Download printerfriendly version adobe pdf file adobe pdf file pdf 1. Mold people with asthma may be more sensitive to mold. The burning of such fuels, particularly in poor households, results in air pollution that leads to respiratory diseases which can result in premature death. What was the most likely cause of the poor air quality. For the purposes of this document, the term indoor air quality iaq represents the indoor air concentrations of pollutants that are known or suspected to affect peo ples comfort, environmental satisfaction, health, or work or school performance. The first step to keeping your home and family safe is learning more about the problem. Pdf causes, consequences and control of air pollution. Compendium of methods for the determination of air pollutants in indoor air. Asbestos, biologic agents, building materials, radon, tobacco smoke, and. But they are diluted by wind and rain unlike the air in your home where contaminants can be concentrated. Breathing in air pollutants particulate matter, for example, which are tiny particles much thinner than a human hair can lead to changes in the body that damage health.
Do indoor pollutants and thermal conditions in schools influence student performance. Official journal of the international society of indoor air quality and climate. Indoor air pollution may arise from the use of open fires, unsafe fuels or combustion of biomass fuels, coal and kerosene. Its nextlevel comfort you can really enjoy, well beyond the basics of simple temperature control. Further guidelines on indoor air quality in relation to pollution emanating from specific chemicals and combustion products are under development. The clinician should consider the following possible sources of indoor air pollution when eliciting information on exposures. Air pollutants can also be of primary or secondary nature. Air pollution has become the worlds single biggest environmental health risk, linked to around 7 million deaths in 2012 according to a recent world health organisation who report. Household air pollution and its effects on health ncbi. This paper reports the results of a survey of tradftional stove ownership and health among 2,400. Close contact behaviour in indoor environment and transmission of respiratory infection.
Indoor air pollution may be more hazardous to your health than outdoor air pollution. Poor air quality is linked to chronic and acute respiratory diseases, such as bronchitis and the aggravation of asthma, heart disease and stroke. A tool kit pdf icon pdf 726 kb heart health and air pollution. Mold can bring on symptoms of asthma or cause an asthma attack. Aerosols are loosely defined as any solid or liquid particles suspended in the air. Each of these heat sources can create indoor air pollution during cooking. Air pollutants can present a real danger to living organisms as well as the wider environment.
Carbon dioxide co 2 carbon monoxide co dust environmental tobacco smoke ets or secondhand smoke. While dated, it is still relevant as it describes sources of air pollution in the home and office, corrective strategies, and specific measures for reducing pollutant levels. Everyone knows that outdoor air can contain pollutants. The new data further reveals a stronger link between, indoor and outdoor air pollution exposure and cardiovascular. Publications about indoor air quality indoor air quality. The primary nih organization for research on indoor air pollution is the national institute of environmental health sciences disclaimers medlineplus links to health information from the national institutes of health and other federal government agencies. If you would like to printed copy, please email air. Natural gas and propane stoves can release carbon monoxide, formaldehyde and other harmful pollutants into the air, which can be toxic to people and pets. Indoor air pollutants and health effects pdf file size 63kb useful links to further information.
Air pollution and respiratory health indoor air pollution this site provides information and frequently asked questions from federal, state, and private resources about asthma and indoor and outdoor air pollution. In some cases, indoor air pollutants may even be 100 times higher than outdoors. Compendium of methods for the determination of toxic organic. Mar 24, 2017 air pollution ppt and pdf for free download. Indoor air quality products offering healthy home solutions. In the united states there are no federal standards that have been developed specifically for indoor air contaminants in nonoccupational environments. Assessment of community awareness and practices concerning. This meth od was prepared for publication in the compendium of methods for the determination of toxic organic compounds in ambient air, second edition epa625r96010b, which was prepared under contract no.
