values ranged from a low of -0.58 on level 8 to a high of 5.66 on level 17, one of the top five ranked levels for medical symptoms or medication use. The mold populations of ten (six Group 1 and four Group 2) of the 36-ERMI molds were in significantly greater concentrations in the higher compared to lower ERMI environments. The ERMI metric may be useful in the quantification of water-damage and mold growth in multi-level buildings.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Quantification of mold contamination in multi-level buildings using the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index

Vesper

Cox‐Ganser

Wymer

et al. 2017

Journal of Occupational and Environmental Hygiene

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“…Indoor air quality could be affected by the presence of diverse pollutants including (1) gases such as carbon monoxide, ozone, radon; (2) VOCs; (3) particulate matter with different aerodynamic diameter (PM10, PM2.5, PM1, etc), total suspended particles (TSPs), and fibers; (4) organic and inorganic contaminants; (5) biological particles such as bacteria, fungi, pollen; and (6) asbestos which has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation, as fireretardant and in other consumer products. Research shows that asbestos fibers can cause major breathing problems and cancer 6,7,8,[14][15][16][17][18][19]39 .…”

Section: Indoor Air Pollutantsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Investigation of Indoor Air Quality inside Houses From UAE

Mfarrej

Qafisheh

Bahloul

2020

Air, Soil and Water Research

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The maintenance of a good indoor air quality (IAQ) has been revealed highly required for ensuring comfort and respectable health conditions for home’s residents. Nowadays, the main causes of the homes air quality degradation have been stated to be originated from both indoor and outdoor sources such as gases and/or particles, where their health impacts have been showed to be more hazardous under inadequate ventilation, high temperatures, and high humidity. In the light of the above, investigation of IAQ inside homes seems to be highly recommended. Accordingly, the current research has been aimed to investigate the IAQ in 12 houses located in different parts from Abu Dhabi in United Arab Emirates (UAE) through a regular monitoring of total suspended particles (TSPs), carbon monoxide (CO), carbon dioxide (CO2), formaldehyde (CH2O), and volatile organic compound (VOC) concentrations and some meteorological parameters such as humidity and temperature in side door, kitchen, and bathroom of each selected house. Compared with international standards and with other measured concentrations exhibited in diverse studies around the world, recorded concentrations in different compartments of selected houses have been lower than detection limits and standard values in the case of VOCs and in the case of CO, respectively, indicating that no health risk originates from such pollutants, especially for residents without sensitive problems. On the contrary, registered CH2O and CO2 concentration levels have largely exceeded standard values alerting residents about the potential impact of cooking, fuel combustion, hot water boilers, air conditioning systems, smoking and may be using electronic cigarettes (vaping) while keeping windows and doors closed, causing a bad aeration. In the case of TSP, recorded concentrations have never exceeded 100 µg/m3 in all compartments of 40% of selected houses. However, in the case of houses “3” and “5,” recorded concentrations have been higher than those recorded in houses from Slovakia, indicating the significant impact of outdoor activities in UAE around these houses and to the non-negligible effect of dust event originating from Saharan advection.

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“…Indeed, selecting the pollutants is more complex while techniques for measurement of air temperature and relative humidity are generally shared. The variety of pollutants that are potentially present in a confined environment actually makes it very difficult to identify a synthetic air pollution parameter acting as a representative IEQ indicator [31,32]. In [33], an interesting review of the air quality indicators used in different green buildings certification schemes is presented.…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Indoor Environmental Quality Analysis for Optimizing Energy Consumptions Varying Air Ventilation Rates

et al. 2020

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The energy refurbishment of the existing building heritage is one of the pillars of Italian energy policy. Aiming for energy efficiency and energy saving in end uses, there are wide and diversified improvement strategies, which include interventions on the building envelope and Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems, with the introduction of renewable energy sources. The research aims at evaluating the building energy consumptions and Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ), varying the airflow rates handled by the HVAC system. A Case Study (the Aula Magna of a university building) is analysed; an in-situ monitoring campaign was carried out to evaluate the trend of some environmental parameters that are considered to be significant when varying the external airflow rates handled by the HVAC system. Additionally, dynamic simulations were carried out, with the aim of evaluating the energy savings coming from the airflow rates reduction. The results of this case study highlight the opportunity to achieve significant energy savings, with only slight variations in IEQ; a 50% reduction in airflow rate would decrease energy consumption by up to 45.2%, while increasing the carbon dioxide concentration from 545 ppm to 655 ppm, while the Particulate Matter and Total Volatile Organic Compounds increase is insignificant.

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

Cited by 10 publications

References 12 publications

Quantification of mold contamination in multi-level buildings using the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index

Quantification of mold contamination in multi-level buildings using the Environmental Relative Moldiness Index

Investigation of Indoor Air Quality inside Houses From UAE

Indoor Environmental Quality Analysis for Optimizing Energy Consumptions Varying Air Ventilation Rates

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