Science Source

Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health

Examines the influences that changing weather patterns and shifting climate regimes may have on factors that affect indoor environments and the health of occupants
Illustrates how climate-change–induced scenarios could affect building operations and indoor environments and possibly lead to human health effects through exposures to physical, chemical, and biologic stresses—with several of the scenarios involving moisture intrusion into buildings directly or as a result of condensation
States prolonged heat waves will heat the thermal mass of structures to the extent that the radiant-heating component will become more important indoors
States warmer ambient environments will mean more air-conditioning use in buildings, which in turn alters ventilation and dew points within structures
States climate change models project increases in hydrocarbon emissions and concomitant increases in outdoor ozone concentrations, which—in turn—have implications for ozone penetration indoors and later chemical reaction
Organizes its examination of the literature regarding potential alterations in indoor environmental quality induced by climate change into five primary categories: air quality; dampness, moisture and flooding; infectious agents and pests; thermal stress; and building design, construction, operation, maintenance, and retrofitting