• Indoor Air
• Ambient Air
  

Indoor Air Quality

Air quality in your office: "Is the air 'OK' in here?"

Most of us have felt at one time or another that there were things they'd like to have improved in their work environment; the lighting, the furniture, the boss (!), the colors, or the "air". The Environment, Health and Safety Office regularly responds to concerns regarding indoor air quality (IAQ), in a variety of ways.

Indoor air quality is affected by a variety of factors. The most common are:

• Temperature and humidity
• Insufficient outside air (introduced into the system)
• Insufficient circulation of air
• Odors from outside sources often during construction or renovation activities
  

Symptoms often include drowsiness, headache, eye irritation, and other "generalized symptoms". If you feel that there is a problem with the quality of your air or you sense some problems (such as odors, dusts or haze) there are some important things you can do.

First, try to do a basic survey of your area and adjacent areas to identify potential or actual sources of any odor that may be present. Depending on your overall work setting this could be anything from stored cleaning chemicals (e.g., cleaners or paints), mold developing (e.g.,a stored wet mop or rug), outside activities (construction, engine emissions), or building system related.

If the problem is primarily a comfort issue such as temperature and humidity, call the Department of Facilities if the problem doesn't seem to be going away. The Main Campus is divided into Zones served by respective Facilities service zones (A through D). Contact your respective zone at 253-4948 (see http://web.mit.edu/ facilities/ and http://web.mit.edu/facilities/maps/index.html) and describe the problem carefully. Facilities will contact EHS if they are not able to identify and resolve the problem.

Of course, if the symptoms or indications are acute or recurring, you should call us (EHS) directly at (617) 452-3477 or (2-EHSS).

In general, taking notes or a log about the nature of the problem and surrounding conditions for a few days or over time to describe any pattern or other aspects that will help define the problem is a good idea. The log will be used to focus in on the most likely causes of the problem and expedite a solution.

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Ambient Air

The federal government enacted the Clean Air Act in order to protect and enhance the quality of the nation’s air. The key regulatory programs include National Ambient Air Quality Standards, New Source Performance Standards, National Standards for Hazardous Air Pollutants, Operating Permit Program, and New Source Review Permitting Program.

The Clean Air Act requirements are applicable to any activity at the Institute that might be a source of air emissions, such as boilers, emergency generators, water heaters, space heaters, and parts cleaners. EMP is responsible for assisting individual DLCs with air emission requirements to which they might be subject to, and providing mechanisms to meet those requirements. EMP also maintains an inventory of all emission sources at the Institute.

Both EPA and Massachusetts DEP impose significant regulatory requirements on the use and operation of a wide variety of combustion equipment, including boilers and emergency diesel generators. Permits are required by the DEP for many activities, which could result in air emissions. However, the addition of any new sources that might not require a permit must still be tracked by EMP to determine the cumulative or aggregate effect of these emission units over time, and to evaluate the impact of these activities on the status of the MIT's existing Operating Permit.

The Massachusetts Department of Environmental Protection (DEP) also requires educational facilities with 1000 or more employees to comply with the Rideshare Regulations, which call for reduction of single-occupancy vehicle trips to campus. Vehicles emit carbon dioxide, a greenhouse gas, which is associated with significant climate change problem affecting our planet.

An annual report submitted by MIT includes:

• The total number of commuters
• The number of commuters who use public transportation
• The number of single-occupant commuter vehicles
• The number of commuters who customarily carpool
• The number of commuters who customarily vanpool
• The number of commuters who use other means of transportation
• The percentage which is single-occupant vehicles
• The number of van-type vehicles with 8 or more commuters
• The type of carpool matching program and description
• The level of participation achieved in the most recent program
• The types of incentives offered
• Promotional strategies used

MIT actively encourages its employees to form carpools and vanpools to reduce single-occupant vehicle trips by providing them with preferential parking spaces and reduced parking fees. Also as another trip reduction incentive, MIT currently offers a transit pass subsidy to commuting students, faculty and staff.

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Water Quality
Information on Sink Disposal and SPCC Plan