Indoor air pollution has been associated with a wide range of health. It is related to the choice of construction materials and associated with voc emissions. In 1970, congress passed the clean air act that established national air pollutant standards for 6 criteria pollutants. Outdoor air pollution main sources combustion of fossil fuels domestic heating power generation motor vehicles industrial processes agricultural processes waste incineration natural processes thunderstorms volcanoes cdc etze l cdc air pollution depends on where you are. Jun 05, 2015 identify possible sources of indoor air pollution. Building dampness and its effect on indoor exposure to biological and nonbiological pollutants 7 2. Share your knowledge share your word file share your pdf file share your ppt. Living organisms can survive without water for some time but cannot survive without air because when we breathe then we intake oxygen from air and releases carbon dioxide, if this procedure does not take. Using a wood stove or fireplace to cook can result in high levels of indoor. Biological contaminants mold, dust mites, pet dander, pollen, etc. Introduction although pollutant concentrations vary significantly from building to building, the levels of some common air pollutants often are greater indoors than outdoors. Benzene 15 general description 15 indoor sources 15 pathways of exposure 17 indoor concentrations 18 indoor outdoor relationship 19 kinetics and metabolism 20 health effects 24 health risk evaluation 36 guidelines 38 references 39 2.
A monitoring and evaluation report on the capacity. Clear your home of asthma triggers pdf 244 kb this pdf file provides information on how to eliminate asthma triggers in the home and how to reduce symptoms in children. Outdoor air pollution is a complex mixture of several pollutants. The indoor air quality iaq 1 2 depends on the concentration of pollutants released to air in relation to the dilution factor determined by replacement with fresh air. Smoking inside the house occurred among 22% of households. The aim of this factsheet is to describe the main sources of indoor air pollution, what causes the problem and what we can all do to reduce the risk of ill health from indoor air. Visible and invisible pollutants answer key, continued 11. Air pollution occurs when gases, dust particles, fumes or smoke or odour are introduced into the atmosphere in a way that makes it harmful to humans, animals and plant. Outdoor air pollutants emory department of pediatrics. Indoor air pollution has been associated with a wide range of health outcomes as most of the. Use of the indoor air quality guidelines in protecting public health. Indoor air pollution may arise from the use of open fires, unsafe fuels or combustion of. This is our most popular and comprehensive publication on the subject of indoor air quality. Pollutants found within all types of buildings can be harmful to people across the world, with nearly 4 million deaths per year attributed to exposure to household air pollutants 2.
In fact, the air inside can be up to 100 times more polluted than the air outside. The graph shows that europe had the highest level of so2 emissions in 1975. Epa studies indicate that the levels of many air pollutants may be two to five times higher in indoor air than outdoor air. Because of this, outdoor air cannot enter as easily and dilute or clear away pollutants. These toolkits can help you communicate with consumers about public health issues related to air pollution. Statistics suggest that in developing countries, health impacts of indoor air.
This is because contained areas enable potential pollutants to build up more than open spaces. Estimated 7 to 8 million premature deaths annually are caused by indoor air pollution. One solution to indoor air pollution if you or your family members suffer from. There are, however, some source emission standards that specify maximum rates. Emissions from combustion of solid fuels for cooking and heating causes indoor pollution, as well as outdoor. Green buildings aim to improve the indoor environmental quality through design, construction, and maintenance that minimize indoor air pollutionthis ensures that fresh air is supplied and circulated, and that moisture content is managed to remove the threat of moisturerelated problems such as mold. Cooking stoves, indoor air pollution and respiratory health in rural orissa esther duflo, michael greenstone, rema hanna indoor air pollution emitted from traditional fuels and cooking stoves is a potentially large health threat in rural regions.
People use a variety of heat sources to cook food, including gas, wood, and electricity. Air quality air quality resources for professionals cdc. Cooking stoves, indoor air pollution and respiratory. Air plays a vital role not only in nature but also in the lives of human beings and all living organisms.
This article will help by covering 7 common indoor air pollutants. Also find out if you have these common indoor pollutants inside your home. Dec 05, 2011 the health effects of indoor air pollutants are not fully understood, but indoor air quality has been linked with a wide array of health outcomes including deficits in lung function, chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, developmental disorders, and damage to the brain, nervous system, liver, or kidneys 9,10,11,12. No wonder the epa ranks indoor air quality as a top. Indoor air quality is influenced by concentrations of outdoor air pollutants, indoor sources of pollution, characteristics of the building and the habits of the residents. Compendium of methods for the determination of toxic. Indoor air pollution is the degradation of indoor air quality by harmful chemicals and other materials. Indoor environmental asthma triggers learn how you can reduce common asthma triggers in the home and in other indoor environments. Show your calculations for each index card below, giving the amount of particulates in 1 m2. Gas stoves or badly installed woodburning units with.
