Janis Victoria A.

Robles
Industrial Hygienist

Environment Control Division

Occupational Safety and Health Center
Objectives:
At the end of the session the participants will be
able to:
• Define Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
• Identify, evaluate and control IAQ problems
• Recommend IAQ Management Plan

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Reference: Nat’l Inst. Of Env. Health and Sciences, NIH

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Indoor Air Quality - a Health Concern
EPA and WHO* rank today‘s indoor air pollution as one
of the top five environmental risks to public health

We spend 90 % of Increased levels of

our time indoors air pollution
• higher air pollution outdoors
• better sealing of buildings to
prevent heat loss thus
Increased need for resulting in less air exchange
healthy indoor air • materials used for building
such as paint, glues (pressed
wood), more upholstered
furniture (house dust mite,
* Environmental Protection Agency (USA), World Health Organisation bugs, allergens).

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
We spend 90% of our time indoors
...in the house, in the office or at school.
Reason enough to think about the quality of the
air we breathe.
Particles per 35 cubic feet

Clean air Outdoor air Indoor air

1 1 Million up to 100 Million

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
What is Indoor Air ?
• The term indoor air (IA) is usually applied to
non-industrial indoor environments:
– Office buildings,
– Public buildings (schools, theatres, restaurants, etc.)
– Private dwellings.
Non-industrial setting
Industrial setting
•Many chemical substances in the air
• Specific production chemical
but in such low concentrations
compounds are known
•IA chemical composition does not
• Air concentrations are measured
allow us to predict how the air will be
and compared with the TLV.
perceived

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 What is Indoor Air Quality ?
• is a term which refers to the air quality within and
around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to
the health and comfort of building occupants.
• Thousands of • Irritating, foul, or
chemical substances stale
• In low concentrations

• Chemical
composition of IA
and its combination
• Cannot perceived
its effect tog with
temp and humidity

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 What is Indoor Air Quality ?
• Poor IAQ is the combined effect of gases or particles in
excessive concentration and thermal conditions that can
produce air that is perceived as irritating, foul, or stale
which can affect the health or satisfaction of the building
occupants.
• Good IAQ –
– has no unwanted gases or particles at concentrations
which will adversely affect building occupants; suitable
comfort conditions
– building occupants, staff, and management share the
goal of providing a healthy indoor environment
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 What is Indoor Air Quality ?
• Acceptable indoor air is defined by ASHRAE, American
Society of Heating, Refrigeration and Air Conditioning Engineers
– Air in which there are no known contaminants at
harmful concentrations and which a substantial
majority (usually 80%) of the people exposed do not
express DISSATISFACTION.

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Thermal Conditions:
a) Temperature and b) Humidity
- Recommended optimum temperature
ranges from 20oC - 24oC* for indoor office
setting
- Indoor air professionals recommend a
relative air humidity level of 30 - 65 %* for
human occupancy
- *Proposed

• Average humidity levels outdoors (moderate climate):

• 70 % to 75% rel. humidity
 a) Temperature
• Recommended optimum temperature ranges
from 20oC - 24oC

However, occupants’ thermal

comfort will depend on the
following:
➢ activity
➢ age
➢ natural body temperature
➢ seasonal temperature
 b) Relative Humidity
• Term used to describe the amount of water vapor
that exists in a gaseous mixture of air and water.
Relative Humidity and Temperature
 When temp is high and relative
humidity is LOW
Evaporation of water is rapid
Soil dries
Wet clothes hanging dry quickly
Perspiration readily evaporates from the skin
Wooden furniture can shrink causing the paint
that covers these surfaces to fracture
 When temp is high and relative
humidity is HIGH
• Evaporation of water is slow
When RH approaches 100%, condensation can
occur on surfaces leading to problems with mold,
corrosion, decay and other moisture-related
deterioration.
Moist
air and
hot!
IAQ Effects
• People experience adverse
health conditions
• The more sensitive or more
exposed people experience
symptoms sooner.
• Some people may not be
sensitive to IAQ problems in
their early years of work, but
can become vulnerable as
exposure continues year after
year.
Be careful: concentration, duration,
frequency, individual susceptibility
/ LIFESTYLE Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Building Occupants
• Hypersensitive or Susceptible Individuals

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
• Acute health and
comfort effects linked
to the time spent in
workplace, but no
specific illness or cause
can be identified

