Influence of Humidity on Environmental Sustainability, Air Quality and Occupant Health

Nowadays, sustainable development issues have a key role in the planning of the man-made environment. Ensuring this development means limiting the impact of human activity on nature. It is essential to secure healthy places and good living conditions. For these reasons, indoor air quality and building materials play a fundamental role in sustainable architectural projects. These factors significantly affect human health: they can radically change the quality of the internal environment and energy consumption. The use of natural materials such as earth has many beneficial aspects in comfort and indoor air quality. As well as advantages in the environmental impact of the construction, they ensure a low energy consumption. Since they are already present in nature, their production and use do not require a high-energy consumption. Furthermore, they have a high thermo-hygrometric capacity, being able to absorb moisture, contributing positively to indoor conditions. Indoor air quality is closely related to relative humidity. For these reasons, it can be affirmed that the use of earth materials guarantees a sustainable development and at the same time improves the health of the building users. This paper summarizes several researches that demonstrate the importance of indoor air quality for human health and how it strictly depends on the building materials used. Eco-efficient plasters are also considered: earth and ash mortar. The bibliography consulted has the objective of supporting future experimental and laboratory analyzes. It is necessary to carry on with research by the use of simulations and testing to confirm the hygrothermal properties of eco-efficient plasters and therefore their ability to improve indoor air quality.

• E. Cintura
• M. I. Gomes

• Hygroscopicity
• hygrothermal comfort
• mortar
• plaster.

[1] A. Cincinelli and T. Martellini, “Indoor Air Quality and Health,” Int. J. Environ. Res. Public Health, vol. 14, no. 11, p. 1286, Oct. 2017.
[2] B. Jones and C. Molina, “Indoor Air Quality,” in Encyclopedia of Sustainable Technologies, Nottingham, United Kingdom: Elsevier, 2017, pp. 197–207.
[3] C. F. F. P. da Silva, C. Rana, D. Maskell, A. Dengel, M. P. Ansell, and R. J. Ball, “Influence of eco-materials on indoor air quality,” Green Mater., vol. 4, no. 2, pp. 72–80, Jun. 2016.
[4] B. Krejcirikova, J. Kolarik, and P. Wargocki, “The effects of cement-based and cement-ash-based mortar slabs on indoor air quality,” Build. Environ., vol. 135, pp. 213–223, May 2018.
[5] J. Lima, M. Ferreira, and P. Faria, “Earth-based plasters: hygroscopic and liquid water characterization,” 2017, pp. 21–29.
[6] M. I. Gomes, J. Gomes and P. Faria, “Indoor air quality regulation through the usage of eco-efficient plasters”. Earthen Dwellings & Structures: Current Status in their Adoption. Eds: Venkatarama Reddy, B.V.; Mani, Monto; Walker, Peter. Springer Transactions in Civil and Environmental Engineering: 383-394. ISBN 978-981-13-5882-1.
[7] S. Liuzzi and P. Stefanizzi, “Experimental Study on Hygrothermal Performances of Indoor Covering Materials,” Int. J. Heat Technol., vol. 34, no. S2, pp. S365–S370, Oct. 2016.
[8] F. McGregor, A. Heath, D. Maskell, A. Fabbri, and J. C. Morel, “A review on the buffering capacity of earth building materials,” Proceedings of Institution of Civil Engineers: Construction Materials, vol. 169, no. 5. ICE Publishing, pp. 241–251, 26-Oct-2016.
[9] A. P. Jones, “Indoor air quality and health,” Atmos. Environ., vol. 33, no. 28, pp. 4535–4564, Dec. 1999.
[10] T. A. Jacobson, J. S. Kler, M. T. Hernke, R. K. Braun, K. C. Meyer, and W. E. Funk, “Direct human health risks of increased atmospheric carbon dioxide,” Nat. Sustain., vol. 2, no. 8, pp. 691–701, Aug. 2019.
[11] M. Almeida-Silva, S. M. Almeida, J. F. Gomes, P. C. Albuquerque, and H. T. Wolterbeek, “Determination of Airborne Nanoparticles in Elderly Care Centers,” J. Toxicol. Environ. Heal. Part A, vol. 77, no. 14–16, pp. 867–878, Aug. 2014.
[12] L. Fang, G. Clausen, and P. O. Fanger, “Impact of Temperature and Humidity on the Perception of Indoor Air Quality,” Indoor Air, vol. 8, no. 2, pp. 80–90, Jun. 1998.
[13] C. Giosuè, M. Pierpaoli, A. Mobili, M. Ruello, and F. Tittarelli, “Influence of Binders and Lightweight Aggregates on the Properties of Cementitious Mortars: From Traditional Requirements to Indoor Air Quality Improvement,” Materials (Basel), vol. 10, no. 8, p. 978, Aug. 2017.