Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
chapter ten
Source control
As indicated in previous chapters, a variety of contaminants are generated
within, drawn in as a result of infiltration and ventilation, or passively
transported into indoor environments. Because of potential health risks and
other factors such as comfort and odor, it may be desirable to control either
airborne or surface contaminants or both. There are two primary approaches
to controlling indoor contaminants. These include controlling the contami-
nant at the source (source control) or controlling contaminants once they are
produced or become airborne (contaminant control). Contaminant control
measures, ventilation, and air cleaning are discussed in detail in Chapters
11 and 12.
It is easier, in theory, to control a contaminant at its source before it
becomes airborne or causes significant indoor contamination by other mech-
anisms. Source control includes a variety of principles and applications based
on individual contaminants and the nature of contamination problems.
These include (1) measures that prevent or exclude, in some way, the use of
contaminant-producing materials, furnishings, equipment, etc., in indoor
environments; (2) elements of building design, operation, and maintenance
that prevent or minimize contamination; (3) treatment or modification of
sources directly or indirectly to reduce contaminant production and/or
release; (4) removal of the source and replacement with materials with low
or no contaminant production; (5) measures that prevent the infestation of
indoor environments by biological organisms; and (6) removal of surface
contaminants using cleaning measures.
Though source control is often described as an indoor contaminant con-
trol measure in a generic sense, its application depends on both sources and
contaminants they produce. In most applications, source control is case
specific.
Source control is typically used to prevent contamination problems from
occurring in the construction, furnishing, and use of built environments; to
