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Epidemiological studies often rely only on data from a single monitoring station at a study site. However, significant small-scale spatial gradients for air pollutants are inevitable and one monitoring station cannot be representative for the entire population living in the study region. Small-scale spatial gradients (horizontally and vertically) of particulate matter < 10 micro-meter (PM10) and NO2 were examined along a roadside in Zurich during the winter and summer seasons (1994-1995). Horizontal and vertical concentration gradients for PM10 were about 13% (spatial coefficient of variation), and for NO2 about 15%. For PM10, the effect of season on the horizontal and vertical gradient was small. For NO2, the small-scale spatial gradients were highly influenced by season: during the spring-summer season, spatial gradients were much greater than during the autumn-winter season. This implies that future monitoring programmes, should include more monitoring sites for PM10 and, especially for NO2, the spring-summer season should include far more spatial resolution.

Facility Management ist eine Kunst des Verbindens von verschiedenstem Wissen, unterschiedlichsten Disziplinen und Modellen. Im FM treffen Bauphysikalische Phänomene auf Chemische Stoffe in der Luft, gesund zu Arbeiten bis zum Erreichen der Pensionsgrenze auf neue Arbeitsmodelle, unbekannte Erreger geistern durch Medien und Pandemiekonzepte sind überall gefragt. Durch den Touchscreen kommt die Welt mit Unfällen und Terror bis zu uns ins Gebäude, bis zu uns nach Hause. In diesem Kontext stellen wir eine Reihe von Projekten aus Chemie, Arbeitshygiene und Risikomanagement der letzten 10 Jahre am IFM dar und lassen dabei auch unsere Projekte und Forschungspartner zu Wort kommen Wie geht zum Beispiel die westliche Gesellschaft mit der Bedrohung von Nuklearem Terror um: was für Methoden und Mittel stehen dem Bevölkerungsschutz zur Verfügung, wie schützen wir die Retter und was bedeutet dies für uns im FM in der BCM-Planung. Das Projekt wird in Zusammenarbeit mit dem Nationalen ABC Kompetenzzentrum des BABS, dem Labor Spiez und in Kooperation mit der Universität von Hertfordshire sowie Industriepartnern durchgeführt.

Analyses in this study focus on characteristics of three different clusters of ventilation for office buildings. These comprise natural, mechanical and hybrid ventilation. In a major project study, extensive data was collected from 27 office buildings. Besides physically measurable parameters, psycho-social-oriented surveys of building users and information about building-specific constructional or building technology were compiled. In a selection, results of indoor air quality (IAQ) and indoor environment quality (IEQ) were compared with current standards. Thom’s Discomfort Index (DI) suggested that, for all three clusters, populations feeling discomfort are to be expected during the summer months. Responses for certain aspects corresponding to IEQ and IAQ showed a remarkable seasonal divergence of satisfaction with air temperature for naturally ventilated buildings. The appearance of stagnant air is found to occur in its strongest form in naturally and hybrid ventilated buildings. Mechanically ventilated buildings were reported as having the lowest values for satisfaction with air humidity in winter. Each ventilation system comprises characteristic advantages and disadvantages. A tendency might favour, at least seasonally, mechanically or hybrid ventilated buildings. Differences between these two systems are not significant in this sample. The result raises the question of how much technical effort is actually necessary to provide satisfactory ventilation.

