The effects of indoor chemistry products at realistic indoor concentrations on occupants' indoor air perception, sick building syndrome symptoms and comfort

Abstract

This experimental study conducted in Field Environmental Chamber "FEC" (operating in air conditioned system re-circulating larger percentage of its air) involves 18 healthy human subjects exposed to limonene and ozone (of outdoor origin) at realistic concentrations for 3 hours. Subjects were required to complete questionnaire, consisting of visual analogue (VA) scales on the perceived air quality and intensity of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms. Experiments were conducted during periods when the air handling system contained new filter and used pleated panel filter at constant recirculation and ventilation rate. This present study suggests that indoor chemistry products at realistic concentrations do not cause much negative perception of indoor air quality, SBS symptoms and comfort and evaluation should not be based on comfort like first impression when entering a room. Furthermore, no clear difference between the effects of new and used filter on human subjects was observed when indoor chemistry reactants and products were dominant.