Investigations of indoor air quality for office buildings in different climate zones of China by subjective survey and field measurement

This study investigated the indoor air environment of office buildings in different climate zones of China, including the indoor air pollutant concentrations, and its associated interactions with the staffs' feelings and health symptoms, which could provide basis to improve the indoor environments of office buildings. Thermal parameters and pollutant (including CO2, formaldehyde and TVOC) concentrations were monitored in different floors of sampled office buildings. Questionnaire were also surveyed to investigate humans' perception to the indoor air quality and the associated sick building syndrome. Furthermore, cancer risk assessments of these office buildings were carried out based on onsite air pollutants data. The results showed that indoor and outdoor pollutant concentrations are highly correlated, and the pollutants concentration levels vary over the time of the day, with poor indoor conditions observed in the morning and the afternoon. The questionnaire results suggested that actions should be taken to improve the indoor air environment of office buildings, and ventilation appears to be the most desirable strategy. The risk assessment results showed that health problems could exist even though the pollutant concentration levels in the indoor environment were within the standard limits. This paper investigated the discomfort reasons in the office buildings by providing pollutant concentrations and health risk assessment data together with information about the human's perception on the indoor environment. Finally, we noted that outdoor fresh air with purifiers/filters should be used to reduce the indoor pollutant concentrations. •The city-level IAQ of office buildings in different climate zones was investigated.•Subjective and objective method were both carried out to investigate IAQ.•The impact of the floor height on the pollutant concentrations was investigated.•The inhalation exposure risk from different cities was compared.•Cancer risk in Kunming city has the highest level for both male and female.