Review of the scientific literature on the effects of ventilation on health within HealthVent project

In the context of the HEALTHVENT project supported by the European Commission,Directorate General for Health and Consumers, aiming at developing health-based ventilation guidelines for Europe, literature concerning the correlations between diseases and ventilation, was collected and evaluated. The scientific literature was searched in the following databases: MEDLINE by National Library of Medicine, Toxnet, Web of Science; proceedings of Indoor Air and Healthy Building congresses were also included. The investigated period was comprised between 2001 and 2011. Review papers published in the last 10 years concerning the issue of ventilation and health were identified (Wargocki, 2002; Seppanen, 2004; Sundell, 2011; Fisk, 2011; Dimitroulopoulu, 2011). Literature search identified a group of 168 articles published in peer-reviewed scientific journals or presented in outstanding international congresses. Papers were then screened through their abstracts to exclude articles that did not fit with Healthvent scope. The preliminary selection identified a group of 68 articles which were subsequently assigned and thoroughly reviewed by 8 scientists. Each scientist reviewed about 25 papers. The expert evaluation identified a total number of 38 relevant articles. The relevant articles were gathered based on the health effects in relation to ventilation, with respect to the following groups: allergy and asthma; respiratory symptoms; airborne respiratory infections; Sick building syndrome – building related symptoms; Perceived air quality; Performance, absenteeism; pollutant control. The findings of the expert panel review on the associations of ventilation rates in buildings with human health responses will be presented.

CARRER Paolo;  FANETTI Annaclara;  BISCHOF Wolfgang;  KEPHALOPOULOS Stylianos;  HARTMANN Thomas;  MUSTAKOV Tihomir;  PALKONNEN Susanna;  POPOV Ted;  SEPPANEN O.;  WARGOCKI Pawel; 

2013-01-21

Queensland University of Technology

JRC70997

978-1-921897-40-5,   

www.hb2012.org,    https://publications.jrc.ec.europa.eu/repository/handle/JRC70997,