The Importance of Indoor Air Quality in Office Buildings

Camilla BrasherETIS 6020

Indoor Air Quality In the news since the energy crisis of

the 70s necessitated tighter construction

Same time frame more workers become white collar due to the computer revolution

More people in tighter environment

Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is born

Sick Building Syndrome Workers become ill at workplace and

get better at home NIOSH uses the term Indoor

Environment Quality (IEQ) to describe this

Examples include:› Legionellosis› Allergic reactions› Mold and Fungus› Hypersensitivity

NIOSH believes the problem is not just what one breathes

Factors in Building-Related Illness› Job stress› Ergonomic stress› Lighting› Noise › Temperature extremes

These factors may occur individually or combined

Symptoms of SBS

Itching, burning eyes Irritated skin Nasal congestion Fatigue Dry irritated throats Nausea headaches

NIOSH found that high stress environments include:

Humidity problems Unacceptable noise levels Adverse ergonomic conditions Improper temperature conditions Inadequate ventilation

Seventy percent of employed Americans work in non-agricultural, non-industrial environments…

Improving building environments

There are 89 million workers in the US who mainly work indoors

Cleaner indoor environments could help an estimated 15 million of them

There is no OSHA regulation regarding indoor air quality in offices

OSHA’s recommendations

There is no mention of office standards Inquiries are delegated to either

NIOSH, EPA or ASHRAE ASHRAE standards were set in 1973

and updated in 1975› Recommend an exchange rate of 5 cubic

feet of outside air per minute for every person working in a building

› This has become a part of many municipal codes around the country

OSHA Major Indoor Air ContaminantsCompound Source Health Effects

Acetic Acid Silicone caulk, x-ray equipment Mucous membrane irritant

Carbon Dioxide Unvented appliances, human respiration, combustion

Loss of concentration, sleepy, quicker respirations

Carbon Monoxide Tobacco smoke, improperly vented exhaust or appliances

Headache, nausea, cyanosis, cardiovascular effects, death

Formaldehyde Foam insulation, plywood, particle board, paneling, carpeting, fabrics, glues

Allergic reactions, rashes, eye, respiratory, and mucous membrane irritation, odor

Nitrogen Oxides Improperly vented exhaust or appliances, tobacco smoke, welding

Irritation to mucous membranes

OSHA Major Indoor Air Contaminants Source: OSHA Technical Manual: Section III: Chapter 2, pp.2-3

Ozone Copy machinery, air cleaners, electrical arcing, smog

Mucous membrane irritation, aggravated chronic respiratory diseases

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)

Copiers, glue, paint, asphalt, gasoline and tobacco smoke, cosmetics, glue, dried floor drains, cleaning compounds…

Dizziness, nausea, mucous membrane irritation, fatigue, headache

Ammonia, hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide

Microfilm, window cleaner, drain cleaners blue-print equipment, tobacco smoke, combustion products

Mucous membrane irritation, aggravated chronic respiratory diseases

Synthetic Fibers Fibrous glass and mineral wool

Dermatitis, eye, skin, lung irritant

Tobacco Smoke Pipe, cigar, cigarette smoking

Respiratory system, eye and nasal irritation, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, headache, sinus problems, contains several hundred toxic substances

Microorganisms and biological contaminants

Air conditioning condensate, cooling towers, water damaged materials, indoor high humidity, hot water systems, plants, animals, insects, food and food products

Allergic reactions, pneumonias, humidifier fever, infections such as legionellosis. Symptoms include chills, fever, aching muscles, tight chest, cough, headaches, diarrhea and nausea

Smoking…. Smoking should be banned from

inside buildings Outside smoking areas should

be kept away from ventilation uptakes and away from doors or windows

Ventilation is key

Good ventilation moves a lot of air Humidity should be kept low indoors to

prevent mold and fungus growth Moisture should not accumulate in drip

pans and there should be no water damage due to leaky roofs

Any damage should be repaired immediately

Molds…

Biological threat to indoor air quality Moisture either due to water damage

or high humidity Mold will grow where it has food and

water Eliminating water from the indoor

environment will limit mold growth

Places mold loves…

Leaking roofs Substandard maintenance Cold spots Localized flooding Malfunctioning humidifiers Leaky plumbing

Mold

Mold is big business and business is thriving

Mold in buildings can cause Aggravation of asthma symptoms Headaches Allergic reactions Some molds are toxic Severity of symptoms

› Depend on the ages of the individuals that are exposed

› Length of exposure › Sensitivities that might already exist

Radon Radioactive gas produced as radium

decays Present in almost all soils and in rocks Migrates through groundwater and soil Seeps into homes and buildings

through the foundations Second to smoking in causing lung

cancer EPA had success in homes now wants

to test in commercial buildings

Asbestos Fibrous mineral found in rocks Extruded into filaments that cannot be

seen with the naked eye Under the right conditions can suspend

in the air and be inhaled Causes asbestosis, lung cancer and

mesothelioma Can take up to 20 years after exposure

to manifest

Asbestos More of a threat to maintenance

workers because it was used as insulation in boiler rooms and service areas

If it is intact OSHA does not recommend moving it, just monitoring

NIOSH advocates its removal in all cases and believes there is no safe amount of asbestos

More of a danger during demolition or renovation

Asbestos

Asbestos EPA estimates that friable (easily crumbled)

asbestos exists in 700,000 public and commercial buildings

EPA and NIOSH 5 facts about asbestos:› Asbestos is dangerous but only if airborne› Average amount in buildings is low making

health risks low› Ill advised removal is more dangerous than

monitoring› Removal is only necessary in renovation or

demolition› Proper management and monitoring will

protect workers

Research into economics Benefits that result from improving air

quality should be added in› Less sick leave days› Less worker complaints› Change in workers comfort level› Increase in productivity› Increase in moral› Reduced healthcare costs› Less maintenance costs› Less turnover of employees

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References (continued)Seppanen, Olli, and William J. Fisk. "A Model to

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