INDOOR ENVIRONMENTAL QUALITY AND EXERCISE
- amexcai
- Jul 3, 2024
- 3 min read
The intensity of the exercise, variable from one training program to another, is a factor that can be measured by the level of oxygen consumed. The intensity of physical exercise is expressed as a function of the percentage of the individual's maximum aerobic capacity (VO, max) and it is considered that when this parameter is below 25% the exercise is light, when it has a value between 25% and 50% is a medium intensity exercise, between 51% and 75% is an intense exercise and between 90% and 100% is an exhaustive exercise. Another parameter that also varies from one training protocol to another is the duration of each training session. The combination of duration and intensity allows establishing a sub-classification of dynamic exercise.
Athletes and trainers know that embarking on an intensive exercise routine exposed to recycled or poor indoor air (too humid, hot or smelly) negatively impacts people's physical performance.
From a physiological point of view, all types of exercise involve a certain level of stress for the body. The extent of the adaptive response to this stress stimulus is variable with the intensity and duration of the exercise, as well as the individual's physical fitness and environmental conditions during the activity.
The carbon dioxide produced by an adult when breathing at a normal rate contains between 35,000 to 50,000 parts per million (ppm) per exhalation; which translates to 100 times more than the carbon dioxide in circulating outside air. During intensive training sessions, it is possible to triple CO2 emissions in a closed environment, however how much CO2 is acceptable and how much is too much? Current ventilation parameters, for example those stipulated by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers), recommend that the CO2 levels of the indoor air in a given room do not exceed a concentration of 650 ppm.
A closed and controlled indoor environment indicates (according to ASHRAE standard 62.1) that the C02 level should be around 1,030 ppm; as follows:
380 ppm of CO2 concentrated in outside air
+650 ppm CO2 in indoor air
1,030 ppm CO2 (maximum level according to ASHRAE)
American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air Conditioning Engineers, “ASHRAE Standard 62.2.2012: Ventilation for Acceptable Indoor Air Quality,” Atlanta, GA.
In a closed space with little ventilation, carbon dioxide levels increase during the day, so that they never reach a stable, much less controlled, concentration. High ventilation prevents too much CO2 from accumulating, however, when days of extreme pollution occur in the city, the air from outside is the same that is introduced into the premises in order to 'ventilate' it, how can the concentration be controlled of contaminants within a closed space then?
Washed air systems are very varied and affordable although in principle they work in the same way, by passing a flow of air through a wet wall. The biggest and most obvious setback with this type of system is that by managing high levels of humidity and not having a way to dispose of excess water, the waste quickly becomes a breeding ground for bacteria and mold, which It has consequences for the health of people exposed to this type of living contaminants.
Another example of a purification system available and increasingly popular, in countries like Spain and Portugal, are O3 ozone emitting equipment, called ecological purification. Although in principle it is an optimal management of the air through a relatively simple and low-cost reaction, the obstacle is that by emitting enough ozone to oxidize microorganisms, it is not possible to carry out cleaning while the enclosure is inhabited or in operation by human beings, O3 is extremely irritating to the respiratory system and... It is a common practice in gyms to use air fresheners to hide the odor caused by sweat. Some of these air fresheners contain dichlorobenzene, a substance classified as a carcinogen according to the Agency for Toxic Substances. and Disease Registry (ATSDR).
“(…) The Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) has determined that 1,4-DCB may be carcinogenic in humans. The International Agency for Research on Cancer (IARC) has determined that 1,4-DCB is possibly carcinogenic in humans.“ www.atsdr.cdc.gov/es/phs/es_phs10.pdf
It is established that a properly designed, equipped and operated Indoor Environmental Quality system; That is, with a sufficient supply of fresh air, absence of contaminants and good distribution in closed spaces, they have a lower cost in terms of energy and maintenance.
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