INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN

HOSPITALS

WHAT IS IAQ?
Indoor Air Quality refers to the nature of
conditioned (Heat/Cool) air that circulates
throughout the space/area where we
work and live i.e. the air we breathe
during most of our lives.
IAQ, refers not only to comfort, which is
affected by temperature, humidity and
odours but also to harmful biological
contaminants and chemicals present in
the conditioned space.

Why IAQ?
Indoor air can be up to 10 times more polluted than
outdoor air.
Most people spend up to 90% of their time
indoors and many spend most of their
working hours in an office environment.
Poor air quality in office buildings can result
in loss of productivity, absenteeism and
medical problems.

Effects of poor IAQ

Poor indoor air quality can lead to a number of
physical symptoms and complaints
Headaches,Fatigue,Shortness of breath,
Sinus congestion,Coughs,Sneezing,Eye,
nose, and throat irritation,Skin
irritation,Dizziness,Nausea,asthma,lung
cancer,Legionnaires Disease
Categorized as
SBS
BRI

Factors affecting IAQ

A number of factors can affect the indoor air
quality of a building or facility, including:
The physical layout of the building
The buildings heating, ventilation, and air
conditioning (HVAC)system
The outdoor climate
The people who occupy the building
Contaminants inside and outside the building

Indoor air pollutants,sources&health

effects
Pollutant

Indoor Sources

Potential Health
Effects

Formaldehyde and
aldehydes

Plywood, particleboard,
wallpaper, durable press
fabrics, paints,
combustion appliances

Cancer and respiratory

effects

Polycyclic Aromatic
Hydrocarbons

Cooking, wood burning,

and other combustion

Cancer

Benzene and other

organic air toxics

Solvents, glues, cleaners,

building materials, moth
repellents, dry-cleaned
clothing, air fresheners

Cancer; respiratory
effects; liver, kidney, and
brain damage

Phthalates and other

endocrine disruptors

Plastics

Hormonal effects,
developmental
abnormalities

Pollutant

Indoor Sources

Potential Health
Effects

Asbestos

Building materials in
older homes

Lung cancer, asbestosis,

mesothelioma

Particulate Matter

Wood stoves, fireplaces,

cooking, candles, aerosol
sprays

Lung cancer,
cardiovascular effects,
respiratory effects

Nitrogen Dioxide

Unvented/malfunctioning Respiratory effects

gas appliances, other
combustion appliances

Pollutant

Indoor Sources

Potential Health
Effects

Carbon Monoxide

Unvented/malfunctioning Headache; nausea; can

gas appliances,
be fatal at very high
woodstoves, fireplaces,
concentrations
vehicles in attached
garage

Ozone

Some air purifiers,

office machines

Respiratory effects

Lead

Historic lead paint

Neurological effects

Common exposers in hospitals

Sensitizing and Allergenic Agents
histamines
glutaraldehyde,
formaldehyde,
latex allergen,
hexachlorophene, and psyllium laxatives
Irritants
Methylmethacrylate

Direct Toxins, Mutagens, and Teratogens

Anesthetic agents
Infectious Aerosols
source
patients having infectious diseases such as
tuberculosis, chicken pox, measles
(Rubeola), and German measles
(Rubella) can be spread easily in the air

Exposure limits
Compounds

Exposure limits

Halogenated
anaesthetic agents

Nitrous oxide
Formaldehyde

TLV (NIOSH):
8-h TWA:

2 ppm without concomitant

N2O exposure
0.5 ppm with concomitant
N2O exposure
TLV for hospital environments (NIOSH):
8-h TWA:
25 ppm (40 mg/m3)
8-h TWA:
15-min STEL:

0.75 ppm (0.94 mg/m3)

2 ppm (2.5 mg/m3)

Glutaraldehyde

TLV:0.2 ppm (0.82 mg/m3) (ceiling level)

Ethylene oxide

8-h TWA:
15-min STEL:
Action level 8-h TWA:

1 ppm
5 ppm
0.5 ppm

Halothane
Enflurane
Methoxyflurane
carbon dioxide

50 ppm
2 ppm
75 ppm
2
ppm

ACGIH 8-h TLV-TWA

NIOSH 60-min REL-C
ACGIH 8-h TLV-TWA
NIOSH 60-min REL-C

2 ppm

NIOSH 15-min REL-C

1000 ppm
5000- 9000

carbon monoxide 9 ppm

25 ppm

ASHRAE Std 62-1989 8-h TLV-TWA

ACGIH 15min TLV-TWA
ASHRAE Std 62-1989 8-h TLV-TWA
ACGIH 8-h TLV-TWA

Nitrogen dioxide 3 ppm or 5.6 mg/m (8-hr) ASHRAE

Sulpur dioxide

2 ppm or 5.2 mg/m (8-hr) ASHRAE

Thermal comfort conditions