Factors influencing indoor air quality in Hong Kong: Measurements in offices and shops

Abstract

Comparisons of levels of respirable suspended particulates, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds and nicotine have been made between indoor and outdoor air in 35 street‐level shops and 35 offices in Hong Kong. Additionally, counts of bacteria and fungi were made indoors. In shops, the study showed that the air quality was principally determined by outdoor air, with highly significant correlations between indoor and outdoor levels of RSP, CO and NO₂. The levels of these substances were significantly lower in offices. Measurement of analytes related to tobacco smoking showed extremely low levels of environmental tobacco smoke in both shops and offices, but the overall numbers of smokers in such establishments was small. For offices, occupier complaints regarding drowsiness, headache and symptoms of eye, nose and respiratory tract irritation were positively associated with CO₂ levels. NO₂, CO, toluene and benzene levels did not show any relationship to occupier comfort or sick‐building syndrome complaints.