The Next Challenge in Indoor Air Quality: SVOCs
Author: Gualtieri Huguenin Clara Emmanuelle In order to contextualize Semi Volatile Organic Compounds (SVOCs), lets first talk about where they are situated in the broad range of indoor air pollutants. There are three main categories; inorganic gases (including CO2, O3, CO, H2S), organic gases where one finds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), the broader family of (…)
Is mechanical ventilation indispensable for indoor air quality control?
Author: Mahrar Salim Since the pandemic, ventilation has been a major concern for Quebec residents. As a result, the Quebec government has invested several million dollars in public funds to equip public places, including schools, with mechanical ventilation where over 54% of them have no ventilation system at all. Indeed, indoor air quality is a (…)
The effectiveness of indoor plants in managing IAQ
Author: Legault Chloé People are increasingly aware of air quality issues. Current popular issues relate to outdoor air pollution, which causes approximately 2.8 million deaths per year according to WHO. The lesser-known little brother of outdoor air pollution is indoor pollution; generally, indoor air pollution is 3x higher than outdoor air pollution! Which results in (…)
Are candles toxic to indoor air quality?
Author: Jouhari Sanad ***** Did you know that, in many cultures, candles are considered to create a link between our world and the mystical universe? It often represents life or the human soul when lit. It is an aesthetic element that favors contemplation, closeness, protection, or poetry. Often ideal to close a door and open (…)
Phthalates: Friends or Foes?
Author: Su Jingran Figure 1. Children’s rubber duck containing phthalates. The flexible plastic feel of the rubber duck may be the result of using phthalates in the manufacturing process. Phthalates: The Everywhere Chemical Ladies put a variety of cosmetics on their faces for beauty. People use soaps and shampoos every day to clean their (…)
Health risks due to flame retardant chemicals
Author: Frei Michèle Patricia Accidental inflammation in dwelling houses is the cause of 11’00 fires every year in the EU and Norway with 520 deaths and 1’600 injuries. Therefore, flame retardants are added to a wide range of products, including furniture, electronics, and building materials, to make them less likely to catch fire. They act (…)
Design VS operational phase of ventilation: why aren’t we getting it right?
Author: Graulich Lancelot Robert Benjamin Antoine Have you ever experienced the wrath of an angry family member after opening a window, or worse, altering the living room fan speed in any way? Well, believe it or not, your relatives aren’t the only upset ones: indoor air quality engineers have been struggling for years to tackle (…)
Do Green-Certified Buildings Have Better Indoor Air Quality?
Author: Kurth Tobias Today, everyone is familiar with quality seals such as Minergie, Leed and Breeam. They stand for effective energy consumption, sustainable construction and optimal use of resources. So we rely on them when it comes to evaluating our everyday protective shell, the buildings and rooms in which we spend our lives. But do (…)
Association between Indoor Air Quality and spread of Covid-19
Author: Lochon Maxime Alexandre Antoine In 2020, at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic, some countries decided to lock down their populations. During this period, the living environment of millions, or even billions of people was constrained to indoor spaces. The SARS-CoV-2 virus, which is responsible for the Covid-19 disease, is part of the family (…)
ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE
Author: Dessibourg Jordan Lucien Smoking is a habit that has been around for centuries, and while its popularity has waned in recent years, many people still engage in this harmful behavior. While some smokers choose to smoke outdoors or in designated smoking areas, others prefer to smoke indoors, for better convenience, whether in their own (…)