Standards Regarding Indoor Air Quality - 11/9/07

Q: We need the link in the federal register catalogue regarding indoor air quality language, explicit. I have a link to something regarding outdoor air quality. We are trying to tie this in to our rules for the Indoor Smoking Act. We refer to EPA standards, etc. but cannot find the link in the Federal Register. Does it exist?  Any science w/ regulatory value would be great science beyond simply using the EPA as the formal link.

A:

1. California: Click to access the Air Resources Board, California EPA Indoor Air Quality and Personal Exposure Assessment Program (Indoor Program). They have a section on Indoor Air Quality Guidelines.
    
2. New Jersey: In reports from Jim Repace or from Roswell Park Cancer Institute, the EPA does not have indoor air quality standards, but they do have outdoor air quality standards.  Reports by Repace and Roswell Park will still refer to the EPA's Air Quality Index standard as a point of reference to provide a comparison of how good or bad the inside air may be.
    
   Page 12 of the pdf of a sample report may provide some explanation.
    
   The Air Quality Index does provide a rating that may be useful to the lay person, with terms they may relate to, such as "good, moderate, unhealthy for sensitive groups, unhealthy, very unhealthy, hazardous"  A color chart of this index can be found on page 3.
    
3. Iowa: Contact James Repace; he will know where this can be found.
    
   James Repace
   101 Felicia Lane
   Bowie, MD 20720 U.S.A.
   Phone: 1-301-262-9131
   Fax: 1-301-262-3865
   repace@comcast.net
    
4. Ohio: Click to view the EPA's website that has indoor air quality publications.

Partner Responses:

1. American for Nonsmokers’ Rights: Usually when EPA standards are cited - even in indoor air contexts like IAQ studies - it is in reference to the EPA outdoor air standards.  James Repace may have insights to share.
    
2. James Repace - Click to view the rules. These standards are health-based, which means that exposure to levels above 35 ug/m3 for 24 hours is unhealthy, regardless of whether you're indoors or out, as PM2.5 penetrates indoors with 100% efficiency.  Secondhand smoke (SHS) is a major source of PM2.5 exposure.  Although it is not regulated indoors by EPA, the standards can be used as guidelines as to unhealthy air, so de jure it doesn't apply, but de facto it does.  I have used these PM2.5 standards to devastating effect in litigation over SHS. ASHRAE also uses them as de facto IAQ standards for indoor air.

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