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The summer has hit once again along with extremities of weather. Hot and humid weather forces office buildings or any other workplace to crank up the air conditioner. Everything should be just fine as long as the heating ventilation air conditioning (HVAC) system has taken care of the indoor environment to be a comfortable setting. In past years, energy conservation and costs have taken its toll on human health due to poor indoor air quality. For seasons such as winter and summer when the weather outside is extremely hot or cold, HVAC systems recirculate the air existing in the building and potentially threaten the health of the occupants. Air is recycled because of the costs to introduce fresh air.
It would costs the owners of the building more to heat or cool the fresh air. Recirculated air is cheaper and much more efficient, but there is a potential price to pay. Other key factors in the demise of air quality are poor maintenance of existing HVAC systems and the layout or age of the building. Combined with recirculated air and inadequate maintenance and layout, indoor air quality have been possibly lethal in extreme cases.
This is by no means a new issue. It is a problem that has plagued indoor air quality since the time of dwellings. (Air & Waste Management Association, 2001) The problem has escalated though as of present due to technology and the population of mankind. Several instruments that have been intended to provide us with comfort, have contributed to the degrading of indoor air quality. Such instruments as air conditioners and humidifiers are a part of these contributors. So how does this technology affect the well being of the indoor air that we breathe? Government agencies across Canada have been receiving calls from people who are concerned about the quality of air in their workplace.
These people want to know the causes of the various physical symptoms they are experiencing. (Health Canada - 1, 1995) One of the causes of the symptoms they are experiencing is the effects of biological factors in their work environment. Poorly engineered HVAC systems, poorly maintained buildings, incompetent maintenance personnel and equipment, inadequate circulation and ventilation, and over crowding in workplaces have enabled biological growth to flourish and cause illnesses and diseases. Biological factors that cause these detrimental effects are viruses, bacteria and fungi (moulds and yeast). Ultimately these microbes are present due to human activity. To elucidate how human activity or lack of compels pathogenic microbes to subsist, examples of situations will allow the comprehension of the existing problems with indoor air quality. Good heating ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems are designed to provide thermal comfort (temperature and humidity control), distribute outdoor air to occupants, and remove odours and contaminants. (Health Canada - 1, 2001) However, indoor air problems may result when these systems are not maintained and improperly used.
To search more in depth as to why biological factors co-exist with man-made machines is to investigate the components of are technological advancements. Some HVAC systems use cooling towers as a part of massive air conditioning system. The towers are based on a heat exchange system that discharges heat in to the atmosphere utilizing water evaporation. The net product is cooled air that is blown throughout a buildings ventilation system. Water used in the system is constantly recycled through the tower. This can pose a threat if bacteria flourishes in this recycled water.
The water is usually capable of sustaining bacterial growth. Bacteria such as legionella have been one of the bacterium that has been most widely associated with causing illness due to this system. Legionella is a pathogenic microorganism that readily survives and flourishes in water that has mild temperatures and the presence of algae and limescale. The warm recycled water circulated in water towers lends itself to a breeding ground for legionella. When mist from the contaminated recycled water escapes from the tower, legionella has the potential to be aerosolized and cause disease. If the water is constantly recycled and the tower is not cleaned or sanitized, this is the result.
This is the way that the organism was first discovered in Philadelphia 1976, when 29 people perished when contracting the microbe at an American Legion Conference hence the name Legionnaires Disease or legionellosis. The ventilation system spread aerosolized legionella e that the attendants inhaled throughout the conference. To cause legionellosis, the droplets must small enough to be inhaled into the lungs. Drinking contaminated water, as opposed to breathing in contaminated aerosols, has not been associated with Legionnaires disease. However, this possibility should not be entirely excluded. (Canadian Centre Foe Occupational Health & Safety, 1998) To further note on Legionnaires disease, it can lead to pneumonia a condition which the alveoli of the lungs becomes filled with fluid or pus and the victim can suffocate.
When Legionnaires disease advances to the stage of pneumonia, there is a 5 - 15 % chance of fatality. (Canadian Centre for Occupational Health & Safety - 1, 1998) Similar HVAC systems and other systems reminiscent to the system used in Philadelphia are used universally. They are in the workplace, hospitals, the homes and so on and they all have the opportunity to sustain the growth of bacteria like legionella. The most recent and serious case of a legionella outbreak that was spread via a water tower and the ventilation system was in Melbourne, Australia. There were 7 cases and 2 deaths. The 7 comprised of four patients, one construction worker (at an adjacent site), and two hospital staff. The two deaths were of the patient who was immuno-comprised. (HC Info, 2001) Unfortunately Canada does not keep records of the number of cases of legionella, but using American statistics as a basis, we can assume that there are about 2, 000 infections a year with about 10 % that lead to serious cases of pneumonia. (MediResource, 2000) Bear in mind though that there are other manners in which Legionnaires can be transmitted.
