Tang Lee - Academia.edu (original) (raw)

Papers by Tang Lee

American Journal of Chemical Engineering

This paper discusses a novel method to clean VOC from any sources. Photocatalysis surpasses any o... more This paper discusses a novel method to clean VOC from any sources. Photocatalysis surpasses any other technologies in air purification for absorption of volatile organic compounds. A key component is the use of ultraviolet light to activate a photo-catalysis process that can also disinfect microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, moulds and even infectious diseases. The by-products of the photocatalytic process is only carbon dioxide and water. Results as tested by the Chinese government agency for its VOC removal efficacy at several factories is most encouraging. In conclusion, we have found a technology that can help clean the increasing air pollution in China to improve public health.

Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal

A majority of occupants of a newly renovated historic courthouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, rep... more A majority of occupants of a newly renovated historic courthouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, reported multiple (3 or more) health-related symptoms, and several reported more than 10 persistent symptoms. Most required at least 1 day outside of the building to recover from their symptoms. Molds that produce mycotoxins, such as Stachybotrys chartarum and Emericella nidulans, were identified in the building, along with fungal organisms of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Streptomyces, Cladosporium, Chaetomium, Rhizopus/Mucor, Alternaria, Ulocladium, and Basidiomycetes. Renovations to this historic had building failed to provide adequate thermal and vapor barriers, thus allowing moist indoor air to migrate into the building enclosure, causing condensation to develop. Mold grew on the condensation and was dispersed throughout the courthouse, including on furniture and files. The courthouse was closed and a new facility was modified with low-offgassing materials, better ventilation and air filtration, and strict building maintenance to accommodate those occupants of the older building who had developed multiple chemical sensitivities.

Archives of environmental health, 2003

A majority of occupants of a newly renovated historic courthouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, rep... more A majority of occupants of a newly renovated historic courthouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, reported multiple (3 or more) health-related symptoms, and several reported more than 10 persistent symptoms. Most required at least 1 day outside of the building to recover from their symptoms. Molds that produce mycotoxins, such as Stachybotrys chartarum and Emericella nidulans, were identified in the building, along with fungal organisms of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Streptomyces, Cladosporium, Chaetomium, Rhizopus/Mucor, Alternaria, Ulocladium, and Basidiomycetes. Renovations to this historic had building failed to provide adequate thermal and vapor barriers, thus allowing moist indoor air to migrate into the building enclosure, causing condensation to develop. Mold grew on the condensation and was dispersed throughout the courthouse, including on furniture and files. The courthouse was closed and a new facility was modified with low-offgassing materials, better ventilation an...

Intersol Eighty Five, 1986

ABSTRACT This paper describes how solar heating system costs can be shared with building componen... more ABSTRACT This paper describes how solar heating system costs can be shared with building components by the integration of heat collection and heat storage with the building structure. The intent is to reduce solar system cost by requiring the building assembly to serve more than one function. The results of the architecturally integrated solar space heating system for a house compares favourably to a similar thermal storage system installed in a church in 1981 [1]. Significant modifications to the thermal storage system used in the church was necessary before it can be used in a house. For examples, reversing the air flow direction and covering the thermal storage wall in certain areas resulted in a better match between heat output from the wall and the building space heating demands. This article also addresses the merits of incorporating a sunspace which functions as a solar collecting device as well as an interstitial living space between the house and the exterior. The dual function sunspace eliminates the high cost of dedicated solar collectors. Significant cost reduction is possible but low natural gas cost in the province of Alberta resulted in a 13 year payback.

Toxicology and industrial health, 2009

As occupants in a hospital, patients are susceptible to air contaminants that can include biologi... more As occupants in a hospital, patients are susceptible to air contaminants that can include biological agents dispersed throughout the premise. An exposed patient can become ill and require medical intervention. A consideration for patients is that they may have become environmentally sensitive and require placement in an environment that does not compromise their health. Unfortunately, the hospital environment often contains more biological substances than can be expected in an office or home environment. When a hospital also experiences water intrusion such as flooding or water leaks, resulting mold growth can seriously compromise the health of patients and others such as nursing staff and physicians (Burge, Indoor Air and Infectious Disease. Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, 1980; Lutz et al., Clinical Infectious Diseases 37: 786-793, 2003). Micro-organism growth can propagate if the water is not addressed quickly and effectively. Immunocompromised patients are particularly at risk when subjected to fungal infection such that the US Center for Disease Control issued guideline for building mold in health care facilities (Centers for Disease and Control [CDC], Centers for Disease and Control: Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and Other Molds, 2000). This paper is based on mold remediation of one portion of a hospital unit due to water from construction activity and inadequate maintenance, resulting in mold growth. A large proportion of the hospital staff, primarily nurses in the dialysis unit, exhibited health symptoms consistent with mold exposure. Unfortunately, the hospital administrators did not consider the mold risk to be serious and refused an independent consultant retained by the nurse's union to examine the premise (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation [CBC], Nurses file complaints over mold at Foothills. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2003). The nurse's union managed to have the premise examined by submitting a court order of detention and inspection and for an interlocutory injunction to allow their consultants to undertake air quality testing. Mold remediation procedures are readily available and are not to be discussed here (Silicato, http://www.nibs.org/BETEC/M6/ 13-Silicato_Mold-Remediation.pdf, 2004). However, the difficulty of determining the qualifications of consultants, contactors and project managers are discussed. It also describes the need and importance of a buffer zone between the occupied areas and the mold abatement containment area.

