ENGINEERING MANUAL OF AUTOMATIC CONTROL
INDOOR AIR QUALITY FUNDAMENTALS
156
Table 3. Sources, Possible Concentrations, and Indoor to Outdoor Concentration Ratios of some Indoor Pollutants.
Occupancy And Process Related
Contaminant Sources
Process generated contaminants vary with the nature of the
occupancy and processes. All occupancies have some common
contaminants. Additional contaminants depend on the
occupancy type (residential, office building, health care, or
industrial) and the associated processes.
RESIDENTIAL OCCUPANCY
Residential contaminant sources include tobacco smoke,
detergent, waxes, pesticides, polishes, cosmetics, mothballs,
and building materials. Gas ranges, wood stoves, and kerosene
heaters are major sources of concern because of carbon
monoxide. Showers can be a source of radon gas and halocarbon
concentrations, but usually are not run often enough to be of
concern. Some fungi, mold, and mildew found in showers can
be quite harmful if left unchecked. Occupants, both human and
animal, are also significant sources.
OFFICE BUILDING OCCUPANCY
Office contaminant sources include tobacco smoke, detergent,
waxes, pesticides, polishes, cosmetics, and building materials.
Additional sources include electrostatic copiers (ozone), diazo
printers (ammonia and related compounds), carbonless copy
paper (formaldehyde), and correction fluids, inks, and adhesives
(VOCs). Fungus, mold, and mildew from cooling towers,
humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and showers is also a source.
Pollutant
Sources of
Indoor Pollution
Possible Indoor
Concentrations
Indoor/Outdoor
Concentration
Ratio Location
Asbestos Fireproofing <10
6
fiber/ m
3
1 Homes, schools, offices
Carbon
Dioxide (CO
2
)
Combustion, humans, pets 3000 ppm >>1 Homes, schools, offices
Carbon
Monoxide
(CO)
Combustion equipment,
engines, faulty heating
systems
100 ppm >>1 Skating rinks, offices,
homes, cars, shops
Formaldehyde Insulation, product binders,
particleboard
0.05 to 1.0 ppm >1 Homes, offices
Mineral &
Synthetic
Fibers
Products, cloth, rugs,
wallboard
NA ℵ Homes, schools, offices
Nitrogen
Dioxide (NO
2
)
Combustion, gas stoves,
water heaters, dryers,
cigarettes, engines
200 to 1000 g/m
3
>>1 Homes, Skating rinks
Organic
Vapors
(VOCs)
Combustion, solvents, resin
products, pesticides, aerosol
sprays
NA >1 Homes, offices, public
facilities, restaurants,
hospitals
Ozone Electric arcing, UV light
sources
20 ppb
200 ppb
<1
>1
Airplanes
offices
Radon &
Progeny
Building materials, ground
water, soil
0.1 to 200 nCi/m
3
>>1 Homes, buildings
Respirable
Particles
Stoves, fireplaces, cigarettes,
condensation of volatiles,
aerosol sprays, resuspension,
cooking
100 to 500 g/m
3
>>1 Homes, offices, cars,
public facilities, bars,
restaurants
Sulfate Matches, gas stoves 5 g/m
3
<1 Removal inside
Sulfur Dioxide
(SO
2
)
Heating system 20 g/m
3
<1 Removal inside
TSP without
Smoking
Combustion, resuspension,
heating system
100 g/m
3
1 Homes, offices,
transportation, restaurants
Viable
Organisms
Humans, pets, rodents,
insects, plants, fungi,
humidifiers, air conditioners
NA >1 Homes, offices, hospitals,
schools, public
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