indoor air quality: the sleeping giant - dr julie riggs - safety and health expo 2014

Dr. Julie Riggs DProfAcademic Practitioner, Writer, Speaker

IAQ – The Sleeping Giant

+ 44 (0) 77683 45529 [email protected] www.drjulieriggs.co.uk





IndoorAirQuality

How important is IAQ to you?




X 600per day




• Spend 80% + time indoors;• Indoor environments are 10x more pollutant than outdoor;• EPA recognise IAQ as one of the top 5 health hazards;• 20 toxic compounds (cancer/birth defects) 200-500x higher indoors;• According to the AMA, 50% of all illnesses are caused or aggravated

by polluted indoor air;• 36,000 new chemicals added to CAS; • Unknown levels of risk / silo testing / silo knowledge;• Houses - 1900 (50 materials) – 2000 (55,000 materials);• Changes in building design and work practices;• 70% of occupants are dissatisfied with their environment;• Increase of health effects.




IAQ Developments:

• The increase in the amount of time spent in indoor environments;• The increased dependence on artificial products;• Increase occupancy densities;• Energy conservation techniques.




IndoorAirQuality

Are we doing enough?




15% of people in England have asthma




Kostiainen and Lampinen (2008)

Riggs (2013)

78% believe indoor air problems are belittled;

Only 11% believe IAQ problems are acknowledged and managed;

61% believe no one assuming responsibility of IAQ;

Only 17% confirm indoor air quality testing is conducted;

69% are dissatisfied with their workplace;

70% - Not satisfied with work environment IAQ;

46% complain of unpleasant odour;

32% - Unusual odours;

25% complain of dry air; 58% - Too dry air;

52% complain of varying room temperature.

56% - Uncomfortable fluctuating temperatures;

90% - Temperature varies room to room;

93% - Temperature varies during the day.




(168 responses)

• 82% stated they had no control over their environment;

• 70% saying they are dissatisfied with their environment;

• 92% have no access to IAQ resources;

• 75% place a high value on educating people about IAQ.

(82 responses)

• 3.6% have an IAQ policy within their organisation;

• 96% value independent IAQ organisation;

• 95% value IAQ in education;

• 99% value clearer guidelines;

• 94% value investigation kits .

BRIDGING THE GAP

Political and society risk perception influences focus and resources




Breyer (1993)

Industrial Waste Site or Indoor Air Quality

Which is the highest risk?




73% of Facility Managers have installed……

Source: AHRN, 2003

…… a fake thermostat




The IAQ ChallengeHIGHEST

PRIORITY?

Based upon # of people potentially

affected




Morbidity

Significant physiopathology / psychological impact (chronic)

Insignificant physiopathology / psychological impact (acute)

Reduced Production

Reduced Comfort

Combined low exposure with no effect other than perception




Derek clement croomes quote

• Staff costs are 100 - 200 times the cost of energy;

• 20 to 44 times the HVAC running costs;

• 30 times the HVAC installation costs.

Clements-Croome (2003)




• 75% of asthmatics have attack triggered by perfumes (Shim and Williams, 1986);

• NIOSH recognised 884 substances (from 2,983) used in fragrances were capable of causing cancer, birth defects, central nervous system disorders, allergic respiratory reactions, skin and eye irritations (Griffin, 2003);

• 15-30% of the general population reports some sensitivity to chemicals, including fragrances.;

• 100 VOCs - five of the six products emitted one or more carcinogenic hazardous air pollutants which the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) considers to have no safe exposure level (Steineman, 2008).




Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

refers to the physical,

chemical and biological

characteristics of air in the

indoor environment within a

building and how it relates

to the occupants physical

and psychological health,

comfort and productivity.

http://www.google.co.uk/url?sa=i&rct=j&q=&source=images&cd=&cad=rja&docid=iRE4lAokkAMqoM&tbnid=jVyomQ-pYLxL0M:&ved=0CAUQjRw&url=http://www.totalductworksolutions.co.uk/news.html&ei=DnK3UYnRK7Or0gXRi4HoBQ&bvm=bv.47534661,d.d2k&psig=AFQjCNFdsSZPWttvQts-SQj-zyJPM9M7ug&ust=1371063023868282




What legacy are you leaving?




A catastrophe may already have occurred - the future may be foreclosed by what we have already done: “We all live under the haunting fear that something may corrupt the environment to the point where man joins the dinosaurs as an obsolete way of life . . .our fate could perhaps be sealed twenty or more years before the development of symptoms” (Carson, 1962, p188).

indoor air quality: the sleeping giant - dr julie riggs - safety and health expo 2014

Education

indoor environments

dry air

sleeping giant

speaker iaq

uk www

uk iaq

77683 45529

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