Health effects and sources of indoor air pollution. Publication date 1991 topics indoor air pollution health aspects. Considering the types of potential indoor air pollutants in your home, what type of effects might these materials have upon the health of you and your family. To understand indoor air quality, please read this document, prepared for health professionals, from p521. The european commission has developed a series of framework directives for controlling ambient air pollution and monitoring concentrations.
Use of the indoor air quality guidelines in protecting public health 11 references 1. This activity demonstrates how visible and invisible pollutants can spread through the. However, indoor air pollutants can be even more dangerous than outdoor air pollution. Air pollution and respiratory healthindoor air pollution this site provides information and frequently asked questions from federal, state, and private resources about asthma and indoor and outdoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution can pose a serious health threat. Indoor tobacco smoking, construction material used in building houses, fuel used for cooking, heating and lighting, use of incense and various.
A tool kit pdf icon pdf 3 mb you can also share this podcast with tips for avoiding the harmful health effects of poor air quality. Ets, combustion products, animal dander and pollen, asbestos and radon as well as sbs. The term indoor air pollution may seem a little vague at first, but once you understand what it actually includes you may be very surprised. Human exposure to indoor air pollutants is difficult to quantify due to the fact that it is largely determined by microenvironmental characteristics. Measuring health impact of indoor air pollution is key. The council has also produced a leaflet which highlights some of the factors that can lead to poor air quality in the home, as well as advice on ways to improve it. Willis carrier would file more than 80 patents over the course of his career. To me, the most important indoor air pollutants are thats not to say the others are not important. Air pollutants come in the form of gases and finely divided solid and liquid aerosols. Why it matters uk citizens spend 90% of their time indoors1 and around 16 hours a day in their homes2. The casper conducted among 192 households in madison county, alabama, about selected indoor air pollutants and routine emergency preparedness found the majority of residents were aware of potential indoor lead exposures and had heard of radon, but most had not tested for either. Indoor air pollution is caused by burning solid fuel sources such as firewood, crop waste, and dung for cooking and heating. What could be done to improve the air quality of your home. We conclude with a discussion on what is known regarding the effectiveness of popular strategies to combat indoor air pollution in developing countries.
Environmental protection agency, epa 600490010, may 1990. Dust is made up of particles in the air that settle on surfaces. Tobacco smoke is one of the most significant indoor sources of air pollution. Poor indoor air quality, or indoor air pollution, occurs when there is a build up of pollutants in the home to the extent that it affects an occupants health and comfort. Indoor air quality products offering healthy home solutions carrier clears the air for enhanced indoor comfort. Sources and health impacts pollutants from natural sources pollutant major sources in the home possible health impacts radon colorless, tasteless, and odorless gas that comes from the radioactive decay of uranium or radium. Indoor air pollution can come from many places, including open fires and heaters, building materials and furniture, cleaning products and cooling systems, and air pollution that comes in from outdoors if you would like to know more about outdoor air pollution, please read our factsheet at. Carbon monoxide 55 general description 55 indoor sources 55.
Measuring health impact of indoor air pollution is key january february 2015 volume 14, issue 1. Since most people spend more time indoors than outdoors, exposure to indoor air pollutants is an important environmental problem. Classification of air pollutants the variety of matter emitted into the atmosphere by natural and anthropogenic sources is so diverse that it is difficult to classify air pollutants neatly. The amount of ventilation in a building is important when thinking about. Indoor air pollution and the lungs european lung foundation. Teachers guide to indoor air quality indoor air quality true or false worksheet check true or false for each question 1. Indoor air quality royal borough of kensington and chelsea. Assessment of indoor air pollution in homes with infants. Causes of air pollution from the built environment world. Find out what is indoor air pollution and what causes it. There are, however, some source emission standards that specify maximum rates at which contaminants can be released from a source. Indoor air pollution is when pollutants contaminate air indoors and is a very dangerous problem, claiming more than 2 million lives each year.