Linda Nussbaumer presented on indoor air pollution, its health effects, and associated challenges. She discussed causes of indoor air pollution like various pollutants and their sources. Health issues from exposure include sick building syndrome and chronic illnesses like asthma and multiple chemical sensitivity. Those with MCS face challenges in finding places to live, work, and shop due to sensitivity to low levels of multiple chemicals. Designers face challenges in improving indoor air quality, while individuals with MCS have difficulties due to locations of exposures like poorly ventilated buildings.

1. Indoor Air Pollution:
Health Effects & Challenges
Linda L. Nussbaumer, PhD
Professor of Interior Design
South Dakota State University
Plain Green Conference 2008
2008 25
September

2. Indoor Air Pollution:
Health Effects & Challenges
Causes of Indoor Air Pollution
Health Affects from Indoor Air Pollution
Challenges for designers
Challenges for individuals with MCS
Conclusions
2008 25
September

3. Cause of Indoor Air Pollution

4. Categories of indoor air pollutants

5. Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

6. Affects from Indoor Air Pollution
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
◦ An array of symptoms that affect some of a
building’s occupants while they are in the building
and that diminish or go away when they leave the
building, yet “cannot be traced to specific pollutants
or sources within the building”.
Chronic Illness
◦ Asthma
◦ Multiple Chemical Sensitivity
◦ Other
SBS definition from EPA, 2003

7. Affects from Indoor Air Pollution
Multiple Chemical Sensitivity or MCS
◦ “A condition in which a person reports sensitivity
or intolerance . . . to a number of chemicals and
other irritants at very low concentrations”
EPA, 2003

8. Criteria for diagnosis of MCS
1. The illness must be chronic condition
2. Symptoms recur reproducibly
3. Symptoms occur in response to low levels of
exposure
4. Exposure is to multiple unrelated chemicals
5. Symptoms improve or resolve when incitants
are removed
6. Multiple organ systems are affected
Bartha, et al, 1999

9. Symptoms triggered by Exposure

10. Locations of Exposures
Poorly ventilated buildings
Communities with high air or water pollution
Exposure in unique situations
Air-tight buildings with poor IAQ

11. Synergistic Reactions
One chemical mixing with another chemical
◦ Creates a volatile reaction within the body
 Alcohol and barbiturates
 Tobacco smoke & radon gas
Bower, 2000

12. Problems diagnosing MCS

13. Problems with Indoor Air (IAQ)
EPA, 1995

14. Challenges for designers

15. Challenges for individuals with MCS
Where are the problems/challenges?
◦ Live
◦ Work
◦ Play
◦ Shop

16. Conclusions

17. Thank you
Linda L. Nussbaumer, PhD
Professor of Interior Design
South Dakota State University
Linda.Nussbaumer@sdstate.edu