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Building-related Illness (BRI)
• Symptoms of diagnosable illness are
identified and attributed to
environmental agents in workplace
• Affected people report flu like
symptoms such as fever, chills,
wheezing, fatigue and shortness of
breath
• Legionnaire’s disease (contaminated
warm stagnant aerosolized water);
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
(organic dust);
• Humidifier fever (bacteria, fungi,
amoebas in the humidifier);
• Pontiac Fever (probably from
Legionella infection )
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Recognition of IAQ Issues

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Common Pollutant Categories
Biological
- refers to bacteria, viruses, fungi / molds, dust, mite, allergen and pollen from:
1) moisture sources: water spills, roof/wall/floor water penetration, inadequate
humidity control, condensation, ventilation system,
2) brought about by building occupants, and
3) inadequate maintenance and housekeeping
Chemical
- Tobacco smoke
- Emission from products used in the bldg. office equipment (furniture, wall and
floor coverings, cleaning and consumer products)
- Particulates, solid or liquid suspended in air, produced by activities that occur in
the building like sanding wood or drywall dust, silica from cutting/drilling,
printing, copying, operating equipment, or sweeping floor.
 Primary Sources of Indoor Pollution
• Outdoor air • Building and Construction Materials and Furnishings
• Building Occupants and Activities • Inadequate Building Design and Maintenance
VOCs – VOCs
Perchloroethylene VOCs
particulates Volatile Bioaerosols Particulates /
ozone VOCs bioaerosols (dry cleaning) Organic allergen toner dust
Stale water
and other VOCs Compounds ozone

formaldehyde
polyaromatic
Hydrocarbons
(burned tobacco)
bioaerosols VOCs
carbon VOCs molds carbon
tobacco smoke perfume particulates
monoxide Formaldehyde monoxide
Department of Labor and Employment body odor ozone
benzene dust benzene
22 CO2 (exhaled
OCCUPATIONAL
pesticides SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER air) Gases and vapors from
cleaning materials
 Other Sources
• Accidental Events (substance spills) These can also
• Special Use Areas/Mixed Use Buildings (pantry, contaminate
smoking
the indoor air
lounges)
• Redecorating, Remodeling, Repair Activities (plumbing)

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 AIR FILTER
• Is a device composed of fibrous materials which removes solid particulates such
as dust, pollen, mold, and bacteria from the air.. Air filters are used in applications
where air quality is important, notably in building ventilation systems

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 http://www.escoglobal.com/news/in-depth-comparison-between-hepa-and-ulpa-filters-in-biosafety-cabinets/1958/

Visible with an electron microscope Visible with a microscope Visible with the human eye

COVID 19 virus - the range is 0.06 to

.14 microns;
• There is never a naked virus
floating in the air or released by
people
• The virus attaches to water
droplets or aerosols; larger than 1
micron.

Activated Carbon filter, or charcoal filter,

• is a bed of activated carbon Ultra Low Penetration Air (ULPA)
• this is the popular filtration against Filters HEPA (High Efficiency
gases, chemicals and Volatile Organic • provide a higher cleaning
efficiency (up to 99.99% of the
Particulate Air) filters
Compounds (VOCs). • remove at least 99.97% of
• However, the Activated Carbon filter submicrometer particles).
• ULPA filters can be used at airborne particles 0.3
can’t remove fine particles like
dust, dust mites, pet dander or particle size between 0.1 to 0.2 micrometers (μm)
pollen from the air. microns. in diameter.
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Reference: https://www.sentryair.com/blog/industry-applications/medical/potential-tools-in-helping-to-protect-against-coronavirus/

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Can Masks Capture Coronavirus?

Reference: https://smartairfilters.com/en/blog/can-masks-capture-coronavirus/

• Coronavirus particles are smaller than the PM2.5 cutoff,

but bigger than some dust particles and gases.
Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Facemask and N95
• Surgical mask / medical facemask
– Made of a polypropylene nonwoven fabric created using a melt
blowing process
– Could be as effective (or ineffective) as respirators, such
as N95
• Depends on material, shape and tight seal.

• N95
– non-woven polypropylene fiber.

