IAQ Lecture 1

Indoor contaminates

• Biological

• Particles

• Gases

• Odour

Biological contaminates

bacteria and viruses

mould/fungi

Particles contaminates fine

resultes from chemical reactions or condensation of gases PM2.5

Particles contaminates coarse

made form solids breaking down. includes pollen, chemically inert. PM10

Indoor sources of particulate matter

• candles

• fireplace

• stoves, wood gas

• cooking

• smoking

• printing devices

• cleaning activities

outdoor sources of particulate matter

vehicles

vegetation

widlfires

size of particulate matter

• inhalable: capture by nasal passage

• thoracic: enters the lung airways

• respirable: penetrate the gas exchange part of the lung

• UFP: ultra fine particles

bioaersols

can cause allergies, asthma, hypersensitivity

link to acute toxicosis and cancer

can produce VOC

Gases contaminates

organic: bases on a skeleton of carbon atoms

inorganic: all other phase contaminants

Health affect of VOC (volatile organic compounds)

irritation

odour

exacerbation of asthma

fatigue

difficulty concentration

Total VOC

total concentation of ALL VOC present in indoor air

Nitrogen Oxide

result of incomplete combustion

Ozone

photocopiers

air cleaners

Quatifiying odour

oudor threshold: detectable by the human smell

limit value: max concentration should not have a harmfull affect for an exposure period of 8h

oudor threshold

want to have a higher ration of TLV/Odour threshold large difference between when the odour is initially detected and when health affects set in. want it be detectable before its harmful

Sensitivity to odour

• age

• history of exposure

• temperature, humidity

• personal prefereces

Odour Sorption and Release

furnishing and other porous surfaces absorb and release the odoor. cigs indoor

Odour Units (Olf)

emission rate of bioeffluent from a "standard person”

psychometrics

study of the determination of physical adnd thermodynamic properties of air vapour mixtures

sensible energy

the change in energy of a substance resulting from a rise in temperature

latent energy

the change in energy of a substance resulting from a change of state, but not a rise of temperature

total energy

sum f sensible and latent energy