Publications about Indoor Air Quality

Project Reports and Summaries

Contractor Report: Flood-Related Cleaning

• EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses approaches to cleaning up residences flooded after a hurricane or other weather event. This report is based on a literature search. The report considers the types of illnesses associated with such flooding; the effectiveness, selection, use and hazards of biocides for cleaning and decontaminating surfaces affected by the presence of microorganisms and their biofilms; and available guidance documents that provide recommendations for cleaning up after floods, hurricanes and related events. This document is a technical summary of existing research and guidance on health hazards from floods, flood damage, and cleanup activities. While EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned the report, it does not necessarily represent EPA policy. Authors: Terry Brennan (Camroden Associates), Gene Cole, Dr. P.H., and Brent Stephens, Ph.D. August 2018.

Contractor Report: Health, Energy Efficiency and Climate Change

• EPA's Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses the impacts of climate change on indoor environments. The report includes material related to potential interventions and solutions. Author: Terry Brennan. December 2010.

Contractor Report: Impact of Weather Events (pdf) (332.39 KB)

• EPA's Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses the impacts of severe weather events on indoor environments. The report includes material related to the use of buildings as shelters from weather extremes. Author: Terry Brennan. December 2010.

DRAFT Contractor Report: Opportunities for Green Building (GB) Rating Systems to Improve Indoor Air Quality Credits and to Address Changing Climatic Conditions

• EPA's Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses green building rating systems and indoor environments. The report includes material related to moisture, ventilation, thermal comfort and other issues. Author: Jelena Srebric, Ph.D. September 2010.

Contractor Report: National Programs to Assess Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) Effects of Building Materials and Products

• EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses national product evaluation programs. The report includes material related to emissions testing and research issues. Author: Hal Levin, September 2010.

Contractor Report: Building Codes and Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) (PDF)

• EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses building codes, IAQ and related issues The report includes material related to both commercial buildings and residential buildings. Author: David Mudarri, Ph.D., September 2010.

Contractor Report: Climate Change and Potential Effects on Microbial Air Quality (pdf) (825.67 KB)

• EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses climate change impacts on microbes, indoor environments and related issues. Topics addressed in the report include Legionella and other geographically emerging pathogens, air-conditioning and climate change, outdoor air ventilation and climate change, and severe weather events and the built environment. Author: Philip R. Morey, Ph.D., CIH, September 2010.

Contractor Report: Climate Change, Indoor Air Quality and Health (pdf) (274.65 KB)

• EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses climate change, indoor air quality and health. Topics addressed include green buildings, public health and consideration of the training needs of professional communities on buildings and health issues. Authors: Paula Schenck, MPH; A. Karim Ahmed, PhD; Ann Bracker, MPH, CIH; Robert DeBernardo, MD, MBA, MPH. University of Connecticut Health Center, August, 2010.

Contractor Report: Climate Change and Indoor Air Quality - Contractor Report (pdf) (160.75 KB)

• EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses climate change and indoor air quality. Topics in the report include residential ventilation patterns, changes in the built environment, occupant behavior and radon. Author: R. William Field, Ph.D., MS, June 2010.

Contractor Report: Research Needed to Address the Impacts of Climate Change on Indoor Air Quality

• EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses climate change and indoor air quality research needs. Topics addressed in the report include water/moisture intrusion and disease vectors. Author: John Girman, July 2010.

Contractor Report: Public Health Consequences and Cost of Climate Change Impacts on Indoor Environments

• EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned a report that addresses climate change impacts on indoor environments. Buildings protect people from the elements and otherwise support human activity. Unless managed well, however, environmental conditions inside buildings have the potential to make people sick, cause them discomfort, or otherwise inhibit their ability to perform. This report presents a preliminary analysis of the changes in indoor environmental quality likely to result from changes in climate and to assesses the potential public health consequences of those changes. This report also provides a preliminary analysis of the economic cost of these public health consequences. Author: David Mudarri, Ph.D., January 2010.