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 Department of Labor and Employment
OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
 “Both surgical masks and unvented KN95
respirators, even without fit-testing, reduce the
outward particle emission rates by 90%, and
74% on average during speaking and coughing,
respectively, compared to wearing no mask,
corroborating their effectiveness at reducing
outward emission.”
Source: Asadi, S., Cappa, C.D., Barreda, S. et al. Efficacy of masks and face coverings in controlling
outward aerosol particle emission from expiratory activities. Sci Rep 10, 15665 (2020).
https://doi.org/10.1038/s41598-020-72798-7 Retrieved from:
https://www.nature.com/articles/s41598-020-72798-7#citeas

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER
Pollutant Fate
 Premininary IAQ Checklist
Indoor Air Quality Preliminary Inspection Checklist
Items to be checked Yes No Remarks

Walls, Ceilings and Floors

• Molds on walls, ceiling and around windows
• Mold and/or sour odour on plant pots
• Visible dust on flat surfaces
Diffusers
• Diffusers blocked
• Mold, dust, dirt on diffusers
Air Exhaust Louvers
• Louver blocked
• Mold, dust, dirt on louvers
Pollutant Sources on Workstations
• Photocopiers
• Chemical Storage / Handling area
• Smoking Room
• Particle board / Plywood shelves
• Paper storage area
 Premininary IAQ Checklist
Ventilation systems (HVAC)
• Outdoor intake adequate
• Pollution sources near intake
• Ducts and plenum are clean
• Ventilation shut-off overnight, and or weekends
• Dust accumulation on workstations, and furniture
surface
Humidifiers
• Slime in pans
• Mold in ducts
Air Conditioning system
• Slime on condesate trays
• Slime on cooling coils
• Moldy odours
Maintenance and Design
• Windows can be opened
• People frequently open windows
• Ventilation system altered
• Number of occupants changed
• Areas re-carpetted
• Work areas repainted
• Any odour present
 Premininary IAQ Checklist
Cigarette Smoke
• Do people smoke inside the building
Chemicals and Gases
• Air entering the building from parking
garage / loading bay
• Indoor sources – gas stoves, internal
combustion engine, others (describe)
• Chemicals from chemical laboratory
• Chemicals from chemical storage
• Chemicals from plywood, particle board
(newly installed)
• Personal care products – perfume,
sanitizer, air freshener
• Cleaning products
 IAQ Identified Issues
⚫ Evaluations by National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) for
studies on more than 500 Indoor Air quality health hazard cases

Percent Typical Sources

Problem Origin

Lack of outside air, poor air distribution,

Inadequate Building Ventilation
52% uncomfortable temperature and humidity,
Systems
contaminant sources inside the system

Contaminants Originating Solvent vapors, dusts, formaldehyde, building

17%
Inside Building materials, furnishings

Building Products 3% Concrete, wood, furnishings.

Unknown Causes 12% Unidentified sources

Outdoor Contaminants Motor vehicle exhaust, pollen, fungi, smoke,

11%
Entering Building construction

Microbiological Agents 5% Bioaerosols, Legionella

Evaluation of IAQ Issues
 IAQ Standards (Proposed)
Parameter for Indoor Air Limit / Range
Temperature 20 to 24 0 Celsius
Relative Humidity 30% to 65%
Carbon Dioxide 1000 ppm
Carbon Monoxide 10 ppm
Formaldehyde 0.3 ppm
Particulate Matter 0.15 mg/m3 (Respirable)
References: 0.26 mg/m3 (Total)
Total VOC • ASHRAE Standard 3 ppm 55-2010 ISO
Ozone 7730 0.05 ppm
Nitrogen Dioxide • Philippine Mechanical0.05 ppmEng’g Code
Sulfur Dioxide • Ministry of Health, 0.5 ppm Labour, and
Biological Contaminants Welfare, Japan
(a) Total bacterial counts a • DOSH, Malaysia 500 cfu/m3
(b) Total fungal counts b • MAK Germany 1000 cfu/m3
Notes: • Canada / EPA National Ambient
Air Quality Standard
a Excess of bacteria counts does not necessarily imply health risk but serve as an indicator for further investigation;

b
One of the typical form of fungus is molds which are around in the air as mold spores. They survive in the
presence of moist organic environment;
cfu = colony-forming units per cubic meter
Control of IAQ Issues
 Control of IAQ Issues
1a. Mold due to water leaks Mold
 Control of IAQ Issues
1b. Mold due to high humidity
 Control of IAQ Issues
Mold due to high humidity
SOLUTIONS
➢ Maintain relative humidity below 60%
➢ Properly sized air conditioning unit(s)
➢ Proper maintenance of HVACs
➢ Stop leaks/dry area within 24 hours
➢ Vent humid air directly to the outside
 Control of IAQ Issues
2. Poor housekeeping activities
 Control of IAQ Issues
2. Poor housekeeping activities

