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Association between Four-Level Categorisation of Indoor Exposure and Perceived Indoor Air Quality

Author

Listed:
  • Katja Tähtinen

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland
    Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Healthy Workspaces, P.O. Box 40, 00032 Työterveyslaitos, Finland)

  • Sanna Lappalainen

    (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Healthy Workspaces, P.O. Box 40, 00032 Työterveyslaitos, Finland)

  • Kirsi Karvala

    (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Healthy Workspaces, P.O. Box 40, 00032 Työterveyslaitos, Finland)

  • Jouko Remes

    (Finnish Institute of Occupational Health, Healthy Workspaces, P.O. Box 40, 00032 Työterveyslaitos, Finland)

  • Heidi Salonen

    (Department of Civil Engineering, Aalto University, 02150 Espoo, Finland)

Abstract

The aim of this study was to develop and test a tool for assessing urgency of indoor air quality (IAQ) measures. The condition of the 27 buildings were investigated and results were categorized. Statistical test studied the differences between the categories and the employees’ complaints about their work environment. To study the employees’ experiences of the work premises, a validated indoor air (IA) questionnaire was used. This study reveals a multifaceted problem: many factors affecting IAQ may also affect perceived IAQ, making it difficult to separate the impurity sources and ventilation system deficiencies affecting to employee experiences. An examination of the relationship between the categories and perceived IAQ revealed an association between the mould odour perceived by employees and mould detected by the researcher. A weak link was also found between the assessed categories and environmental complaints. However, we cannot make far-reaching conclusions regarding the assessed probability of abnormal IA exposure in the building on the basis of employee experiences. According to the results, categorising tool can partly support the assessment of the urgency for repairs when several factors that affect IAQ are taken into account.

Suggested Citation

  • Katja Tähtinen & Sanna Lappalainen & Kirsi Karvala & Jouko Remes & Heidi Salonen, 2018. "Association between Four-Level Categorisation of Indoor Exposure and Perceived Indoor Air Quality," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(4), pages 1-15, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:15:y:2018:i:4:p:679-:d:139589
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. G. Loupa & S. Fotopoulou & K.P. Tsagarakis, 2017. "A tool for analysing the interdependence of indoor environmental quality and reported symptoms of the hospitals’ personnel," Journal of Risk Research, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 20(5), pages 678-691, May.
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    Cited by:

    1. Sedina Kalender Smajlović & Andreja Kukec & Mateja Dovjak, 2019. "Association between Sick Building Syndrome and Indoor Environmental Quality in Slovenian Hospitals: A Cross-Sectional Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-18, September.

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