Transcript Indoor Air Quality

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Good Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) depends
upon...
Proper circulation
 Age of the building
 Regular maintenance
 Filtration
 Humidity levels
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One out of every thirteen school-aged children
suffer from asthma
Every year, more than 10 million absentee days
are accumulated on account of airborne related
illnesses
EPA study in 2000 determined 50% of nation’s
schools had improperly maintained equipment
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Effect of outdoor air supply rate and filtration
Speed of 4 of 7 tests performed improved
significantly when outdoor air supply rate increased
 No sig. effect on test scores
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Effect of moderately raised temperatures
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When temps reduced from 25 to 20 degrees Celsius,
performance (speed) improved in 2 numerical and 2
language based tests
Effect of particle filtration
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So significant effects on performance
Wargocki and Lyon, 2006. Wargocki et al., 2007.
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Radon
Carbon Monoxide
Ozone
Tobacco Smoke
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)
Toxic Materials – Asbestos, Lead
Biological Aerosols (Bioaerosols)
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Defined as...
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Any airborne molecule that is biological in origin
can be in the form of gases, vapor, or large
particulates.
can also be microorganisms themselves
- Fungi, bacteria, viruses, protozoans
SOURCE
EXAMPLES OF
BIOAEROSOLS
Bacteria
Legionella, Actinomycetes
Fungi
Histoplasma, Alternaria, Pencillium,
Aspergillus, Stachybotrys, aflatoxins,
aldehydes, alcohol
Protozoans
Naegleria, Acanthamoeba
Viruses
Influenza
Algae
Chlorococus
Green Plants
Ambrosia (ragweed) pollen
Arthropods
Dermatophagoides (dust mites) feces,
Cockroaches
Mammals
Dog or cat dander
Source: http://www.state.nj.us/health/eoh/peoshweb/bioaero.htm
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Study conducted in Italy, Daccarro et al. 2003,
looking at airborne microbial communities in
gyms
Found a higher abundance of “Staph” in the
gym compared with outdoors
Also, 38 fungi taxa in gyms and 30 outdoors
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Growing Airborne Microbes
Comparing different areas of the scholastic
environment
 Petri dishes
 Agar medium
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Particulate traps
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Wire hangers, nylon, and petroleum jelly
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Genus of bacteria
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Legionnaires disease
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Flu-like symptoms
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Domestic hot-water
systems and cooling
towers
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Most species harmless
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Food poisoning
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More recently, human
infections
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Very common: 1-20
million/ g of soil
Look much like fungi
but are bacteria
Tuberculosis
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Histoplasmosis
Primarily effects
lungs
Common in
immunodeficent
individuals
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Mostly plant pathogens
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Allergen to humans
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Commonly known
as moulds
Main cause of food
spoilage
Produce mycotoxins
Many practical
applications
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Another common
mould
Some species
produce aflatoxins
Also, many practical
applications
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Black mold
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Moist areas
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Wide range of
symptoms
Extended exposure:
very severe symptoms
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One of the main
causes of asthma
Fecal matter higher
allergenic
Unfortunately, no
way to
avoid...FOUND
EVERYWHERE