United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/SR-93/198 January 1994
&EPA Project Summary
Proceedings: EPA/AEERL's
Indoor Air Quality/Pollution
Prevention Workshop
Chris Sarsony
U.S. EPA/AEERL's Indoor Air Branch
is researching the application of pollu-
tion prevention (P2) techniques in or-
der to eliminate and/or reduce sources
of indoor air pollution. AEERL's indoor
air/pollution prevention research is fo-
cused on the development of low emit-
ting materials (LEMs). A LEM is a ma-
terial which, when used in the same
manner and in the same space as an
alternative material, has reduced emis-
sions.
To assist AEERL in prioritizing po-
tential areas of research for applying
P2 to indoor air quality (IAQ), a work-
shop was held March 9 and 10,1993, in
Raleigh, NC, to bring together techni-
cal experts in the fields of IAQ, P2, and
selected industries. The workshop
goals were to identify major IAQ is-
sues and their P2 opportunities, and to
suggest research strategies for IAQ/
P2. The proceedings summarize the
findings of the workshop.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Tri-
angle Park, NC, to announce key find-
ings of the research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Overview
The first part of the 2-day workshop
covered background information on IAQ,
P2, and AEERL's strategy to combine the
two. The 64 participants were then placed
into workgroups to focus on P2 research
in six topic areas: adhesives and seal-
ants, building materials, consumer prod-
ucts, furniture, office equipment, and tex-
tiles. On the second day, an ad hoc
workgroup on biocontaminants was added
because of participants' interest.
Each workgroup was asked to address
two questions. (1) Within each topic area,
what materials/products are candidates for
IAQ/P2 research? The following selection
criteria were suggested: emissions and
usage patterns, potential for applying P2,
and technical knowledge of the manufac-
turing process. (2) What should AEERL's
P2 research strategy be in each recom-
mended area? The strategies were to
focus on technical approaches to P2, not
policy or regulatory issues.
Major themes from the workshop were:
• There is a desire for EPA to identify
the major IAQ problems. Many par-
ticipants focussed discussions on the
relative importance of different IAQ
sources.
• Linking IAQ and P2 was much more
difficult for participants than antici-
pated. More specific examples ap-
plying P2 to IAQ would be helpful in
making this link.
• The workgroups consistently identi-
fied a need for more emissions test-
ing, methods development, modelling,
consumer education, and source rank-
ing.
• The issue of proprietary information
must be considered in developing a
P2 research strategy.
• Participants felt that research directed
at preventing biocontaminant growth
is important.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory
Research Triangle Park, NC 27711
Research and Development
EPA/600/SR-93/198 January 1994
&EPA Project Summary
Proceedings: EPA/AEERL's
Indoor Air Quality/Pollution
Prevention Workshop
Chris Sarsony
U.S. EPA/AEERL's Indoor Air Branch
is researching the application of pollu-
tion prevention (P2) techniques in or-
der to eliminate and/or reduce sources
of indoor air pollution. AEERL's indoor
air/pollution prevention research is fo-
cused on the development of low emit-
ting materials (LEMs). A LEM is a ma-
terial which, when used in the same
manner and in the same space as an
alternative material, has reduced emis-
sions.
To assist AEERL in prioritizing po-
tential areas of research for applying
P2 to indoor air quality (IAQ), a work-
shop was held March 9 and 10,1993, in
Raleigh, NC, to bring together techni-
cal experts in the fields of IAQ, P2, and
selected industries. The workshop
goals were to identify major IAQ is-
sues and their P2 opportunities, and to
suggest research strategies for IAQ/
P2. The proceedings summarize the
findings of the workshop.
This Project Summary was developed
by EPA's Air and Energy Engineering
Research Laboratory, Research Tri-
angle Park, NC, to announce key find-
ings of the research project that is fully
documented in a separate report of the
same title (see Project Report ordering
information at back).
Overview
The first part of the 2-day workshop
covered background information on IAQ,
P2, and AEERL's strategy to combine the
two. The 64 participants were then placed
into workgroups to focus on P2 research
in six topic areas: adhesives and seal-
ants, building materials, consumer prod-
ucts, furniture, office equipment, and tex-
tiles. On the second day, an ad hoc
workgroup on biocontaminants was added
because of participants' interest.
Each workgroup was asked to address
two questions. (1) Within each topic area,
what materials/products are candidates for
IAQ/P2 research? The following selection
criteria were suggested: emissions and
usage patterns, potential for applying P2,
and technical knowledge of the manufac-
turing process. (2) What should AEERL's
P2 research strategy be in each recom-
mended area? The strategies were to
focus on technical approaches to P2, not
policy or regulatory issues.
Major themes from the workshop were:
• There is a desire for EPA to identify
the major IAQ problems. Many par-
ticipants focussed discussions on the
relative importance of different IAQ
sources.
• Linking IAQ and P2 was much more
difficult for participants than antici-
pated. More specific examples ap-
plying P2 to IAQ would be helpful in
making this link.
• The workgroups consistently identi-
fied a need for more emissions test-
ing, methods development, modelling,
consumer education, and source rank-
ing.
• The issue of proprietary information
must be considered in developing a
P2 research strategy.
• Participants felt that research directed
at preventing biocontaminant growth
is important.
Printed on Recycled Paper
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