Readers Response Draft 3

In the excerpt Guidelines for Good Indoor Air Quality in Office Premises, (Ministry of the Environment [MNV], 1996) stated that buildings should be designed and constructed regarding the pollution which may occur within the building. The Air Conditioning and Mechanical System (ACMV) should be constructed in a manner that reduces the spread of contaminants. (MNV, 1996) also mentioned that the materials and surfaces of the building should not emit any harmful chemicals, while the placement of outdoor air intakes should not be situated near sources of pollution. Buildings should be constructed in ways that prevent contaminants from entering. To ensure contaminants do not enter, the air ducts should be fitted for easy maintenance and inspections as well as being built with materials that produce less friction. Although the excerpt mentioned that materials and surfaces can add to the poor indoor air quality, it fails to mention how dangerous the emitted chemicals are and why having good indoor air quality is essential to our health.


Firstly, the excerpt states that the materials and surfaces should not emit harmful chemicals. The harmful materials are not made known to us or in what ways are they a risk to our health. One common material used in construction is asbestos. According to the (National Environment Agency, 2018), it states that breathing in asbestos fibres can lead to lung cancer, mesothelioma and asbestosis. Tan (2018) states that “Due to its links to health problems such as lung cancer, its use in buildings was banned in Singapore in 1989, but many earlier structures still contain the substance.” The author also mentions that asbestos is not harmful if they remain unharmed. Once the fibres are released and sniffed, they will be harmful to us. It is worth noting that many buildings in Singapore were built before the 1980s and therefore would contain traces of asbestos in the building. Consequently, it should be indicated that when retrofitting or renovating a building to accommodate good indoor air quality, the materials of the building should be checked before carrying out any works to prevent the inhalation of asbestos.


In addition to asbestos, one other dangerous material emitted from building materials is formaldehyde. According to the (World Health Organization, 2018) formaldehyde may be “emitted slowly from indoor building materials, furniture, paints, and carpets.” Not only is the design and construction phase essential to ensure good indoor air quality, but we must also ensure that the types of furniture that are being used are safe from such chemicals. The (Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry [ATSDR], 2016) mentions that to reduce the levels of formaldehyde in buildings, we can let in fresh air, introduce exhaust fans, and keep temperature and moisture at an appropriate level. Since formaldehyde is in many of our items at home or in buildings, these actions can help to reduce our exposure to them. (ATSDR, 2016) also mentions that another method is to purchase products that have little or no formaldehyde in them. This will help to lower the amount of formaldehyde that we breathe in and leave us with better health in the long run.


Lastly, having poor indoor air quality affects our respiratory health. Indoor air consists of pollutants and the natural outdoor air being brought in through air ducts or entrances. (Environmental Protection Agency [EPA], 2018) stated that the pollutants can irritate the eyes, nose, and throat. It can also trigger headaches and giddiness as well as provoke an asthma condition. The risks of having poor indoor air quality should be made known to convince them to take a more serious approach to ensure the quality of indoor air. (EPA, 2018) also mentions that “Other health effects may show up years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure.” The short- and long-term exposure of poor indoor air quality and the exposure to harmful chemicals should be highlighted to companies during the design and construction phase for them to put more thought into the way their buildings are fitted.


Overall the guide would help us achieve an excellent indoor air quality however, it is also important to educate on the health risks of having poor indoor air quality.

References

Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry. (2016, February 10). Formaldehyde in Your Home: What you need to know. Retrieved from https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/formaldehyde/home/index.html

Audrey, T. (2018, 23 April). Asbestos found on St John’s Island, more than half of the island sealed. The Straits Times, Retrieved from https://www.straitstimes.com/singapore/asbestos-found-on-st-johns-island-more-than-half-of-the-island-sealed

Ministry of the Environment. (1996).  Guidelines for Good Indoor Air Quality in Office Premises. Retrieved from https://www.bca.gov.sg/GreenMark/others/NEA_Office_IAQ_Guidelines.pdf

National Environment Agency. (2018, 7 May). Asbestos Control. Retrieved from https://www.nea.gov.sg/our-services/pollution-control/hazardous-waste/asbestos-control

United States Environmental Protection Agency. (2018, January 29). Introduction to Indoor Air Quality. Retrieved from https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality

World Health Organization. (2016, August 4). Indoor air quality risks. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/sustainable-development/housing/health-risks/indoor-air-quality/en/