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Cited by 876Indoor Air Quality and Microbial ExposureInfection Control and VentilationBuilding Energy and Comfort Optimization

Association of ventilation rates and CO2 concentrations with health andother responses in commercial and institutional buildings

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Seppanen, O. A., Fisk, W. J., Mendell, M. J.·1999·Indoor Air
DOI 10.1111/j.1600-0668.1999.00003.x
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Abstract

This paper reviews current literature on the associations of ventilation rates and carbon dioxide concentrations in non-residential and non-industrial buildings (primarily offices) with health and other human outcomes. Twenty studies, with close to 30,000 subjects, investigated the association of ventilation rates with human responses, and 21 studies, with over 30,000 subjects, investigated the association of carbon dioxide concentration with these responses. Almost all studies found that ventilation rates below 10 Ls-1 per person in all building types were associated with statistically significant worsening in one or more health or perceived air quality outcomes. Some studies determined that increases in ventilation rates above 10 Ls-1 per person, up to approximately 20 Ls-1 per person, were associated with further significant decreases in the prevalence of sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms or with further significant improvements in perceived air quality. The carbon dioxide studies support these findings. About half of the carbon dioxide studies suggest that the risk of sick building syndrome symptoms continued to decrease significantly with decreasing carbon dioxide concentrations below 800 ppm. The ventilation studies reported relative risks of 1.5-2 for respiratory illnesses and 1.1-6 for sick building syndrome symptoms for low compared to high low ventilation rates.

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Authors
Seppanen, O. A., Fisk, W. J., & Mendell, M. J.
Affiliations
  • Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory (US)
  • National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (US)
Corresponding author
Fisk, W. J.
ORCID
Venue
Indoor Air
Publisher
Hindawi Limited
Published
1999-12
Volume
9
Issue
4
Pages
226-252
ISSN
  • 0905-6947 (ISSN-L)
  • 1600-0668
DOI
10.1111/j.1600-0668.1999.00003.x
OpenAlex
W2161463298
Cited by
876
References
64
Citations by year
2026: 41 · 2025: 45 · 2024: 36 · 2023: 46 · 2022: 48 · 2021: 53 · 2020: 74 · 2019: 56 · 2018: 45 · 2017: 32 · 2016: 31 · 2015: 52 · 2014: 51 · 2013: 29 · 2012: 38
FWCI
2.63
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Licence
doi.wiley.com/10.1002/tdm_license_1.1 (tdm, 5753 d)
Locations
  • Indoor Air (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Zenodo (CERN European Organization for Nuclear Research) (submittedVersion, public-domain)
Funders
U.S. Department of Energy (DE-AC03-?, AC03-76SF00098, DEAC03-76SF00098)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Pulmonary and Respiratory Medicine › Infection Control and Ventilation
  • Physical Sciences › Engineering › Building and Construction › Building Energy and Comfort Optimization
Keywords
ventilation rate, CO2 concentration, sick building syndrome, office buildings, institutional building, perceived air quality, respiratory diseases, indoor air quality, occupant health
MeSH terms
Adult, Carbon Dioxide, Humans, Public Health, Incidence, Occupational Health, Air Pollution, Indoor, Risk Assessment, Sick Building Syndrome

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