Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
pollutants present in indoor air, their concentration and toxicity and, the higher
indoor concentrations with respect to outdoor ones.
In developed countries, humans spend most of their time in indoor environ-
ments, and hence, several respiratory diseases may be associated with exposure to
indoor air pollutants (WHO
2011
). Allergic and asthmatic diseases are two of the
largest current problems for public health in industrialised countries, especially for
susceptible collectives such as children, elderly people, and those with health
problems. Less susceptible collectives may not develop respiratory diseases, but
poor IAQ can cause discomfort, stress, absenteeism, or lost of productivity
(Guardino
1998
). World Health Organisation (WHO) refers to those acute health
and comfort effects as sick building syndrome (SBS) (WHO
1983
).
SBS symptoms may be associated with dampness and mould as well as with the
presence of indoor pollutants, personality trait, work stress, gender or low venti-
lation rates (Zhang et al.
2012
). A review of studies in several European countries,
Canada and the United States reported that at least 20 % of buildings have
dampness problems or visible mould (Institute of Medicine, US
2004
). Children
are also a vulnerable group to dampness and mould exposure, since there is an
association between respiratory and allergic and living in a damp and mouldy
environment. The exposure to biologic pollutants in early life was reported to
protect children from allergic health disorders, but genetic factors also play an
important role (Tischer and Heinrich
2013
).
In developing countries, biomass in the form of wood, dung and crop residues is
frequently used as source of household heating and cooking fuel. These materials
are burnt in simple stoves or open fireplaces leading to incomplete combustion
(Bruce et al.
2000
). Women and their children spend most of their time indoors, so
they are exposed to high indoor air pollution levels, which increase the risk of
adverse respiratory problems, especially in children (Franklin
2007
).
1.2 Studies on Indoor Air Quality
First studies on indoor air pollution where performed in industrial workplaces,
such as the investigations about deaths of building trade insulation workers caused
by exposure to high levels of asbestos (Selikoff et al.
1964
). Air quality in
industrial environments is assessed considering the exposure to the particular
pollutants released by the industrial process concerned in order to establish
regulations and protect workers' health. The term IAQ is usually applied to
non-industrial indoor air such as residential buildings, offices, schools, hospitals,
restaurants, theatres, etc., where the concentration of pollutants is frequently lower
with respect to industrial environments. During the last 30 years, a number of
studies in the USA and in Europe were performed to assess human exposure to
indoor pollutants at indoor environments. Some of them are summarised in
Table
1
, which measure inorganic pollutants such as CO, CO
2
, radon and metals;
mixtures of inorganic pollutants such as particulate matter (PM), and organic
