English

Discusses sick building syndrome in office buildings. Poor ventilation is frequently blamed, although in 60% of cases, no specific cause can be identified, because of symptoms which are non-specific, and the vast variety of substances present in the air. Similarly, factors contributing to disease are not restricted to pollutant levels only. Procedure for examining causes of sick building syndrome are suggested. Describes checking of different kinds of ventilation system, and the importance of outside air intake. Describes problems of both local and central ventilation systems.

Discusses the physical, chemical and biological effects that moisture can have on indoor air pollutants such as formaldehyde, radon, aerosol particles, minerals from concrete, ozone, nitrogen dioxide, polyurethane, microbes and organic vapours.

Describes briefly California's Indoor Air Quality program, the importance of safeguarding indoor air quality, effects of particles on health, particularly inhalable and respirable particles, indoor air quality problems such as'building related illness', the determinants of indoor air quality, mitigating measures, including ventilation, source removal or substitution, source modification, air purification, and behavioural adjustments to reduce exposures (avoidance).

ECRC Capenhurst co-operated with two firms of builders to design, build and sell four low energy houses. The houses were insulated to a high standard and fitted with mechanical ventilation. The average annual space heating energy consumption of the four houses was some 6,000 kWh, 95% of which was provided at low tariff rate by storage heaters. The whole house average temperature over the heating season ranged from 17.6 to 20.3 degrees C for the four houses.

Discusses sources of formaldehyde indoors, e.g. smoking, formaldehyde resins, and release of formaldehyde from chipboards and foam insulation, and the importance of ventilation in removing excess pollutants. Factors influencing the amount of formaldehyde release include age of materials, temperature, moisture variations, ventilation. Emphasises the importance of quality control, standards and tests such as FTM-1 and FTM-2.

Discusses building 'safe' houses, describes the decay chain of uranium 238 and the qualities of radon, and risks of developing lung cancer run by miners and householders. Figures for lung cancer in the USA are quoted. Details from three studies in Houston, Maine and Sweden are given. Discusses sources of radon, e.g. water, building materials, soil. A study of houses in Pennsylvania indicated that high radon concentrations occurred over Cambro-ordovician sediment rock. Discusses movement of radon from soil into dwellings.