Indoor Air Quality Issues

From The Critics

Reviewer: Gary Rischitelli, MD, MPH, JD(Oregon Health and Science University)
Description: This is an excellent basic, introductory text on the complex issues surrounding indoor air quality (IAQ) and the associated health concerns of building occupants. The author focuses on the multifactorial causation of IAQ complaints. He demonstrates some biases, however, particularly against the traditional approaches and models of industrial hygiene. He also suggests that industrial and non-industrial workplaces deserve fundamentally different treatment — an approach that is probably untenable and outmoded in the modern world of occupational and environmental health.
Purpose: The author proposes to provide an understanding of important facts and principles regarding IAQ, including how materials and conditions pose a health risk, and how to apply these principles to prevent and mitigate harm.
Audience: The book should appeal to a wide audience and is appropriate for managers and executives in the fields of human resources, risk management, and organizational development who may be faced with the challenges of an IAQ problem in their facility. The contribution and treatment of psychosocial factors, however, is somewhat underrepresented and probably deserves expanded discussion.
Features: The book, while not an authoritative treatise on IAQ, is an excellent introduction to the subject for students or for professionals outside the field of occupational and environmental health. It is a brief and very well synthesized overview of the key issues.
Assessment: The book is well organized with an overview, objectives, summary, evaluation, further reading, and key concepts and words section for each chapter. The author has provided ample references for further reading and study, and this is one of the clear strengths of this text.

Gary Rischitelli

This is an excellent basic, introductory text on the complex issues surrounding indoor air quality (IAQ) and the associated health concerns of building occupants. The author focuses on the multifactorial causation of IAQ complaints. He demonstrates some biases, however, particularly against the traditional approaches and models of industrial hygiene. He also suggests that industrial and non-industrial workplaces deserve fundamentally different treatment -- an approach that is probably untenable and outmoded in the modern world of occupational and environmental health. The author proposes to provide an understanding of important facts and principles regarding IAQ, including how materials and conditions pose a health risk, and how to apply these principles to prevent and mitigate harm. The book should appeal to a wide audience and is appropriate for managers and executives in the fields of human resources, risk management, and organizational development who may be faced with the challenges of an IAQ problem in their facility. The contribution and treatment of psychosocial factors, however, is somewhat underrepresented and probably deserves expanded discussion. The book, while not an authoritative treatise on IAQ, is an excellent introduction to the subject for students or for professionals outside the field of occupational and environmental health. It is a brief and very well synthesized overview of the key issues. The book is well organized with an overview, objectives, summary, evaluation, further reading, and key concepts and words section for each chapter. The author has provided ample references for further reading and study, and this is one of the clear strengths of thistext.

Booknews

Examines the causes and effects of the interactions between occupants and the non-industrial environment, covering medical aspects, chemical and microbial concerns, building design and ventilation systems, psychological aspects, how to conduct investigations, and pro-active programs to prevent future problems. Annotation c. Book News, Inc., Portland, OR (booknews.com)

3 Stars from Doody