Ventilation and health in non-industrial indoor environments: report from a European Multidisciplinary Scientific Consensus Meeting (EUROVEN)

Abstract

Scientific literature on the effects of ventilation on health, comfort, and productivity in non-industrial indoor environments (offices, schools, homes, etc.) has been reviewed by a multidisciplinary group of European scientists, called EUROVEN, with expertise in medicine, epidemiology, toxicology, and engineering. The group reviewed 105 papers published in peer-reviewed scientific journals and judged 30 as conclusive, providing sufficient information on ventilation, health effects, data processing, and reporting, 14 as providing relevant background information on the issue, 43 as relevant but non-informative or inconclusive, and 18 as irrelevant for the issue discussed. Based on the data in papers judged conclusive, the group agreed that ventilation is strongly associated with comfort (perceived air quality) and health [Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) symptoms, inflammation, infections, asthma, allergy, short-term sick leave], and that an association between ventilation and productivity (performance of office work) is indicated. The group also concluded that increasing outdoor air supply rates in non-industrial environments improves perceived air quality; that outdoor air supply rates below 25 l/s per person increase the risk of SBS symptoms, increase short-term sick leave, and decrease productivity among occupants of office buildings; and that ventilation rates above 0.5 air changes per hour (h-1) in homes reduce infestation of house dust mites in Nordic countries. The group concluded additionally that the literature indicates that in buildings with air-conditioning systems there may be an increased risk of SBS symptoms compared with naturally or mechanically ventilated buildings, and that improper maintenance, design, and functioning of air-conditioning systems contributes to increased prevalence of SBS symptoms.

Characterization, Fate, and Re-Suspension of Aerosol Particles (0.3-10 µm): The Effects of Occupancy and Carpet Use

“…In England, 37 naturally ventilated houses that were built since 1995 had a ventilation rate between 0.17 h -1 and 0.51 h -1 (Crump et al, 2005). In European schools, the values of ventilation rates seem to be higher than those reported in this study (Wargocki et al 2002). For instance, Smedje et al (2000) reported rates in Swedish schools having an average around 3 h -1…”

Demand Controlled Ventilation and Classroom Ventilation

“…A number of prior studies have reported associations between lower building VRs (or higher CO2 concentrations used as a surrogate for VRs) and increased health-related outcomes, including building-related symptoms in offices (Erdmann and Apte 2004;Seppanen et al 1999;Wargocki et al 2002); febrile respiratory illness in barracks (Brundage et al 1988); respiratory infections in dormitories (Sun et al 2011); and respiratory symptoms and nasal patency in school classrooms (Simoni et al 2011). Other studies have found associations between lower VRs and increased absence metrics in offices, used as indicators of health outcomes.…”

Laboratory study of subjective perceptions to low temperature heating systems with exhaust ventilation in Nordic countries

“…In comparison with balanced ventilation or supply and exhaust ventilation, the proportion of exhaust ventilation has been around 60% since 2001 (Svensk Fjärrvärme AB 2009). Some studies have concluded that fewer health related problems were reported in buildings with exhaust ventilation (Wargocki et al 2002).…”