Built Environment and Health Quiz

Built Environment and Health

• Buildings shelter from natural elements and harms, provide a more comfortable environment (light, sound, privacy), and allow environmental controls.
• Sophisticated technology controls the environment, but comes at a price.
• Buildings are the most impactful man-made environments.

Health Considerations

• Environmental health
• Built environment and health
• Occupational health
• Residential health

Indoor Air Quality

• Indoor air pollutants can be 2-5 times, up to >100 times, higher than outdoor levels.
• People in industrialized nations spend 70-90% of their time indoors (infants, elderly, chronic patients even higher).
• Locations involving prolonged exposure: home, school, workplace.
• Exposure to indoor air pollutants has increased in recent decades.

Problem Getting Worse

• More tightly sealed buildings
• Reduced ventilation to save energy
• Environmental tobacco smoke
• Increased use of synthetic materials inside buildings
• Increased use of personal care products, pesticides, other household chemicals
• Indoor fuel burning
• Outdoor air pollution

Undesirable Effects of Poor IAQ

• Two levels of physical impact to humans: nuisance and discomfort, and illness (could be fatal).
• In the workplace, poor IAQ increases absenteeism and lowers productivity.

HK IAQ Certification Scheme Guidance Notes

• Guidance Notes for the Management of Indoor Air Quality in Offices and Public Places (Sept 2003)
• Excludes industrial, medical, and domestic buildings.
• Comprehensive background information and practical guidelines to prevent and/or remediate IAQ problems.

Certification Scheme

• Voluntary scheme for offices and public places served by MVAC (central AC, not window-mounted).
• Two tiers of certification by competent persons, from Feb 08, by IAQ Certificate Issuing Body (CIB).
• Initial assessment and every 5 years assessing all 12 parameters, re-certification every 4 years, measuring CO2, RSP, and mould.
• Building manager ensures maintenance of IAQ at certified level.

IAQ Parameters-Physical

• Air temperature
• Relative humidity
• Air movement
• Dropped in 2019 Guide

IAQ Parameters-Chemical

• Carbon dioxide
• Carbon monoxide
• Ozone
• Nitrogen dioxide
• Total volatile organic compounds
• Formaldehyde
• Respirable Suspended Particulates
• Radon

Carbon Dioxide

• Ultimate oxidation product of carbonaceous compounds.
• Indoor sources: human and other organisms.
• Not a common outdoor air pollutant.
• Widely used as an indicator of IAQ.
• Not toxic.

CO2 as an IAQ Indicator

• Graph showing CO2 concentration and occupancy over a day.

Carbon Monoxide

• Product of incomplete combustion of carbonaceous materials.
• Exhaust component of most combustion sources (e.g., automobiles, diesel engines).
• Common outdoor air pollutant.
• Indoor sources: combustion processes.
• Highly toxic at high concentrations.
• Chronic exposure may affect nervous and cardiovascular systems.

Ozone

• Byproduct of high energy processes (e.g., electric arcs, UV irradiation).
• Natural and man-made sources.
• Common outdoor pollutant.
• Products of photochemical reactions.
• Indoor sources: office equipment.
• Causes sore throat, headache, cough.
• Chronic exposure can damage lung functions.

Nitrogen Dioxide

• Combustion byproduct.
• Natural and man-made sources.
• Common outdoor air pollutant.
• Indoor sources: combustion processes.
• Causes burning sensation, sore throat, cough.
• Chronic exposure causes emphysema, may have effects on immune system decreasing resistance to infection.

Total Volatile Organic Compounds

• Mostly petrochemical products (including fuels, solvents).
• Natural and man-made sources.
• Common outdoor air pollutant.
• Indoor sources: cleaning products, cosmetics, office supplies, etc.
• Chronic exposure may affect nervous system, liver, and kidneys, some are carcinogens.

Formaldehyde

• Common ingredient in industrial solvents and synthetic materials.
• Not a common outdoor air pollutant.
• Indoor sources: carpet, synthetic fibers & boards, foams, printed materials.
• Severely irritating to eyes and respiratory tract.
• Confirmed human carcinogen (nasal, nasal pharyngeal, possibly leukemia).

Respirable Suspended Particulate Matters

• Particulate Matters (≤10µm) (PM10).
• Can penetrate deep into human lungs.
• Composition area & seasonal dependent.
• Common outdoor air pollutant.
• Sources: building materials, human, clothing, etc.
• Causes respiratory irritation, asthma.
• Statistically linked to higher hospital admission rate and mortality rate.

Radon

• Naturally occurring radioactive gas.
• Indoor sources: geologic materials rich in uranium (e.g., granite).
• Together with its decay products, increases the chance of lung cancer.
• Radon itself serves as a carrier; the decay products cause most of the damage.

IAQ Parameters-Biological

• Airborne bacteria
• Mould (assessment by checklist) added as a parameter in 2019 Guide

Airborne Bacteria and Fungi

• Natural sources: soil, water, vegetation.
• May multiply in suitable indoor locations (e.g., wet spots).
• Exist in bacterial cells, fungal hyphae, and spores.
• May also come from infected occupants.

Bacteria

• Legionnaire's Disease
• Tuberculosis
• Opportunistic pathogenic bacteria (e.g., Pseudomonas)

Fungi

• Stachybotrys chartarum
• Aspergillus sp.
• Penicillium sp.
• Fungi can cause allergic, toxigenic, and pathogenic issues.

IAQ Objectives for Offices & Public Places

• Table of IAQ objectives for different pollutants (CO2, CO, PM10, NO2, O3, HCHO, TVOC, Radon, Airborne Bacteria, Mould).

12 IAQ Parameters—Old and New

• Old (2003): 3 physical, 8 chemical, 1 biological.
• New (from 2019): 8 chemical + 2 existing parameters with short-term sampling, 1 biological + 1 new parameter by checklist.

Sick Building Syndrome

• Different temporary symptoms related to staying in a particular building.
• Sore/running eyes, blocked/running nose, sneezing, dry throat, lethargy, headache, asthma.
• Symptoms subside after leaving the building.
• Exact cause not defined.

Building Related Illness

• Caused by particular microbes.
• Depends on inhaled dose, individual susceptibility, and virulence of the agent.
• Symptoms persist after leaving the building.

IAQ Management at HKUST

• Design: IAQ considered in original design, occupancy (5-8 L/s/person), use (office 1-2 air changes/hour, laboratory 6-10 air changes/hour), comply with international standards (e.g., ASHRAE 62), upgrades in progress.
• Maintenance: Continuous monitoring, regular preventive maintenance, cleaning of ventilation system (filters, air handling units, fan coil units, air duct inspection), and monitoring general IAQ parameters (Temp, RH, CO2).
• Assessment: Achieved IAQ certifications (Good Class: Library, Lecture theatres, Conference Lodge, restaurant, LG7 canteen; Excellent Class: CYT, GGT common areas, Indoor Sports Hall, LG5 Student Union office).
• Will maintain and pursue further certifications.
• Response: Response to IAQ complaints, on-site measurement, laboratory analysis, remedial actions, and confirmation.
• Remediation: Source control, ventilation, air treatment, and administrative measures.

Recapping

• Built environment is the most prominent man-made environment.
• Indoor air quality is a top environmental health concern.
• Various health impacts are caused by indoor air pollutants.
• Management through design, installation, and maintenance of ventilation systems.

Test your knowledge on the relationship between the built environment and health. This quiz covers topics such as indoor air quality, environmental health, and the impact of buildings on well-being. Understand how modern architecture influences our health and the importance of ventilation and pollution control.