Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
chapter nine
Measurement of indoor
contaminants
Contaminant measurements are made in most, if not all, investigations con-
ducted to evaluate potential causal relationships between illness or illness
symptoms and residential and nonresidential building environments. Con-
taminant measurements may include sampling of airborne concentrations of
gas/vapor or particulate-phase substances, sampling of airborne biological
contaminants, surface sampling, and bulk sampling of building materials.
Contaminant measurements are made for various reasons. In the case
of carbon dioxide (CO
), they are used to determine the adequacy of venti-
lation; in other cases they may be used as a screening tool to determine
whether target contaminants are within or above acceptable guideline val-
ues. The best reason to conduct contaminant measurements in problem
buildings is to identify and confirm the presence of contaminants that may
be causally associated with reported illness symptoms. In the case of carbon
monoxide (CO), measurements of COHb in blood may be used to confirm
a CO exposure and its magnitude. Contaminants that may pose long-term
health exposure risks (e.g., radon) may also be measured.
2
I. Measurement considerations
It is important when conducting environmental measurements in indoor
environments that investigators are familiar with principles and practices
associated with such measurements and conduct these activities with specific
objectives in mind. Contaminant concentrations are determined from sam-
ples that have been collected.
