Issue link: https://hi.iaq.net/i/191637
Climate Change, the Indoor Environment, and Health 2 Background This chapter provides background information on several topics relevant to the consideration of the intersections of climate change, the indoor environment, and public health. They include the elements of climatechange research most relevant to the indoor environment, how the outdoor environment affects conditions indoors and how the indoor environment affects health, and the amount of time that people spend indoors. The chapter identifies the five major issues related to potential alterations in indoor environmental quality induced by climate change: air quality, dampness, moisture and flooding, infectious agents and pests, thermal stress, and building ventilation, weatherization, and energy use. It also addresses populations that are particularly vulnerable to health problems associated with indoor environmental quality. ELEMENTS OF CLIMATE-CHANGE RESEARCH RELEVANT TO BUILDINGS AND PUBLIC HEALTH The science of climate change is large and complex, and many details are outside the scope of the committee's task. It therefore did not conduct an independent review of the voluminous literature regarding such subjects as the nature of changes in the earth's climate in the short and long term and the potential magnitude of the changes. Instead, the committee drew on the research and conclusions contained in other National Academies reports—in particular, four in the America's Climate Choices series (NRC, 2010a,b,c,d)—and peer-reviewed literature and assessments found to be authoritative by the committees responsible for those reports, such as the 33 Copyright © National Academy of Sciences. All rights reserved.