Indoor pollution in office buildings
The project OFFICAIR had two objectives. The first was to establish a framework to provide new knowledge through databases and monitoring and modelling tools. The goal was to develop an integrated approach to evaluating the health risks from indoor air pollution. The second objective was to support current EU policies, such as the Thematic Strategy on Air Pollution, the European Environment and Health Strategy, and the European Environmental and Health Action Plan (EHAP). What set this project apart was that it conducted a first-ever complete overview of building characteristics. The team performed a general survey of 167 buildings, a detailed study of 37 buildings and an intervention study of 9 buildings in 8 European countries. The intervention study raised questions about the importance of careful planning for cleaning activities and choosing low-emission cleaning products. The team also developed new sampling methods and analytical techniques to identify new primary and secondary pollutants. New emission data were obtained for eight office products. To store this information, OFFICAIR developed a database of key indoor air pollutants in modern office buildings. Through targeted in vitro and in vivo laboratory studies, the team discovered new information about the potential toxicological effects from exposure to single compounds and mixtures. The studies showed that cleaning products with terpene could contribute to lung inflammation. A survey of 7 440 workers to assess impact of the indoor environment on overall health complemented the laboratory studies. The results indicated that dry eyes and skin were the most reported symptoms, while "Air too dry", "Unsatisfactory noise from inside the building" and "Air too still" were the chief complaints. OFFICAIR outcomes have the potential to help steer EU policies towards better protection of office workers by clarifying the mechanisms surrounding exposure conditions and effects. This information will help inform good practices and target indicators for the design and construction of office buildings. A better office environment also has economic implications. Workers may be healthier, have fewer absences and be more productive.
Keywords
Indoor pollution, office building, air pollution, monitoring, modelling tool, health risk, cleaning products, toxicological effects, ozone terpene reactions, indoor environment, office worker, exposure conditions
