What Is the IAQ Scientific Findings Resource Bank?

This Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) Scientific Findings Resource Bank (IAQ-SFRB) is a resource for public health professionals, building professionals, and others who seek scientific information about the effects of IAQ on people's health or work performance. The IAQ-SFRB is developed by the Indoor Environment Group of the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory with funding support from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Content of this web site is updated periodically to address additional scientific topics and incorporate new information.

What type of information is provided?

The IAQ-SFRB provides information summarizing the state of scientific knowledge about the relationships between people's health and productivity and the IAQ conditions or associated building characteristics in which the people work or reside. When possible, these relationships are expressed in quantitative terms using graphics or equations. The summaries also include brief descriptions of the actions that may be taken to improve the pertinent aspects of IAQ, including those related to building design, construction, operation, maintenance, and occupant activities. This web site also provides links for downloading published journal articles that were developed specifically for the IAQ-SFRB project.

How is the information assimilated? 

The IAQ-SFRB provides concise summary information that is well-supported by scientific research. The summary information is based upon the published findings of research performed throughout the world. For conciseness, when possible, the IAQ-SFRB refers to recent critical-review articles of the relevant scientific knowledge published in peer-reviewed journals. When suitable critical-review articles are unavailable, the IAQ-SFRB summarizes the findings of relevant key research papers and draws general conclusions about the state of knowledge. Additionally, in support of the IAQ-SFRB, new statistical analyses of available data and critical-review articles have been developed and published in scientific journals. All of the information provided in the IAQ-SFRB has undergone review by multiple experts other than the authors.

Who Should Use This Information?

The web site is designed to serve the needs of a variety of users. For users with a less technical background and those who just need the main findings, each section of the web site starts with a brief summary. Those who seek more information can read the more-detailed descriptions of current knowledge linked to each summary. Users seeking only guidance for building design or operation can jump to sections of the web site describing the related best practices.

Funding

The IAQ-SFRB is being developed through an interagency agreement DW-089-92500601-0 between the Indoor Environments Division, Office of Radiation and Indoor Air of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency and the U.S. Department of Energy under contract DE-AC02-05CH11231.