Abstract
One large (room-size) chamber, and four box chambers were prepared to investigate the effect of the surface air velocity on Surface Emission Rate (SER) of perceived air pollutants. Four different levels of surface air velocities were assigned to the four box chambers, four different building materials such as rubber, chipboard, carpet, and straw-mat were tested in the large chamber and the box chambers. SER of each material was calculated from the mean perceived air quality in decipol voted by a trained panel. It was found that the greater the ratio of air change rate to loading factor, the smaller the SER of perceived air pollutants and that the higher the surface air velocity, the greater the mass transfer coefficient and the greater the ;SER of perceived air pollutants. In order to study the adaptation of the subjects who occupy a space polluted by building materials, the changes in sensory ratings for odor intensity, and irritation against eye, nose, and throat, were investigated. Then high correlations were appeared among odor intensity, acceptability, and nose irritation. It took more time to reach the steady-state level of the sensory ratings to rubber-mat than that to tobacco smoke or bioeffluents. It could be inferred from these experiments that the pollutants from rubber-mat must be comprised of a high fraction of irritants and odorants to allow less adaptation than tobacco smoke or bioeffluents.