Im Rahmen des Projekts „Qualität von nachhaltigen Bürogebäuden“ (QNB) wurden 27 Bürogebäude in der Schweiz umfassend untersucht. Einerseits wurden Messungen durchgeführt (u. a. CO2, Lufttemperatur, Luftfeuchtigkeit), andererseits breit angelegte Befragungen über Umgebungs- und arbeitsorganisatorische Faktoren vorgenommen. In der vorliegenden Auswertung werden Bauten mit verschiedenen Lüftungsarten – mechanisch, natürlich und hybrid – verglichen. Mechanisch belüftete Räume wiesen im Sommer Vorteile in Bezug auf die Lufttemperatur und im Winter in Bezug auf die Luftqualität (CO2) auf. In natürlich belüfteten Räumen wurde im Winter eine schlechtere Luftqualität als in mechanisch belüfteten Räumen gemessen; positiv zu vermerken ist eine leicht höhere relative Luftfeuchtigkeit. Die subjektiven Einstufungen deckten sich größtenteils, jedoch nicht immer, mit den gemessenen Parametern zum Raumklima. Dies betrifft vor allem die Luftqualität. Für die messtechnische Bewertung der Luftqualität müssten neben CO2 weitere Parameter (z. B. Partikel) einbezogen werden. Grundsätzlich wurde in allen Gebäuden messtechnisch und bewertungsmäßig mehrheitlich eine gute Qualität festgestellt. Mit Blick auf die Lufttemperatur könnte diese im Winter gesenkt werden, um die Anforderungen an das Energiesparen und die Luftfeuchtigkeit besser erfüllen zu können. Die Komfortansprüche der Nutzenden könnten dadurch auch besser erfüllt werden. During the research project “Quality of Sustainable Buildings” (QSB), 27 office buildings in Switzerland were investigated. Objective measurements (air quality CO2, air temperature, relative humidity) were performed and in addition, data on subjective judgements were collected using questionnaires. The analyses of this paper focus on the characteristics of ventilation (natural, mechanical andhybrid ventilation). Mechanically ventilated buildings indicated some advantages during the summer period with respect to the air temperature and in the winter with respect

The exposure to spores causing health effects is usually assessed by determining the concentration of viable spores per cubic meter of air (CFU/m3).Since allergens might also be present in dead spores or smaller particles, the objective of this study was to investigate the correlation between the viable spores of Alternaria and Cladosporium at different indoor and outdoor sites and the corresponding allergen concentration detected with a specially developed ELISA (Enzyme Linked Immunosorbent Assay). In outdoor air, the results show a strong correlation between the different sampling techniques applied for viable spores (Slit-Sampler and Multistage Liquid Impinger) and between the viable spores and the allergen concentrations detected in the liquid samples of the impingers. Indoors, the number of viable spores and the allergen concentration do not correlate and the allergen load is underestimated if colony counting methods are used

Summary: SAPALDIA-the Swiss Study on Air Pollution and Lung Diseases in Adults-focuses on the long term health effects of low to moderate levels of air pollutants as typically seen in different parts of Switzerland. The aim of the SAPALDIA cross-sectional study carried out in 1991 was to determine the prevalence of bronchial asthma, chronic bronchitis and allergic conditions in the adult population of Switzerland and to identify and to determine the respective importance of potentially influencing factors. These could be both personal (smoking habits, allergy status, family history, occupation) and environmental (outdoor and indoor pollution, aeroallergens, climate). A further aim of the cross-sectional study consisted in the identification of individuals susceptible to present symptoms during a two year observation period and to be included in the SAPALDIA follow-up study. This technical report represents the methodological documentation for the cross-sectional study of SAPALDIA. The instruments and the methods of standardisation are presented and discussed. The medical examination consisted of a computerised interview using a standardised questionnaire, the taking of a blood sample for serological tests, allergy skin testing, the measurement of endexpiratory CO and body height, and pulmonary function testing followed by methacholine challenge testing or bronchodilatation testing. The pattern of participation and the 9651 participants of the study, representing 59.3% of the sample, are described. Based on information on non-participants gained by telephone interviews and mailed short questionnaires, possible selection biases are quantified and discussed

Analyses in this study focus on characteristics of three different clusters of ventilation for office buildings. These comprise natural, mechanical and hybrid ventilation. In a major project study, extensive data was collected from 27 office buildings. Besides physically measurable parameters, psycho-social-oriented surveys of building users and information about building-specific constructional or building technology were compiled. In a selection, results of indoor air quality (IAQ) and indoor environment quality (IEQ) were compared with current standards. Thom’s Discomfort Index (DI) suggested that, for all three clusters, populations feeling discomfort are to be expected during the summer months. Responses for certain aspects corresponding to IEQ and IAQ showed a remarkable seasonal divergence of satisfaction with air temperature for naturally ventilated buildings. The appearance of stagnant air is found to occur in its strongest form in naturally and hybrid ventilated buildings. Mechanically ventilated buildings were reported as having the lowest values for satisfaction with air humidity in winter. Each ventilation system comprises characteristic advantages and disadvantages. A tendency might favour, at least seasonally, mechanically or hybrid ventilated buildings. Differences between these two systems are not significant in this sample. The result raises the question of how much technical effort is actually necessary to provide satisfactory ventilation.