Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health

The indoor environment affects occupants' health and comfort. Poor environmental conditions and indoor contaminants are estimated to cost the U.S. economy tens of billions of dollars a year in exacerbation of illnesses like asthma, allergic symptoms, and subsequent lost productivity. Climate change has the potential to affect the indoor environment because conditions inside buildings are influenced by conditions outside them. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health addresses the impacts that climate change may have on the indoor environment and the resulting health effects. It finds that steps taken to mitigate climate change may cause or exacerbate harmful indoor environmental conditions. The book discusses the role the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should take in informing the public, health professionals, and those in the building industry about potential risks and what can be done to address them. The study also recommends that building codes account for climate change projections; that federal agencies join to develop or refine protocols and testing standards for evaluating emissions from materials, furnishings, and appliances used in buildings; and that building weatherization efforts include consideration of health effects. Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health is written primarily for the EPA and other federal agencies, organizations, and researchers with interests in public health; the environment; building design, construction, and operation; and climate issues. Table of Contents Front Matter Summary 1 Introduction 2 Background 3 Government and Private-Sector Involvement in Climate Change, Indoor Environment, and Health Issues 4 Air Quality 5 Dampness, Moisture, and Flooding 6 Infectious Agents and Pests 7 Thermal Stress 8 Building Ventilation, Weatherization, and Energy Use 9 Key Findings, Guiding Principles, and Priority Issues for Action Appendix A: Public Meeting Agendas Appendix B: Environmental Protection Agency Contractor Reports on Climate-Change, Indoor-Environment, and Health Topics Appendix C: Biographic Sketches of Committee Members and Staff