ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.01-32.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe prevalence of symptoms compatible with the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) was measured in a questionnaire study among 4 943 office workers. An assessment of the relation between SBS symptoms and personal, physical and psychosocial exposure factors was made. In contrast to males, the majority of females were lower‐grade staff Females reported annoyance from physical climate factors more often, both at work and at home. Males reported a better psychosocial situation than females. Female gender, asthmalrhinitis, paper and VDT work were related to an increased prevalence of SBS symptoms. The prevalence of facial skin symptoms increased markedly with the amount of VDT work. Psychosocial workload intensifid this relation. Inequalities in physical climate and psychosocial conditions associated with different positions held in the offices can be of importance for the increased occurrence of symptoms among female

ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.t01-2-00002.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractTotal volatile organic compounds (TVOC) are determined in intake, room‐supply and room air in 86 office rooms in 29 office buildings in northern Sweden. Measurements of formaldehyde were also made in room air. Building and room characteristics were identified and symptom reports collected from 1087 office workers. Concentrations of TVOC and formaldehyde in room air were low, with mean values of 71 µg/m3and 31 µg/m3, respectively. The TVOC concentration was generally lower in room air than in supply air or intake air. The “loss” (difference in measured values) of TVOC from supply to room air was associated with raised concentrations of formaldehyde and raised prevalences of occupant symptoms. High TVOC concentrations in room air were associated with reduced prevalences of occupant s

ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.t01-2-00003.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractReactive indoor chemistry has seldom been considered in investigations of the health effects of exposure to indoor contaminants although improved understanding may help to reduce exposure misclassification as well as identify previously unknown exposures. Nitrous acid (HONO), formed from the heterogeneous reaction of NO2with water on indoor surfaces, may be a neglected and important confounder in studies of nitrogen dioxide (NO2) health effects. The understanding of HONO – NO2relationships is important since conventional measurements of NO2actually measure a number of nitrogen oxides including HONO. Accordingly, we examined the effects of relative humidity, chamber residence time, the presence of carpeted sufaces and the presence of human subjects on the production of HONO following the injection of NO2into a chamber. Increasing chamber relative humidity led to greater HONO concentrations at a given NO2level. At 80% relative humidity, HONO concentrations were 11% of the NO2concentration. Increased residence time in the chamber increased HONO levels, with a five‐fold increase in HONO levels between 20 minute and 120 minute residence times. The presence of wool carpets in the chamber was not found to affect significantly the HONO production rates, although NO2decay rates were increased. When human subjects were present in the chamber, HONO concentrations decreased by as much as 50% of the levels present under similar conditions with no subjects in the chamber. In light of our results we argue that future investigations of NO2health effects and indoor air quality must recognize the importance of indoor chemistry, and in particular, the likelihood of elevated concentrations of HONO which will interfere with NO2measurements and potentially confound the investigation of concentration‐effect relationships. Similarly, previous studies demonstrating a relationship between health endpoints and NO2exposure should be viewed with caution until the presence and importance of other potentially toxic nitrogenous compounds in the exposure environment are eval

ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.t01-2-00004.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractIn a subarctic climate the diurnal variation in temperature may cause water condensation in ducts placed in the unheated spaces of a building. In this study, germination time and sporulation of a fungus,Penicillium verrucosum, were studied on dusty, galvanized steel sheet under different moisture conditions at room temperature. The effect of condensed water in a supply air duct on spore amplification was studied in an experimental ventilation set‐up. In the field, air temperatures and the dew point temperature of air in the duct were monitored continuously for a week.P. verrucosumgerminated on steel surfaces during five‐hour incubation of the surface under humid conditions; when the surface had been moist for half an hour, germ tubes appeared within 17 hours. During 24‐hour incubation under moist conditions,P. verrucosumproduced hypae and spores. In the experimental set‐up the airborne spore counts increased when the air passed through a water‐condensingsection of the duct.Penicilliumwas the most abundant fungus sporulated on the moist duct surface. In the field, during humid weather, the surface temperature on the air stream surface decreased to the dew point temperature of the air in the duct. Thus water condensation in air ducts may promote fung

ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.t01-2-00005.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe emission of volatile organic compounds (VOC) from nine toner powders and eleven types of processed paper from photocopying machines (6), laser (3) and matrix printers (21, and one carbonless copy fm has been measured. A total of 61 VOC from toner powders were identified by heating (185 °C) the powder for three minutes for thermal desorption and by gas chromatography followed by the use of low and high resolution EI and CI mass spectrometry. VOC from processed paper were analyzed by headspace sampling on Tenax TA from nylon bags. Thirty‐one VOC with a wide range of volatility and persistency were identified from processed paper. The total VOC emission from the various types of paper differed substantially. Using the field and laboratory emission cell (FLEC), the calculated initial emission rate of styrene was 5 μg m−2h−1from a freshly processed paper The VOC emission from machines and the processed paper can be reduced by proper choice of o m e equipment. However, an evaluation should consider all potential pol

ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.t01-2-00006.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe sampling rate of a nitrogen dioxide (NO2) passive sampling badge was evaluated in indoor environments including an unoccupied research house, residential houses, and an office. Measurements from the NO2badges were compared with those of a chemiluminescent analyzer the EPA reference method, by placing them near to the sample inlet of the chemiluminescent analyzer In this study, we used a new sampling rate for the NO2badge placed in indoor environments (an overall mass transfer coefficient of 0.10 cm/s) smaller than the rate previously reported for the badge when used outdoors. The new rate provides more accurate measurements of NO, concentrations in indoor environments. Indoor NO2concentrations were also measured with the NO2badges exposed to a constant wind velocity provided by a wind tunnel. Since the measurements of the badge with a constant wind velocity agreed well with the reference method, the badges could be assumed to be a secondary reference measurement. With the badges used as the secondary reference measurement, we developed a portable wind tunnel to evaluate a personal exposure measurement by the badge. The results are presented in Environment International (Lee et al., 1993). Precision of the badge measurements was as good as an intraclass correlation coefficient of 0.9779. It was determined that placement of the badge should be at least 10 cm out from an indoor wall surface to avoid undersampling due to NO2gradients near the surface.

ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.t01-2-00007.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractGeological exploration has dentifid an unsuspected radon‐prone belt in southern California. Detailed analysis of aeroradiometric (NARR) data, soil‐gas radon, soil permeability, and finally indoor radon has identified the Rincon Shale and Rincon‐derived soils in Santa Barbara County as anomalous in uranium and radon. Roughly 74% of houses on the Rincon Shale exceed 4 pCi/l and 26% exceed 20 pCi/l in standardized screening tests (3 to 7 day AC, “closed‐house” lived‐in rooms). Fifty three percent exceed 4 pCi/l in longer‐term measurements (1 to 6 mo, AT) under normal ventilation conditions.Unusually strong correlations between aeroradiometric data, soil‐gas radon adjusted for soil permeability, geology, and indoor radon reflect the unaltered character of sedimentary host rocks and a consequent tendency for anomalous uranium to occur throughout given rock units rather than in epzgenetic mineralized zones. Under these circumstances, deliberate geological exploration may be a more eficient approach to indoor radon risk identfication than simple random sampling or non‐random testing of houses. By the same token, geological parameters can facilitate radon risk assessment on undeveloped lands. Attention is drawn to multiple populations within radon test samples and the consequent problems in estimating

ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.t01-2-00008.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

摘要:

AbstractThe present work is a study of reentrainment of a tracer gas formaldehyde via six rotary air‐to‐air heat exchangers (all enthalpy exchangers) in the northern part of Sweden. Five exchangers installed in office buildings and one in a day‐care centre were included in the study. Formaldehyde in indoor was used as a monitor pollutant and was determined in air samples collected in the ducts at four positions around the rotor of the exchanger, in the supply‐air duct and in the exhaust‐air duct. Air sampling of homogeneous duct air was performed simultaneously at the four positions using 2, 4‐dinitrophenylhydrazine‐impregnated glass fibre filters. The sample analysis of formaldehyde was made by high‐performance liquid chromatography. The reentrainment of formaldehyde was calculated and found to be 1‐9%. These results show that a rotary heat exchanger can be used in buildings where activities produce low levels of air pollutants, provided that the exchanger is properly install

ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.t01-1-00009.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY

ISSN:0905-6947    

DOI:10.1111/j.1600-0668.1993.t01-1-00010.x

出版商:Munksgaard International Publishers    

年代:1993

数据来源: WILEY