Indicator: HS-75 Research/studies of air quality of indoor air in buildings
Data
| Pollutant | Indoor concentration range | Major source | Control | Trend over recent decades | Basis of trend information |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos fibres | <0.002 f/ml | Friable asbestos products | Risk management, Removal | Declining | Asbestos products use declined to zero since 1980s |
| Radon: Conventional dwellings | 99.9% < goal of 200 Bq/m3 | Soil under building | Siting of building | No change | Cities located in areas w/o radon problem |
| Radon: Earth-constructed dwellings | ~9% > goal of 200 Bq/m3 | Background radiation of earth walls | Material selection | Unknown | - |
| Envionrmental tobacco smoke (ETS) | High in recreational buildings | Cigarette smoke | Prohibition of smoking, designated smoking area | Declining | Population who smoke approx halved; smoking prohibition in most buildings |
| Respirable particulate matter | Poorly characterised | ETS, cooking, fuel combustion | Poorly characterised | unknown | - |
| Legionella spp. | 30% of population exposed | Water cooling towers | Maintenance, site selection | variable | Outbreaks in Vic decreased markedly last 2 years with new regs/register |
| House dust mites | 10-40 m g/g Der pl allergen in house dust | Allergen buildup in bedding, carpet, furniture | Removal of habitats, humidity control | High, possibly increased | Greater use of carpets/plush furniture & low ventilation |
| Microbial species | 100s to 18000 CFU/m3 | Moist/damp surfaces | Control moisture/mould | unknown | - |
| Formaldihyde: conventional buildings | <goal of 100 ppb (1-3 day average) | Reconstituted wood-based products | Source emission control, ventilation | variable | Product emissions reducing but more product used |
| Formaldehyde: mobile buildings | 100-1000 ppb, exceeding goal | Reconstitued wood-based products | Source emission control, ventilation | Unknown | - |
| Volatile organic compounds (VOC): -established buildings - new buildings |
Total <goal of 500 m g/m3 Total 2000-20 000 m g/m3 |
‘Wet' synthetic materials (adhesives, paints), office equipment, printed matter, furniture | Source emission control, ventilation | increasing | Increasing new homes and renovation |
| Pesticides | Limited data, median <5 m g/m3 | Major sources unknown | Floor structure, clean-up, inspection | unknown | - |
| Nitrogen dioxide | Up to 1000 ppb | Unflued gas heaters and stoves | Source emission control, flued appliances | variable | Emissions marginally reduced but ventilation probably also reducing |
| Carbon monoxide | ~10% > goal of 9 ppm | Unflued gas heaters and stoves | Source emission control, flued appliances | variable | Emissions marginally reduced but ventilation probably also reducing |
| Carbon dioxide | Poorly characterised | Exhaled air | Ventilation to standards | variable | Probably increased in buildings from 1980s due to reduced ventilation standards |
| ozone | Poorly characterised | Office equipment, ozone deodorisers | Source emission control, ventilation | Probably decreasing | Emission from office equipment decreased in 1990s |
| 1 Goals specifically referred to are National Health abd Medical Research Council goals. | |||||
Source: Brown, S 2004, Indoor air quality in Australian buildings, Royal Australian Chemical Institute, Melbourne.
What the data mean
Asbestos fibre and environmental tobacco smoke levels inside Australian buildings are declining. Levels of other major indoor pollutants are either variable or unknown.
Data Limitations
Quantitative data on indoor air quality in Australian buildings are limited; only qualitative trend data is available. Trend data are based on factors related to rather than actual measures of pollutant levels.
Issues for which this is an indicator and why
Human Settlements — Liveability of human settlements - Indoor air quality
In the absence of any comprehensive measurement of indoor air quality across Australia, some specific studies of air quality may provide insight into this issue.
Further Information
Source: Brown, S 2004, 'Indoor air quality in Australian buildings. (Special environmental issue)', Chemistry in Australia, Royal Australian Chemical Institute, vol. December 2004, pp. 6-8, viewed 13 Sep 2006, http://www.raci.org.au/chemaust/docs/pdf/2004/CiA%20Dec%202004p6.pdf.
Source: WHO Regional Office for Europe 2000, Air Quality Guidelines for Europe, WHO Regional Publications, Copenhagen, viewed 13 Sep 2006, http://www.euro.who.int/document/e71922.pdf.
Key
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