Environmental control of chemical indoor air quality agents

Abstract

Although the number and species of chemicals that can have a causal role in indoor air quality complaints can be enormous, the control methods are limited for most chemical emissions in a building. Because the causal chemical species is often not identified in indoor air quality evaluations, environmental controls for chemical contaminants are generally used. The type of control strategy can be divided into three major categories: emission source control; general dilution and local exhaust; and selective controls. Although general dilution ventilation is the most frequently used control for odors and background building-related chemicals, emission source control is quickly becoming a major control strategy of product manufacturers. As more product emission information becomes available, building interior specifications will soon begin to incorporate these data. In very limited situations, ″selective” controls can be used to remove specific contaminants. (J ALLERGYCLINIMMUNOL1994;94:401-3.)