The Environment in the City 127
Formaldehyde is outgassed by various insulating materials, glues, furniture, wooden panelling, etc. It is an irritant gas capable of causing nausea
or headache, and is a suspected carcinogen.
Pathogenic microorganisms abound in indoor spaces and are spread
mainly through central air conditioning systems, air cooling and humidifying units, carpets, rugs, household pets etc.
The easiest and most effective means of combating indoor pollution is
frequent ventilation. Suitable care and organisation are also needed, because
ventilation decreases energy saving when indoor spaces are heated or air
conditioned. Where possible, emission sources (smoking, combustion, formaldehyde etc.) should be avoided. Change in individuals’ behaviour plays
an important part, and in some cases special air cleaning devices are useful.
6.7.1 Sick building Syndrome
In many contemporary cities there are a vast number of high-rise glass-walled
office buildings with central air conditioning and ventilation. Inside, dense
soundproof walls divide the space into small offices into which employees
and customers are crowded; these rooms usually contain plastic furniture,
synthetic carpeting, photocopiers, decorative plants, many light fixtures,
paper files, computers etc.
For several decades now, scientific research on “sick building syndrome”
(SBS) has shown that employees in multistory buildings with central heating and ventilation and certain features of internal layout display a variable
set of symptoms. They include mainly headache, malaise, eye irritation,
nasal congestion, skin irritation, respiratory problems, etc. Surveys carried
out in Sweden, Denmark and Great Britain showed that apart from significant damage to workers’ health, SBS causes lower performance, loss of
working days and substantial healthcare costs.
Modern office spaces provide a sense of luxury and comfort, but they
have important disadvantages. Central air conditioning and ventilation are
usually designed for a limited number of employees, without taking account
of complex interior layouts. When certain limits are exceeded, however,
the people, along with furniture, carpets, machinery, stacks of paper, etc.,
become significant sources of pollution. Air that is not renewed becomes
loaded with particles, microorganisms and allergens. Nitrogen oxides and
carbon monoxide are also emitted from small electrical appliances; ozone
from photocopiers, ionised particles from the radiation produced by old
type computer monitors, television screens or light fixtures, along with
various VOCs from air fresheners, cleaning fluids, glue, ink, soundproofing
materials, etc. Crowded enclosed spaces also may contain large concentrations of moulds, bacteria, viruses and mites, which may cause ailments.
Proper specifications for construction and operation, management, maintenance, and careful cleaning of spaces play an important part. A multitude
Formaldehyde is outgassed by various insulating materials, glues, furniture, wooden panelling, etc. It is an irritant gas capable of causing nausea
or headache, and is a suspected carcinogen.
Pathogenic microorganisms abound in indoor spaces and are spread
mainly through central air conditioning systems, air cooling and humidifying units, carpets, rugs, household pets etc.
The easiest and most effective means of combating indoor pollution is
frequent ventilation. Suitable care and organisation are also needed, because
ventilation decreases energy saving when indoor spaces are heated or air
conditioned. Where possible, emission sources (smoking, combustion, formaldehyde etc.) should be avoided. Change in individuals’ behaviour plays
an important part, and in some cases special air cleaning devices are useful.
6.7.1 Sick building Syndrome
In many contemporary cities there are a vast number of high-rise glass-walled
office buildings with central air conditioning and ventilation. Inside, dense
soundproof walls divide the space into small offices into which employees
and customers are crowded; these rooms usually contain plastic furniture,
synthetic carpeting, photocopiers, decorative plants, many light fixtures,
paper files, computers etc.
For several decades now, scientific research on “sick building syndrome”
(SBS) has shown that employees in multistory buildings with central heating and ventilation and certain features of internal layout display a variable
set of symptoms. They include mainly headache, malaise, eye irritation,
nasal congestion, skin irritation, respiratory problems, etc. Surveys carried
out in Sweden, Denmark and Great Britain showed that apart from significant damage to workers’ health, SBS causes lower performance, loss of
working days and substantial healthcare costs.
Modern office spaces provide a sense of luxury and comfort, but they
have important disadvantages. Central air conditioning and ventilation are
usually designed for a limited number of employees, without taking account
of complex interior layouts. When certain limits are exceeded, however,
the people, along with furniture, carpets, machinery, stacks of paper, etc.,
become significant sources of pollution. Air that is not renewed becomes
loaded with particles, microorganisms and allergens. Nitrogen oxides and
carbon monoxide are also emitted from small electrical appliances; ozone
from photocopiers, ionised particles from the radiation produced by old
type computer monitors, television screens or light fixtures, along with
various VOCs from air fresheners, cleaning fluids, glue, ink, soundproofing
materials, etc. Crowded enclosed spaces also may contain large concentrations of moulds, bacteria, viruses and mites, which may cause ailments.
Proper specifications for construction and operation, management, maintenance, and careful cleaning of spaces play an important part. A multitude