3D34D

1._ Theoretical considerations and empirical data suggest that existing technologies and procedures can improve indoor environments in a manner that significantly increases productivity and health.The existing literature contains moderate to strong evidence that characteristics of buildings and indoor environments significantly influence rates of communicable respiratory illness, allergy andasthma symptoms, sick building symptoms, and worker performance. Whereas there is considerable uncertainty in the estimates of the magnitudes of productivity gains that may be obtained by providingbetter indoor environments, the projected gains are very large. For the United States, the estimated potential annual savings and productivity gains are $6 to $14 billion from reduced respiratory disease,$1 to $4 billion from reduced allergies and asthma, $10 to $30 billion from reduced sick building syndrome symptoms, and $20 to $160 billion from direct improvements in worker performance that areunrelated to health. Productivity gains that are quantified and demonstrated could serve as a strong stimulus for energy efficiency measures that simultaneously improve the indoor environment.

2._ TheStandards for the Diagnosis and Treatment of Patients with COPD document 2004 updates the position papers on chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) published by the American Thoracic Society(ATS) and the European Respiratory Society (ERS) in 1995 1, 2. Both societies felt the need to update the previous documents due to the following. 1) The prevalence and overall importance of COPD as ahealth problem is increasing. 2) There have been enough advances in the field to require an update, especially adapted to the particular needs of the ATS/ERS constituency. 3) It allows for the creationof a “live” modular document based on the web; it should provide healthcare professionals and patients with a user friendly and reliable authoritative source of information. 4) The care of COPD...