Contractor Report: Criteria for Evaluating Programs that Assess Materials/Products to Determine Impacts on Indoor Air Quality (pdf) (710.34 KB)

• EPA’s Indoor Environments Division commissioned the following report under contract with Bruce Tichenor to gain a better understanding of private-sector, commercial programs which currently provide labels or certifications to products and materials used indoors. Because it is a contractor’s report, it presents the findings, recommendations and views of its author, and not necessarily those of EPA, regarding emissions from indoor sources. However, since the report contains so much valuable and timely information, EPA chooses to release this contractor’s report in its current form in the belief that other organizations, e.g., industry associations, standard-setting organizations and government agencies, will benefit from the information it offers. EPA believes it will stimulate constructive discussion and promote further progress in this important area. March 17, 2006. Read the report (includes a forward by the Indoor Environments Division)

Program Needs for Indoor Environments Research (PNIER) (pdf) (446.09 KB)

• PNIER is a strategic document intended to capture the indoor environments research needs of all EPA offices with program responsibilities related to indoor environmental quality, and was developed with strong collaboration across several EPA offices. The needs are extensive and range from basic research on sources and emissions (including biological, chemical and particulate matter), through exposure characterization, health effects and mitigation techniques. It is anticipated that PNIER will articulate EPA’s indoor environments research needs, for both internal and external uses; identify where knowledge gaps exist; help establish a more well-defined indoor environments research presence at EPA; facilitate collaboration between EPA’s program offices and research laboratories; and possibly serve as EPA’s foundation towards a larger federal cross-agency research strategy on indoor environments research.
  • EPA 402-B-05-001, March 2005

ASHRAE Indoor Air Quality IAQ Design Guide

• The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating and Air Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) is now making the IAQ design guide and all of its reference materials available to the public at no cost through its website. The Indoor Air Quality Guide: Best Practices for Design, Construction and Commissioning is designed for architects, design engineers, contractors, commissioning agents and all other professionals concerned with indoor air quality.

Project Summary: The Total Exposure Assessment Methodology (TEAM) Study

• Summarizes a study of exposure to toxic and carcinogenic chemicals (VOCs) in the air and drinking water by 600 residents of seven U.S. cities. Study concluded that indoor air in the home and at work far outweighs outdoor air as a route of exposure to toxic chemicals. Other major findings: Study demonstrated the utility of breath sampling to estimate levels of toxic chemicals in the body due to normal daily exposure; also demonstrated utility of TEAM approach for estimating exposure of entire urban populations and gaining an understanding of the sources of exposure. Summary includes a listing of TEAM study published articles and reports. U.S. EPA, Office of Acid Deposition, Environmental Monitoring and Quality Assurance, Office of Research and Development, [EPA 600/S6-87/002, September 1987]

Project Summary: Indoor Air Quality in Public Buildings: Volume I

• Summarizes a study of VOCs present in new and existing buildings. The researchers identified 500 VOCs in indoor air in four buildings (a school, two homes for the elderly, and an office building) and determined that concentrations of certain target VOCs are elevated in buildings due to emissions from certain building materials (measurements were taken from 16 such materials). Concentrations of compounds such as xylene and decane were elevated in the new building at completion of construction but fell off markedly within six months. Study was limited in scope and duration, made no extrapolations or estimates of VOC distribution frequency in public buildings, and recommended further study involving different types of buildings and many more types of building materials. A copy of the study report may be obtained from the National Technical Information Service in Springfield, Virginia. U.S. EPA. [EPA 600/S6-88/009a, September 1988]

Project Summary: Indoor Air Quality in Public Buildings: Volume II

• Summarizes results of companion study to that reported by Volume I. Six buildings were sampled for VOCs (a hospital, two homes for the elderly, two office buildings and an institute for governmental studies). The new buildings had high concentrations of aromatic and aliphatic hydrocarbons immediately after completion but concentrations declined by an order of magnitude within several months. Building materials emitting these chemicals at the highest rates were surface coatings such as adhesives, caulking and paints; wall and floor coverings such as molding, linoleum tile and carpeting; and miscellaneous other materials such as vinyl telephone cables. Researchers surmised that renovation or refurbishment of buildings would also result in temporarily higher concentrations of these chemicals. A copy of the study report may be obtained from the National Technical Information Service in Springfield, Virginia. U.S. EPA. [EPA 600/S6-88/009b, September 1988]

