Suchergebnisse

Abstract

Introduction
Workers spend a significant amount of time indoors, and the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) within these environments directly impacts both short-term and long-term health effects, well-being and productivity. In addition, the Irish Health and Safety Authority published a 'Code of Practice for Indoor Air Quality'. However, to date, there is no data assessing workplaces IEQ in the context of these guidelines.


Methodology
This research project is monitoring IEQ in 75 rooms across Irish offices and schools. The study is monitoring Particulate Matter (PM2.5), Radon, TVOCs, Formaldehyde, Limonene, Alpha-pinene, BTEX, along with CO2, temperature and relative humidity. A combination of research-grade equipment and low-cost sensors are used to collect IEQ data. This novel and innovative approach ensures precision measurements of key air pollutants over a week-long period, while also capturing long-term trends for up to a year. Furthermore, this study includes a comprehensive site walkthrough, a survey of the occupancy characteristics, thermal comfort survey and time activity diaries, facilitating of mapping pollution-generating scenarios. Data collection will be completed in May 2024.


Result's
While monitoring is still ongoing, preliminary data has provided valuable insights into how occupancy behaviour impacts IEQ, high CO2 concentrations (exceeding 2000 ppm) underscore the issue of inadequate ventilation in naturally ventilated classrooms and offices. Several pollutants have already been observed to exceed guidelines set out in the HSA code of practice.


Conclusions
The study will provide valuable IEQ data in workplace environments and ensure the advancement of worker health protection by informing and prioritising intervention strategies.

Implementing the World Health Organisation (WHO) Framework Convention on Tobacco Control (FCTC) relies heavily on enforcement. Little is known of the way enforcement agencies operate, prioritise or network. A questionnaire was sent to representatives of the International Federation of Environmental Health (IFEH) in 36 countries. Tobacco control was given low priority. Almost two thirds did not have any tobacco control policy. A third reported their organisation had worked with other agencies on tobacco control. Obstacles to addressing tobacco control included a lack of resources (61%) and absence of a coherent strategy (39%).