Another source of stagnant water that can maintain the growth of legionella e are humidifiers. Comparable to water towers releasing tiny droplets into the air that can be inhaled, portable and humidifiers that are a part of HVAC systems will have the same effect. They add moisture to the air when there is low humidity. Unlike water towers, humidifiers are most prevalently used during the winter when the air is dry. Therefore legionella poses a threat in the winter and summer. The layout of the building can intensify the concentration of contaminated air in certain areas.
Sealed off areas or physical barriers that restrict the airflow will have a greater concentration of pollutants. This is vital risk especially with legionella because of its low pathogenicity. It requires large amounts of bacterium to infect an individual. Having proper ventilation will ensure that there is a low concentration of pollutants in a given area. A proper ventilation system contains vents that are directed out of the building. Buildings that recycle air due to outside weather should ensure that their filtration systems is well maintained and the vent filters are changed regularly.
Some workplaces offer showers for their workers who want to use them at the end of the day after working in dirty conditions. The problem is that hot water tanks can also support legionella. If the hot water is not maintained at a high enough temperature, the bacteria flourish. The showers will emit aerosolized legionella e just like the water towers and ventilation system. To ensure that the water tank does not become infested with the bacteria, heat the tank above 600 C as legionella e are susceptible to pasteurization at this temperature.
Humidifiers, hot water tanks and cooling towers are all systems requiring regular maintenance. Keep in mind, that tanks containing water can be infected and that the contaminated water can be exposed to occupants. All water containers should be cleaned and sanitized on a regular bases using a specific biocide. The employer shall ensure this action.
The only positive note pertaining to legionellosis is that, there have been no recorded cases of transmission person-to-person. Theoretically speaking, if the microbe was spread from person-to-person when the workers leave the contaminated site and then home, the whole family could be infected. From the home it could be spread elsewhere, but it fortunately remains at the source. It is not contagious.
In the event of suspecting legionellosis, look for symptoms including headache, pain in the muscles, high fever, vomiting, diarrhea, chest pain and difficulty breathing. These will be a good indicator of Legionnaires disease. The severity of the disease can be intensified or more readily contracted if the individual smokes, excessively drinks, has diabetes or cancer, uses corticosteroid or is immunocompromised. Individuals with these attributes should be more precautious of water sources that they are exposed to and ensure that maintenance has been performed. For example, ask the employer if tests have been done and ask for their regular maintenance records. It is your right to know.
If there are any workers suffering from the above symptoms or a physician has confirmed the workers in the workplace have legionellosis, immediately close down the building for inspection and shut down all air circulation systems. Contact the Ministry of Labor or local health unit to have an inspector come in to take water samples from existing water sources in the building. The inspectors will take the samples to a lab for processing and tested for the possible contaminant. Employers and building owners should not ignore the problem.
They shall immediately respond to the situation. If they have ignored to contact authorities and action is not taken, the health and lives of workers are at stake. Health officials will aid in tracking down the source of contamination and recommend procedures to eliminate the crisis. Public health units can be contacted if patrons at a food premise have acquired these symptoms.
PH inspectors will immediately interview victims of an outbreak to find the site of exposure and the cause of the illness. If they have pinpointed the source, for example The X restaurant, the establishment will be shut down until the source at the site has been found and the infestation has been eliminated. Point sources reminiscent to those of other workplaces will be investigated and tested. Viruses can also become a problem especially when there is overcrowding in the workplace.
Unlike bacterium, viruses do not survive long outside of their infected host. Viruses could not survive the pathway such as legionella. They could not subsist in water or travel through air vents. What they can do is transmit from person-to-person when they are in close proximity.
The contagious common cold is an example of how a virus spreads in this manner. Bacteria and viruses are not the only microbes to be a nuisance in the workplace as of late. Moulds have presently agitated the workforce. In New Market earlier this year, the Courthouse was evacuated due to a mould infestation.
Working became unbearable inside of the Court House. The Ministry of Labour issued an Alert in December 2000 due to skyrocketed complaints. According to Evelyn Stefov a MOL official, there were only 25 formal complaints lo...
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Research essay sample on Regulation And Importance Of Indoor Air Quality Control
