Indoor Air Quality Research

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Building studies                                                        TOP

Innovative monitoring approaches.   Monitoring systems are being evaluated that measure air quality throughout large buildings in near real-time and place results on the world-wide web for immediate distribution and evaluation.   In addition to the hardware, sophisticated time-series and other statistical methods are used to evaluate the collected data.

Epidemiological investigations.  We are investigating determinants of occupant perceptions and sick building syndrome (SBS) using intervention approach.  

Indoor environment/air quality characterization studies.  We’ve recently completed an assessment of dental offices in which we found significantly elevated levels of fine particulate matter (PM_2.5) but generally low levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

The photo shows sampling equipment in a dental office being positioned by doctoral student Chris Godwin and masters student Shobna Prandoh. The real time sensor array measures 10 parameters.  See, for example, M. Luoma, S. Batterman, "Characterization of Particulate Emissions from Occupant Activities in Offices," Indoor Air Journal, in press (2000).

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This photo shows a more industrial-hygiene oriented application, a print shop which was found to generate large emissions of particulate matter. The Department of Environmental Health Sciences' Industrial Hygiene Program, which awards MS and PhD degrees, focuses on occupational exposures, assessment, and management.

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Emission measurements                                            TOP

Our laboratory has the capability to investigate VOC emissions and sorption characteristics. We’ve performed tests of several types of materials, ranging from manufactured wood products to “fungal volatiles”. We’ve designed and built automated test systems for these purposes.

Several  papers from our group have estimated emissions using time-series techniques, e.g., using activity factors and correcting for autocorrelation found in IAQ measurements. 

The photo shows a dynamic (flow-through) emission chamber system we built for the US Forest Products Laboratory.  This system is evaluating VOC (including aldehyde) emissions from particleboard, fiberboard, and related materials.   See:  M.G.D. Baumann, S. Batterman, G.Z. Zhang, "Terpene Emissions from Particleboard and Medium Density Fiberboard Products," Forest Products Journal, 49,1, 49-56, 1999. M.G.D. Baumann, S.A. Batterman, L.F. Lorenz, G-Z Zhang, "Aldehyde Emissions from Particleboard and Medium-Density Fiberboard Products," Forest Products Journal, in press, 2000.

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Simple headspace systems may be used to identify emitted compounds.  (In contrast to  dynamic systems, these do not provide accurate quantification of emissions.)  This  headspace system was used to identify fungal volatiles.  These VOCs appear common, but are present at low concentrations.   See, for example, S. Batterman, N. Bartoletta, H. Burge, "Fungal Volatiles of Potential Relevance to Indoor Air Quality," Paper 91-62.9, Annual Meeting of the Air and Waste Management Association, Vancouver Canada, June 1991.

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More research links

Ambient (outdoor) air quality research shares many similarities with IAQ research.  The next page discusses ambient air quality work, including air toxics and risk assessment.

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