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 ------- ------- ------- 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 ------- |