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Subjective Indoor Air Quality in Hospitals - The Influence of Building Age, Ventilation Flow, and Personal Factors

Nordström, Klas LU ; Norbäck, Dan and Akselsson, Roland LU (1995) In Indoor Environment 4(1). p.37-44
Abstract
Relationships between subjective perception of indoor air quality, building characteristics, indoor exposures, and personal factors were studied in 225 female Swedish hospital workers. The prevalence of weekly complaints to do with dry air was 87% for air dryness, and 36% for static electricity. Such com plaints were more common in new and well ventilated buildings. The sensa tion of air dryness was also more common in buildings with damp concrete slabs. In contrast, complaints about odours and stuffy air were most prevalent in old buildings with a poor outdoor air supply, and not related to building dampness. Complaints about odour were, however, more common in build ings with higher relative air humidity. Complaints of noise were related... (More)
Relationships between subjective perception of indoor air quality, building characteristics, indoor exposures, and personal factors were studied in 225 female Swedish hospital workers. The prevalence of weekly complaints to do with dry air was 87% for air dryness, and 36% for static electricity. Such com plaints were more common in new and well ventilated buildings. The sensa tion of air dryness was also more common in buildings with damp concrete slabs. In contrast, complaints about odours and stuffy air were most prevalent in old buildings with a poor outdoor air supply, and not related to building dampness. Complaints about odour were, however, more common in build ings with higher relative air humidity. Complaints of noise were related to measured noise (55 dB(A)) from the ventilation system. The high complaint rate, particularly of dry air, shows a need to improve the indoor environment in hospitals. (Less)
Please use this url to cite or link to this publication:
author
; and
organization
publishing date
type
Contribution to journal
publication status
published
subject
keywords
indoor air quality, hospitals, building dampness, dry air, ventilation
in
Indoor Environment
volume
4
issue
1
pages
37 - 44
publisher
Karger
external identifiers
  • scopus:84964114803
DOI
10.1177/1420326X9500400105
language
English
LU publication?
yes
id
6f2d7329-2be1-4e10-a5be-d4d70d429218 (old id 1833219)
date added to LUP
2016-04-04 12:11:32
date last changed
2021-09-05 04:26:31
@article{6f2d7329-2be1-4e10-a5be-d4d70d429218,
  abstract     = {{Relationships between subjective perception of indoor air quality, building characteristics, indoor exposures, and personal factors were studied in 225 female Swedish hospital workers. The prevalence of weekly complaints to do with dry air was 87% for air dryness, and 36% for static electricity. Such com plaints were more common in new and well ventilated buildings. The sensa tion of air dryness was also more common in buildings with damp concrete slabs. In contrast, complaints about odours and stuffy air were most prevalent in old buildings with a poor outdoor air supply, and not related to building dampness. Complaints about odour were, however, more common in build ings with higher relative air humidity. Complaints of noise were related to measured noise (55 dB(A)) from the ventilation system. The high complaint rate, particularly of dry air, shows a need to improve the indoor environment in hospitals.}},
  author       = {{Nordström, Klas and Norbäck, Dan and Akselsson, Roland}},
  keywords     = {{indoor air quality; hospitals; building dampness; dry air; ventilation}},
  language     = {{eng}},
  number       = {{1}},
  pages        = {{37--44}},
  publisher    = {{Karger}},
  series       = {{Indoor Environment}},
  title        = {{Subjective Indoor Air Quality in Hospitals - The Influence of Building Age, Ventilation Flow, and Personal Factors}},
  url          = {{http://dx.doi.org/10.1177/1420326X9500400105}},
  doi          = {{10.1177/1420326X9500400105}},
  volume       = {{4}},
  year         = {{1995}},
}