In Germany, the Committee for Indoor Air Guide Values (AIR) derives nationwide guide values for individual substances in indoor air. These guideline values allow a quantitative assessment of the corresponding individual substances, i.e. the point at which a substance in indoor air may have a negative effect on human health.
Guideline values for indoor air
The guideline value scheme of the Committee for Indoor Air Guide Values (formerly Ad-hoc-AG)
The committee, formerly known as the Ad-hoc Working Group (Ad-hoc-AG), was founded at the end of 1993 on behalf of the Conference of Health Ministers. The committee consists of experts from the Indoor Air Hygiene Commission (IRK) and experts from the Indoor Air Working Group of the Environmental Hygiene Committee, a working group of the Supreme State Health Authorities (AOLG). The office of the Committee for Indoor Air Guide Values (AIR) is located at the German Environment Agency (UBA).
The guideline value scheme of the Committee for Indoor Guide Values
The guideline values are derived according to a so-called basic scheme based on toxicological aspects. Two guide values are defined according to this scheme:
Guidance value II (RW II) is an effect-related guidance value based on current toxicological and epidemiological knowledge of the effect threshold of a substance, with the introduction of uncertainty factors. It is the concentration of a substance at which immediate action is required if it is reached or exceeded. Particularly for sensitive persons, the corresponding concentration can lead to a health hazard if they spend long periods of time in the affected rooms. Depending on the mode of action of the individual substance, the RW II can be defined as a short-term or long-term value.
Guideline value I (RW I), also known as the precautionary guideline value, represents the concentration of a substance in indoor air at which, according to current knowledge, no adverse health effects are to be expected even if a person is exposed to this substance for a lifetime. RW I can also serve as a target value for refurbishments.
Since exceeding RW I is associated with undesirable exposure above the usual level, preventive action should also be taken in the concentration range between RW I and RW II, for example through improved ventilation or removal of highly emitting material.
Source: www.umweltbundesamt.de