Grantee Research Project Results

Bioaerosols, Health, and Productivity in a Large Office Building

EPA Grant Number: R824797
Title: Bioaerosols, Health, and Productivity in a Large Office Building
Investigators:
Institution: Harvard University
EPA Project Officer: Chung, Serena
Project Period: October 1, 1995 through September 30, 1998
Project Amount: $439,035
RFA: Indoor Air Quality in Large Office Buildings (1995) RFA Text | Recipients Lists
Research Category: Air Quality and Air Toxics , Air

Description:

The objective of this study is to investigate possible effects of air quality on the health, environmental perception and working efficiency of occupants in large buildings. The study will focus on longitudinal variation in bioaerosol measures, interactions between the different bioaerosols, and the relationship between exposure, perception, health, and worker productivity. The EPA BASE (Building Assessment Survey and Evaluation) study, a cross-sectional study collecting baseline information on indoor air quality in commercial buildings, will be run in selected office buildings at the beginning of this study. The bioaerosol parts of the BASE study will be expanded and conducted periodically. The BASE protocol will serve as the first set of data for this longitudinal study. Environmental parameters, climate and ventilation factors, and worker productivity will be monitored every one or two months. Worker productivity will be measured according to the characteristics of occupants' jobs or using a standardized computer test that will help to evaluate small changes in working efficiencies over time. Questionnaires will be distributed to collect the information about occupants' jobs, environmental perceptions and health during the study period. The results of this study will allow investigation of interrelationships among bioaerosols and their sources, and with respect to human health effects and productivity. The data will also be used to develop models that allow the use of limited exposure/perception protocols to predict impacts on health and productivity.

Publications and Presentations:

Publications have been submitted on this project: View all 3 publications for this project

Journal Articles:

Journal Articles have been submitted on this project: View all 3 journal articles for this project

Supplemental Keywords:

air, indoor air, pathogens, monitoring, Atlantic coast, Massachusetts, MA, Region 1, Scientific Discipline, Health, Air, Geographic Area, air toxics, Health Risk Assessment, State, Risk Assessments, Biochemistry, indoor air, Atmospheric Sciences, Biology, EPA Region, building related illness, hvac, particulates, exposure and effects, buildings, ambient air, MA, workplace, human exposure, inhalation, sick building syndrome, bioaerosols, Massachusetts, indoor air quality, Region 1, longitudinal variation

Progress and Final Reports:

The perspectives, information and conclusions conveyed in research project abstracts, progress reports, final reports, journal abstracts and journal publications convey the viewpoints of the principal investigator and may not represent the views and policies of ORD and EPA. Conclusions drawn by the principal investigators have not been reviewed by the Agency.