Project Summary: Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air

• Summarizes research project which developed a Compendium of Methods for the Determination of Air Pollutants in Indoor Air. The Compendium provides regional, state and local environmental regulatory agencies with standardized, step-by-step sampling and laboratory analysis procedures for the determination of selected pollutants in indoor air. A core set of ten chapters, with each chapter containing one or more methods, covers VOCs, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide, air exchange rate, benzo(a)pyrene and other polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons, and several other contaminants. A copy of the full document may be obtained from the National Technical Information Service in Springfield, Virginia, U.S. EPA. [EPA 600/S4-90-010, May 1990]

Introduction to Indoor Air Quality: A Self-Paced Learning Module

• The Indoor Air Quality Learning Module and its companion document, the Indoor Air Quality Reference Manual, provide an introduction to indoor air quality for environmental health professionals. Primary focus is on residential indoor air quality. Documents cover those aspects of indoor air quality important for establishing an indoor air quality program by a state or local government agency. Developed under a cooperative arrangement between the National Environmental Health Association, the Bureau of Health Professions of the U.S. Public Health Service and the EPA. [EPA 400-39-1002, July 1991]

Introduction to Indoor Air Quality: A Reference Manual

• The Indoor Air Quality Reference Manual is the companion document to the Indoor Air Quality Learning Module. The Reference Manual provides an opportunity for continuing education plus useful reference material on selected indoor air quality topics. Divided into eight sections corresponding to the first eight lessons of the Learning Module, the Reference Manual also contains information and exhibits which can be used in field investigations (e.g., problem diagnosis, sample measurement, data collection forms and a listing of public health and occupational standards).
  Developed under a cooperative arrangement between the National Environmental Health Association, the Bureau of Health Professions of the U.S. Public Health Service and the EPA. [EPA 4003-91-003, July 1991] Note: This set of documents may be obtained for $47 by nonmembers and $40 by members (plus $7.50 for shipping & handling).
  • Contact the National Environmental Health Association

"Building Air Quality Training Kit" with instructor materials and handouts to conduct a 4-hour companion course ($150.00) to Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers.

"Orientation to Indoor Air Quality" instructor and student materials used to conduct a 21/2 day training course ($180.00).

Pollutant Specific Publications

Wildfire Smoke

Why is Coco Red? 

Coco and his friends experience an air quality adventure. Read how Coco, his little sister and his friends solve a mystery as they learn about how wildfires can affect air quality and health. This book is for all children, especially those with asthma, and their caretakers. 

• Why is Coco Red? (pdf) (1.73 MB)
• Watch the Video on YouTube

Healthy Indoor Painting Practices CPSC Publication #465

• This safety guide was formulated for residents, property managers and painters who are strongly urged to follow several simple steps to reduce possible adverse reactions to chemicals emitted from paints. The publication was produced by EPA's Office of Pollution Prevention and Toxics (OPPT) and the Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC), in cooperation with the Montgomery County, Maryland Department of Environmental Protection.
  • Healthy Indoor Painting Practices (pdf) (2 pp, 12O KB) 

World Health Organization (WHO) guidelines for indoor air quality: selected pollutants

• Indoor Air Quality: Selected Pollutant

Smoke-free Homes

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and the Health of Your Family Brochure (Bilingual) EPA 402/F/09-004, September 2009

With English text on one side and Spanish text on the other side, this straightforward brochure explains the basics about the dangers of secondhand smoke to families, especially to children. This tri-fold brochure (available here for download as PDF file) could be used at health fairs, clinics and hospitals, parent meetings and at other community activities.

• Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and the Health of Your Family Brochure (Bilingual) (pdf) (1.55 MB)

Be a Good Neighbor Respect Smoke-and Vape-free Zones Infographic

Health Risks of Secondhand Smoke and Aerosols Factsheet

Importance of Smokefree Policies Factsheet

 

---