Air Quality
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Insight
Poor Air Quality, Sick Building Syndromes (SBS) and other building related illness are emerging as critical health, environmental and legal issues throughout the world. In many cases hazardous Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is affecting all types of facilities such as private homes, offices, hospitals, schools, restaurants, hotels, casinos, pharmaceutical plants, food plants, high-techs electronic and computer facilities.
An excess of work-related irritations of the skin and mucous membranes and other symptoms including headache, fatigue and difficulty concentrating reported by workers in modern buildings.
This is how the World Health Organization (WHO) has defined the phenomenon of Sick Building Syndrome. Some reported symptoms of high concentrations of such contaminants found in indoor air include eye, nose and throat irritation and allergy, nausea and headaches. Some contaminants may also be potentially carcinogenic. We are exposing ourselves to a wide range of potentially toxic substances with every breath we take.
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[tab name="Take Action"]
Take Action
The case for effective IEQ maintenance procedures is compelling.
Given its comparatively lower implementation cost along with the human health, productivity, energy saving and environmental benefits, it should be an integral component of all effective building maintenance practices. Importantly, effective IEQ maintenance gives rise to a multitude of additional benefits beyond improved indoor air quality.
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[tab name="Where Problems Start"]
Where Problems Start
Airborne contaminants originate from a multitude of sources, ranging from the operation of office equipment to vapours from solvents and resins used in furniture, carpets and building materials. However, it is well understood that a primary source of most indoor air contamination is the bacterial and fungal colonization of air filters, heat transfer coils and duct work within the HVAC systems of modern buildings.
Too often, the approach to mechanical plant maintenance as it relates to indoor air quality is reactionary, with re-mediation work conducted in response only to known problems. It is essential that this approach be replaced by a focus on prevention. By implementing and adhering to a proactive monitoring, maintenance and treatment program, building managers can dramatically impact the levels of airborne biological contaminants within their indoor environments, contributing materially to the improved health and well-being of building occupants. Importantly, effective plant maintenance gives rise to a multitude of additional benefits beyond improved indoor air quality. Bio film accelerates the corrosion and degradation of aluminium coil surfaces, while fungal growth accelerates the rate at which filters become blocked.
By inhibiting microbial colonizations, one helps to extend the useful life of key air handling components. A well maintained mechanical plant consumes far less energy than systems whose heat exchange and air resistance characteristics have been impaired by the presence of bio film. Well maintained systems yield significant cost savings through improved operating efficiencies. With HVAC contributing materially to global energy use, this improved efficiency also yields direct environmental benefits and greenhouse gas reductions.
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[tab name="Who is Responsible"]
Who is Responsible
Building owners, building managers and employers alike have a duty of care, to their occupants and employees to provide a safe and healthy indoor working environment. They must ensure that all reasonable measures are taken to minimize the levels of harmful airborne and surface contaminants in their buildings.
Allergies such as asthma, rhinitis, bronchitis, headaches, fatigue and breathing difficulties result from repeated exposure to microbes such as bacterial or fungal spores that are commonly found indoors. Exposure to these contaminants has also been shown to suppress the immune system, increasing the chances of infection. Air circulated by the air conditioning systems may also pick up and recycle a number of other bio aerosols and spread throughout indoor environment, resulting in further contamination and infection cases.
Current research suggests the even inactive organic dust, comprising the non-viable fragments arising from the fungal and bacterial matter within the Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditions (HVAC) system, may cause symptoms of chronic illness. As a result, building occupants will still experience significant health complaints even in instances where viable airborne fungal and bacteria counts are at acceptable levels.
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[tab name="Smoke Haze"]
Smoke Haze
In a comprehensive review by Ostermann and Brauer (2001), air pollution from vegetation fire, otherwise known as smoke haze, has undoubtedly been proven to have a negative health impact on humans.
Here is a summary of the main associations between smoke haze and health:
- During smoke haze, the pollutant variable most consistently elevated is particulate matter. Fine particulate matter in particular (particulate size of size 10 micron and below), can be inhaled and have potential to have adverse health impacts.
- Studies indicate a consistent relationship between smoke haze exposure and increased respiratory symptoms, increased risk of respiratory illness and decreased lung function.
- Some studies also indicate an association between smoke haze exposure and visits to the hospital emergency group.
- Asthmatic sufferers are particularly susceptible to the negative health impacts associated with smoke haze
Recommendations for mitigating the impact of smoke haze include:
- Dust masks
- Protection by remaining indoors
- Air cleaners
- Other measures such as emergency shelters and evacuation
Due to the leakage from imperfect dust masks fittings and breathing discomfort when wearing masks, dust masks do not serve as the best protection against smoke haze. In contrast, there has been strong evidence supporting the effectiveness of portable air cleaners in reducing indoor particulate levels. Therefore, in a smoke haze episode, individuals should seek environments protected by air conditioning systems with effective filters.
References:
Ostermann, Kathryn, and Michael Brauer. 2001. “Air Quality During Haze Episodes and Its Impact on Health.” In Forest Fires and Regional Haze in Southeast Asia , ed. Peter Eaton and Miroslav Radojevic, Chap. 10. Huntington, N.Y.: Nova Science.
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