August 29, 2005—InformeDesign has released a new issue of the monthly newsletter, Implications, that investigates the effect of construction-based indoor airborne contaminants on occupant health, comfort and productivity.
This edition is authored by William J. Angell, a professor at the University of Minnesota at St. Paul and director of the Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Indoor Air Quality Project (IAQ).
According to Angell, research on indoor pollutant sources originally centered on volatile organic compounds released from building components, finishes and furnishings. However, recent research has focused on building construction as a source of indoor air pollution.
The interior construction activities of grinding concrete and metal; removing wallboard, carpeting and ceiling tile; applying adhesives and finishes; and transporting materials, equipment, debris and workers in and out of a building have been identified as originators of indoor air pollutants.
The health issues arising from exposure to indoor air contaminants most commonly are respiratory symptoms and diseases, allergies and other immune system diseases, cancer, skin and mucous membrane problems, and sensory and central nervous system effects, including “Sick Building Syndrome.”
