Climate change, the indoor environment, and health
By: Committee on the Effect of Climate Change on Indoor Air Quality and Public Health, Board on Population Health and Public Health Practice, Institute of Medicine of the National Academies
Publisher: National Academies Press
Published: 2011
Place of publication: Washington, D.C
Language: eng
Number of pages: 272
ISBN-13: 9780309209410
Subjects: United States; Air quality management; Climatic changes; Sick Building Syndrome; United States. Environmental Protection Agency; Indoor Air Pollution; Climate Change; Indoor air pollution; Environmentally induced diseases
Other titles: Indoor environment
Description: "The indoor environment affects occupants' health and comfort. Poor environmental conditions and indoor contaminants are estimated to cost the U.S. economy tens of billions of dollars a year in exacerbation of illnesses like asthma, allergic symptoms, and subsequent lost productivity. Climate change has the potential to affect the indoor environment because conditions inside buildings are influenced by conditions outside them. Climate change, the indoor environment, and health addresses the impacts that climate change may have on the indoor environment and the resulting health effects. It finds that steps taken to mitigate climate change may cause or exacerbate harmful indoor environmental conditions. The book discusses the role the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) should take in informing the public, health professionals, and those in the building industry about potential risks and what can be done to address them. The study also recommends that building codes account for climate change projections; that federal agencies join to develop or refine protocols and testing standards for evaluating emissions from materials, furnishings, and appliances used in buildings; and that building weatherization efforts include consideration of health effects. Climate change, the indoor environment, and health is written primarily for the EPA and other federal agencies, organizations, and researchers with interests in public health; the environment; building design, construction, and operation; and climate issues."--Publisher's description.
Notes: Includes bibliographical references.

Also available in Open Book format via the National Academies Press home page.
Table of contents: title: Introduction; title: Background; title: Government and private-sector involvement in climate change, indoor environment, and health issues; title: Air quality; title: Dampness, moisture, and flooding; title: Infectious agents and pests; title: Thermal stress; title: Building ventilation, weatherization, and energy use; title: Key findings, guiding principles, and priority issues for action.