Causes of Indoor Air Quality Problems in Schools: Summary of Scientific Research. Revised Edition

Understanding the primary causes of indoor air quality (IAQ) problems and how controllable factors--proper heating, ventilation and air-conditioning (HVAC) system design, allocation of adequate outdoor air, proper filtration, effective humidity control, and routine maintenance--can avert problems may help all building owners, operators, and occupants to be more productive. This revised report provides a comprehensive summary of IAQ research that has been conducted in various types of facilities. It focuses primarily on school facilities because, for numerous reasons, they are far more susceptible to developing IAQ problems than most other types of facilities, and the occupants--children--are more significantly affected than adults are. This revised report contains summaries of more recent IAQ articles, with 50 new items added to the references. In addition, it expands the discussion of carbon dioxide in response to concerns about this section in the first version of the report. (Contains 154 references.) (EV)