Environmental Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
) either deliberately or
incidentally (electronic air cleaners) pose a risk to the health of exposed
individuals as well as to building materials when used continuously. They
also contribute to indoor chemical reactions. Complete avoidance of delib-
erately generated O
Air cleaning products that generate ozone (O
3
, and limited use of equipment which incidentally gen-
erates it, would be appropriate.
3
2.
Buildings
A residence in its totality may be considered a product. It is a product about
which millions of Americans each year make major purchase and leasing
decisions. Factors that primarily determine purchasing and leasing decisions
include cost, size, appearance, and location. Environmental factors are less
commonly considered. These include radon levels in certain eastern states
and the potential for lead exposure to infants and young children. Increas-
ingly, decisions are being made to avoid or accept risks associated with
elevated radon levels and LBP based on radon test results and lead inspec-
tions or risk assessments, respectively.
Most potential purchasers/leasers of residences are unaware that many
residential building units available in the marketplace are contaminated with
common indoor allergens such as dust mite fecal matter, mold, and pet
danders. Such exposure risks can be ascertained by professionals and, in
many cases, lay individuals before purchase. Mold infestation and high dust
mite populations are associated with moisture problems, and houses with
mold infestation often have a characteristic musty odor. Individuals with a
family history of asthma or allergy may choose to avoid such exposures by
purchasing or leasing a newer dwelling on a dry site. Residential units with
a significant history of indoor pets may not be a good choice for atopic
individuals. Complete avoidance or remediation would be desirable.
C. Designing and constructing “healthy buildings”
Significant indoor contamination problems can, in theory, be prevented or
avoided in new buildings by using appropriate design and construction
practices. Designing and constructing buildings, particularly large nonresi-
dential buildings, to achieve a “healthy building” environment is a signifi-
cant undertaking fraught with many uncertainties. Nevertheless a number
of “healthy” or “green” buildings have been designed and constructed using
various design principles.
1.
Identifying low-emission/low-toxicity products
A major imperative in designing and constructing truly “healthy buildings”
is the identification and selection of low-emission/low-toxicity construction
materials and furnishings. Such designs and construction must depend on
a very limited source characterization database that has been developed in
the U.S. and Northern Europe in the past decade. The use of product emis-
sion data is problematic since there is considerable uncertainty whether data
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