American Journal of Chemical Engineering

This paper discusses a novel method to clean VOC from any sources. Photocatalysis surpasses any o... more This paper discusses a novel method to clean VOC from any sources. Photocatalysis surpasses any other technologies in air purification for absorption of volatile organic compounds. A key component is the use of ultraviolet light to activate a photo-catalysis process that can also disinfect microorganisms including bacteria, viruses, moulds and even infectious diseases. The by-products of the photocatalytic process is only carbon dioxide and water. Results as tested by the Chinese government agency for its VOC removal efficacy at several factories is most encouraging. In conclusion, we have found a technology that can help clean the increasing air pollution in China to improve public health.

Archives of Environmental Health: An International Journal

A majority of occupants of a newly renovated historic courthouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, rep... more A majority of occupants of a newly renovated historic courthouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, reported multiple (3 or more) health-related symptoms, and several reported more than 10 persistent symptoms. Most required at least 1 day outside of the building to recover from their symptoms. Molds that produce mycotoxins, such as Stachybotrys chartarum and Emericella nidulans, were identified in the building, along with fungal organisms of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Streptomyces, Cladosporium, Chaetomium, Rhizopus/Mucor, Alternaria, Ulocladium, and Basidiomycetes. Renovations to this historic had building failed to provide adequate thermal and vapor barriers, thus allowing moist indoor air to migrate into the building enclosure, causing condensation to develop. Mold grew on the condensation and was dispersed throughout the courthouse, including on furniture and files. The courthouse was closed and a new facility was modified with low-offgassing materials, better ventilation and air filtration, and strict building maintenance to accommodate those occupants of the older building who had developed multiple chemical sensitivities.

Archives of environmental health, 2003

A majority of occupants of a newly renovated historic courthouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, rep... more A majority of occupants of a newly renovated historic courthouse in Calgary, Alberta, Canada, reported multiple (3 or more) health-related symptoms, and several reported more than 10 persistent symptoms. Most required at least 1 day outside of the building to recover from their symptoms. Molds that produce mycotoxins, such as Stachybotrys chartarum and Emericella nidulans, were identified in the building, along with fungal organisms of the genera Aspergillus, Penicillium, Streptomyces, Cladosporium, Chaetomium, Rhizopus/Mucor, Alternaria, Ulocladium, and Basidiomycetes. Renovations to this historic had building failed to provide adequate thermal and vapor barriers, thus allowing moist indoor air to migrate into the building enclosure, causing condensation to develop. Mold grew on the condensation and was dispersed throughout the courthouse, including on furniture and files. The courthouse was closed and a new facility was modified with low-offgassing materials, better ventilation an...

Intersol Eighty Five, 1986

ABSTRACT This paper describes how solar heating system costs can be shared with building componen... more ABSTRACT This paper describes how solar heating system costs can be shared with building components by the integration of heat collection and heat storage with the building structure. The intent is to reduce solar system cost by requiring the building assembly to serve more than one function. The results of the architecturally integrated solar space heating system for a house compares favourably to a similar thermal storage system installed in a church in 1981 [1]. Significant modifications to the thermal storage system used in the church was necessary before it can be used in a house. For examples, reversing the air flow direction and covering the thermal storage wall in certain areas resulted in a better match between heat output from the wall and the building space heating demands. This article also addresses the merits of incorporating a sunspace which functions as a solar collecting device as well as an interstitial living space between the house and the exterior. The dual function sunspace eliminates the high cost of dedicated solar collectors. Significant cost reduction is possible but low natural gas cost in the province of Alberta resulted in a 13 year payback.

Toxicology and industrial health, 2009

As occupants in a hospital, patients are susceptible to air contaminants that can include biologi... more As occupants in a hospital, patients are susceptible to air contaminants that can include biological agents dispersed throughout the premise. An exposed patient can become ill and require medical intervention. A consideration for patients is that they may have become environmentally sensitive and require placement in an environment that does not compromise their health. Unfortunately, the hospital environment often contains more biological substances than can be expected in an office or home environment. When a hospital also experiences water intrusion such as flooding or water leaks, resulting mold growth can seriously compromise the health of patients and others such as nursing staff and physicians (Burge, Indoor Air and Infectious Disease. Occupational Medicine: State of the Art Reviews, 1980; Lutz et al., Clinical Infectious Diseases 37: 786-793, 2003). Micro-organism growth can propagate if the water is not addressed quickly and effectively. Immunocompromised patients are particularly at risk when subjected to fungal infection such that the US Center for Disease Control issued guideline for building mold in health care facilities (Centers for Disease and Control [CDC], Centers for Disease and Control: Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and Other Molds, 2000). This paper is based on mold remediation of one portion of a hospital unit due to water from construction activity and inadequate maintenance, resulting in mold growth. A large proportion of the hospital staff, primarily nurses in the dialysis unit, exhibited health symptoms consistent with mold exposure. Unfortunately, the hospital administrators did not consider the mold risk to be serious and refused an independent consultant retained by the nurse's union to examine the premise (Canadian Broadcasting Corporation [CBC], Nurses file complaints over mold at Foothills. Canadian Broadcasting Corporation, 2003). The nurse's union managed to have the premise examined by submitting a court order of detention and inspection and for an interlocutory injunction to allow their consultants to undertake air quality testing. Mold remediation procedures are readily available and are not to be discussed here (Silicato, http://www.nibs.org/BETEC/M6/ 13-Silicato_Mold-Remediation.pdf, 2004). However, the difficulty of determining the qualifications of consultants, contactors and project managers are discussed. It also describes the need and importance of a buffer zone between the occupied areas and the mold abatement containment area.