Phthalates are ubiquitous contaminants in indoor environments, and are reported to causeadverse health effects. Due to their semi-volatile nature, phthalate samples require a multisteppreparation before quantification with GC-MS. Many different sampling media,extraction procedures, and solvents are utilized in phthalate analytics, while comparisons andjustifications for each choice are lacking.

To accurately estimate the natural wind driven ventilation potential of a specific low rise building in a densely shielded or built-up area under local wind conditions, it is necessary to have site wind frequency data, pressure coefficient data, details about the windward and leeward openings of the building and the data related to building design. This paper summarises the appropriate data and discusses how to obtain these in order to estimate the natural cross ventilation potential of such a low-rise building.

Recently in Korea, plywood has been widely used as a floor material for Korean floor heatingsystems (Ondol) instead of the conventional oiled floor paper. Volatile organic compounds(hereafter VOCs) are easily emitted from the plywood and adhesives that constitute the floorinto the indoor environment due to the warm temperature of the floor. In this study, emissioncharacteristics of VOCs from adhesive and paints within an Ondol floor are assessed using theSmall Chamber Method in residences with plywood floors.

In this report, we proposed the estimation method of building material properties by usingboth numerical analysis and measuring the time history of concentration in micro cell, andshowed that the effective diffusion coefficient, emission rate and initial concentration in thebuilding material is provided with a single measurement. The effective diffusion coefficientof testing building materials were estimated to be from about 4.010-10 to 2.510-8 [m2/s] inthis proposed method.

Bake-out of buildings is believed to have a potential to reduce indoor air pollution caused byVOCs and formaldehyde emitted from building materials although controversial discussionshave been suggested. To clarify the effectiveness of bake-out, in this study, the variation ofVOCs and formaldehyde emission rate from building material were investigated in residentialhousing units with passive sampling methods.

The European research project Innovative Sensor System for Measuring Perceived AirQuality and Brand Specific Odours (SysPAQ) is started under the VIth frameworkprogramme under the work programme New and Emerging Science and Technology(NEST PATHFINDER "Measuring the Impossible"). The Kick-off of the project was on thefirst of September 2006.

This paper presents results from a principal component analysis (PCA) on variables affecting on indoor air quality in newly established buildings, in which low-emitting, classified building materials were used. The concentrations of TVOC, VOCs, formaldehyde and ammonia) were determined for the newly finished and 6-, and 12-month-old buildings. Temperature, relative humidity and air exchange rates were determined simultaneously. These values were included in the PCA models, which were used to reveal which variables affected indoor air quality (IAQ).

Today, especially in the developed industrialised nations, we have a high standard of foodsupply for the population. In these societies people are asking increasingly how and underwhich conditions their foods are produced. These questions relate above all to the complexesof animal health and animal management conditions, product quality, and influences on theenvironment caused by animal production. One problem in this connection is the high airtemperatures together with high air humidity. There are not only in hot climates but also inGermany high temperatures during the summer period.

This paper presents the results of a study to determine the thermal comfort requirements ofthe occupants in Iranian hospitals. It arrives at its conclusions through consideration of thewide range of metabolic rates and clothing levels experienced by the occupants. The studyincludes both patients and staff, and only considers patient recovery wards as these are wherethe greatest range of thermal comfort needs will normally be found. This study uses ISO 7730as its basis, with reference also to ASHRAE 55 and CIBSE.

The occupants of hospitals like other buildings have widely differing thermal comfortrequirements due to their different levels of clothing and metabolism. The study indicatedthree main groups of occupants in Iranian hospitals as: patients that are able to be covered,patients that are not able to be covered regarding their medical conditions, and staff. Thisstudy investigated the thermal comfort calculated to have been achieved for differentoccupants in Iranian hospitals.