Indoor -- outdoor Air Quality Study 2005 - 2006
This project, funded by the USEPA and the Fairbanks North Star Borough [FNSB], investigates the impact of ambient air on indoor air quality in Fairbanks.
The motivation for this work is to look for ways of improving both the ambient and indoor air quality for residents and others spending time in Fairbanks. Each has an impact on health and comfort. With individuals typically spending the vast majority of their time indoors, indoor air quality [IAQ] is especially critical. Since buildings and vehicles are not airtight, the ambient air quality [AAQ] affects that indoors. During the winter, with our strong ground-based inversions, pollutants such as CO tend to accumulate near the ground. Moreover, many individuals in the Fairbanks region use wood or kerosene-fired stoves as heating sources
Fairbanks has had special problems with respect to the National Ambient Air Quality Standards [NAAQS] for CO. Strong ground-based inversions plus emissions from motor vehicles being increased during colder operating temperatures can lead to elevated levels. Emissions associated with combustion processes [including forest fires] can elevate levels of fine particulates with the current level for PM10 being 150 mg/m3 over 24 hours and the PM2.5 standard being 65 mg/m3 over 24 hours. Here, PM2.5 refers to particles less than 2.5 microns in diameter.
With our long cold winters and the concomitant time spent indoors, it is especially important here to have acceptable indoor air quality. Moreover, our high number of heating-degree-days (7,770 annually in centigrade units) motivates builders in interior Alaska to construct tight homes to minimize infiltration losses. A large majority of these homes do not deploy mechanical ventilation. Hence, higher contaminant concentrations can occur than for homes with higher infiltration rates. |
