Health effects from indoor air pollution: case studies
In recent years there has been a growing awareness of the health effects associated with the presence of contaminants in indoor air. Numerous agents can accumulate in public buildings, homes and automobiles as a result of ongoing activities that normally occur in these closed spaces. Ventilation is a major factor in the control of indoor air pollutants since proper movement of air can prevent or minimize the build up of compounds in buildings. The recent emphasis on energy conservation has lead to measures which economize on energy for heating and air conditioning, but which also trap pollutants within a building. Three cases of indoor air pollution were investigated. A typical investigation of indoor air pollutant problems includes the following: interviews with building occupants; history of the building with regard to maintenance, pesticide treatment, etc.; a survey of the building and ventilation; and when warranted, sampling and analysis of air. Each case presented is unique in that atypical situations caused agents to accumulate in a building or section of a building. The indoor air problems in these cases were solved by identifying and removing the source of the offending agent and/or improving the ventilation in the building.
- Research Organization:
- Tulane Univ. School of Public Health and Tropical Medicine, New Orleans, LA
- OSTI ID:
- 5956133
- Journal Information:
- J. Community Health; (United States), Vol. 12:2-3
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
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Related Subjects
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
HEALTH HAZARDS
AIR POLLUTION MONITORING
CHEMICAL COMPOSITION
RISK ASSESSMENT
VENTILATION
AIR POLLUTION
HAZARDS
POLLUTION
560300* - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology
500200 - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (-1989)