ABSTRACT
This chapter provides a brief overview of leading health-related impacts of indoor building factors. With growing research and building industry initiatives such as United States (US) Green Building Council, Building Research Establishment Environmental Assessment Method and Australia's Green Star program, the notion that "green is good" has made its way into public awareness. In general, neither green design program seems to ensure occupant health by comprehensively eliminating, controlling, monitoring and mitigating toxic chemicals indoors to the extent advanced by the Health-related Standards. Surveys show increasing interest in green design and construction among the general public, as well as those in the design, construction and real estate development industries. The Safe Drinking Water Act of 1974 authorized the US Environmental Protection Agency to set and enforce health standards for contaminants in the drinking water supply and protect surface water quality.