Seiri Seiton Seiso Seiketsu Shitsuke

 Control of IAQ Issues
Poor/housekeeping activities
SOLUTIONS
➢ Learn and use good IAQ practices
➢ Train those involved in housekeeping
➢ Select “green” products: low toxic/emitting
➢ Written operation/maintenance schedule
➢ A sign-off check list
 Control of IAQ Issues
3a. Remodeling / renovation
activities

3b. Off-gassing of
new materials
 Control of IAQ Issues
Remodeling/renovation activities &
off-gassing from new materials
SOLUTIONS
➢ Isolate Area
➢ Do work off hours
➢ Exhaust area directly to the outside
➢ Increase fresh air to building
➢ Select lower emitting materials
 Control of IAQ Issues

4. Occupant Activities
 Examples of IAQ Issues
5. Operation/maintenance problems

Outside
air intake

Bathroom exhaustm
 Examples of IAQ Issues

Vehicle-idle
Air intake
 Examples of IAQ Issues

For the air to

come out of
here

It has to get in
here

Hole
 Examples of IAQ Issues
6. Plant pollen, animal danders/hair, etc.
 Improving Indoor Air Quality
• There are three basic strategies to improve indoor air
quality:
1. Source Control
• eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce
their emissions (including unacceptable IAQ
occupants’ activities)

2. Improved Ventilation
• increase the amount of outdoor air coming indoors;
bring fresh air into the building.

3. Air cleaners
• Removal of particles
 IAQ Strategies

Reference: EPA Schools of IAQ Connectors

 Managing a Building for Good IAQ
• Operate and maintain HVAC equipment
– Keep all equipment and controls in proper working order
– Keep interior of equipment and ductwork clean and dry
• Oversee activities of staff, tenants, contractors and other building
occupants
– Smoking, housekeeping, building maintenance, shipping and receiving, pest control,
food preparation and other special uses
• Maintain communications with occupants for IAQ issues and solutions
– Identify bldg. mgt and staff with IAQ responsibilities
– Coordinate with Health and Safety Committees
• Educate staff, occupants, and contractors about their IAQ
responsibilities
– Staff training, lease arrangements, contracts
• Identify aspects of planned projects that could affect IAQ and manage
projects to maintain good IAQ
– Redecorating, renovation, or remodeling
– New construction
 IAQ Management Plan

• Good understanding of building

structure and function
• Communicate well with tenants,
facility personnel, and building
owners
• Responsibilities:
• Develop IAQ Profile
• Establish IAQ issues
communication system
• Review all projects in the bldg
that may have IAQ issues
• Periodically inspect the
building for indicators of IAQ
problems
• Conduct initial walkthrough
for IAQ complaints.
• Others
 IAQ Management Plan

• Priority list of locations

and activities
• List of staff and
contractors (cleaning,
pest control, etc)
 Good Indoor Air Quality

→ Increase the
quality of life !!!
Indoor Air Quality Matters!
COVID 19 and Ventilation
Air Pollution and COVID 19
QUESTIONS?
MARAMING SALAMAT PO.
References:
• http://www.iloencyclopaedia.org/part-vi/indoor-air-quality/item/517-indoor-air-
quality-introduction#AIR_fig1
• https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality
• https://nptel.ac.in/courses/105102089/11
• https://www.niehs.nih.gov/research/programs/geh/geh_newsletter/2014/4/articl
es/air_pollution_accounts_for_1_in_8_deaths_worldwide_according_to_new_wh
o_estimates.cfm
• https://slideplayer.com/slide/1513842/
• Indoor Air Quality Health and Safety Guide (1998). Canadian Centre for
Occupational Health and Safety
• https://www.epa.gov/sites/production/files/2014-08/documents/sec_5.pdf
• https://www.slideshare.net/jlapotaire/florida-indoor-air-quality-iaq-indoor-air-
quality-solutions-iaqs-john-lapotaire-ciec-orlando
• http://www.home-air-purifier-expert.com/picture-gallery.html
• https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/improving-indoor-air-quality

Department of Labor and Employment

OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH CENTER