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    A study of indoor particle concentrations of less than 10[mu]m in Wellington office buildings : a thesis presented in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Applied Science in Building Technology at Massey University
    (Massey University, 2001) Cleaver, Katie
    Indoor air pollution can have significant effects on the health of people. Indoor pollutants can exceed outdoor concentrations by 2-5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times. This is significant not only because of occupational indoor exposures, but because in general people spend over 90% of time indoors. Particles are one indoor pollutant that has been linked as a causal factor of the Sick Building Syndrome. Particles can be noxious substances or have noxious substances adsorbed on to them. Of most concern are particles that penetrate to the gas exchange region of the human body as clearance times are often in excess of months. This study explores the relationship between particle concentrations measured indoors and outdoors and the affect of occupant activity on indoor particle concentrations. Particle concentrations were measured indoors and outdoors of four office buildings in Wellington. Indoor particle concentrations as a function of occupancy were assessed and the presence of occupants was shown to increase particle concentrations indoors for the size bands of 5μm and 3μm on a working day. Particles below 1μm were shown to generally behave independent of occupant activity. The concentrations of particles generated during a working day decreased over a period of no occupancy due to deposition and the air exchange rate of the building for the larger size bands of 5μm and 3μm. However below 1μm the pattern of a reduction in particles was not apparent. Overall there was no statistically significant vertical gradient of particles between 1.2m and 1.8m for the particle sizes of 5μm, 3μm, 1μm, 0.5μm, and 0.3μm. Standard filter media were shown to be effective at reducing particle sizes of 5μm and 3μm and less effective with particles below the 1μm range. The operation of the air handling unit over a weekend period resulted in a reduction of the number of fine particles (1μm, 0.5μm, 0.3μm) in the indoor space. The stack effect and its influence on particle transportation throughout the four buildings studied was inconclusive with several factors capable of confounding the collected data. Overall, the results of the study were consistent with other researchers' findings in relation to occupant influence on particle concentrations and filtering efficiency of standard media. Factors that may confound the assessment of the influence of the stack effect on particle concentrations need to be carefully monitored in future studies.
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    Building related illness : a procedure to detect symptomatic buildings : a thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Philosophy in the Department of Agricultural Engineering at Massey University
    (Massey University, 1994) Sisk, William Edward
    This study examines the topic of building related or building supported illness in the context of a commercial office setting. Numerous reports from the United Kingdom, Scandinavia, Holland, Denmark, Canada and the United States of America, indicate that workers in some office buildings suffer a degree of discomfort and physical symptoms related to building occupancy. The problem is examined in the context of a commercial office environment and the term 'Building Related Illness' (BRI) and it's sub-set 'the Sick Building Syndrome' (SBS) are defined. The illnesses or specific syndromes known to be associated with building related illness are identified. There is ongoing debate as to the valid inclusion of some viral diseases. This study takes a symptomatic approach to the identification of the various syndromes of interest. The numerous elements or stressors known to cause particular symptoms are identified and discussed. BRI is identified by an unusual or extraordinary frequency of certain physical symptoms being experienced by the occupancy of a particular building. However, the symptoms of interest are found in the general community at an unknown incidence rate. The exact role a building and it's association with a symptom or cluster of symptoms is, more often than not, difficult to ascertain. There are a number of confounding elements which need to be considered and eliminated before the building itself can be implicated as a causal factor. This is because the general nature of the symptoms associated with BRI can be caused by other factors. Broadly, the other causative factors may be 'Job Related' or 'Ergonomically Related' (eg. poorly designed work stations). It is well documented that workers in menial or less interesting employment report a higher prevalence of BRI type symptoms. The role of chronic diseases in relation to commercial buildings are discussed and the alternative paradigm to dealing with these stressors is examined. Finally, a statistical method for identifying a 'problem building' is piloted on two dissimilar buildings and the results are analyzed. The prevalence of symptom reporting amongst certain cohorts is similar to a number of overseas studies. It was concluded that the proposed model was successful in identifying symptom clusters amongst certain cohorts within the buildings surveyed. In this respect the piloted questionnaire was successful. The questionnaire is critically reviewed and a number of amendments are suggested.