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IOM Climate Change, the Indoor Environment and Health - 2011.pdf

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Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health 7 Thermal Stress INTRODUCTION This chapter addresses problems of indoor environmental quality associated with the thermal environment of buildings, how climate change could induce alterations in the frequency or severity of problems, and some of the means available to mitigate adverse conditions. Thermal stress is a particular threat to certain populations whose health, economic situation, or social circumstances make them vulnerable to exposure to temperature extremes or the consequences of such exposure. The text thus focuses its discussion of health effects on these vulnerable populations. National Academies reports note that the first decade of the 21st century was 0.8°C (1.4°F) warmer than the first decade of the 20th century (NRC, 2010). Associated with that temperature rise have been observations that heat waves have become longer and more extreme and that cold spells have become shorter and milder. Because climate models suggest that those trends will continue and intensify, much of the information presented in the chapter relates to issues involving prolonged exposure to high temperature. The climate change research that the committee relied on is summarized in Chapter 2. Studies of building ventilation—which plays a large role in determining indoor thermal conditions—are addressed in Chapter 8. MANAGEMENT OF THE INDOOR THERMAL ENVIRONMENT Buildings must protect occupants against extremes in outdoor temperatures. This section addresses the management of the indoor thermal envi185 Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.

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