Indoor air pollution in developing nations is a major health hazard. Pollutant sources there are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. Definition of outdoor air pollution outdoor air pollution. Outdoor air pollutants montgomery county, maryland. The objectives of the indoor air pollution and health iapah research project were to quantify the levels of indoor air pollution iap in irish and scottish homes from indoor combustion sources, and to provide an estimate of the potential health burden, i. Indoor air pollution can pose a serious health threat. According to the environmental protection agency, the top five air quality problems in the u. Basic information on pollutants and sources of indoor air pollution. 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. Other than nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and lead, there are a number of other pollutants that affect the air quality in an enclosed space. Indoor air pollution numerous forms of indoor air pollution are possible in the modern home. However, indoor air pollutants can be even more dangerous than outdoor air pollution. Epa studies indicate that the levels of many air pollutants may be two to five times higher in indoor air than outdoor air. Addressing the impact of household energy and indoor air pollution.
Indoor air pollution is when pollutants contaminate air indoors and is a very dangerous problem, claiming more than 2 million lives each year. Air plays a vital role not only in nature but also in the lives of human beings and all living organisms. A read is counted each time someone views a publication summary such as the title, abstract, and list of authors, clicks on a figure, or views or downloads the fulltext. This book presents who guidelines for the protection of public health from risks due to a number of chemicals commonly present in indoor air. Mar 15, 2017 proper air filtration in your homes hvac system is the answer to biological contaminants. Howard airs hvac technicians can help phoenix homeowners find relief from poor indoor air quality. Pdf causes, consequences and control of air pollution. Criteria pollutants a group of air pollutants which are deemed to have human health andor environmental effects and as such are regulated by the setting of air quality standards. Jun 05, 2015 identify possible sources of indoor air pollution. 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. This book presents who guidelines for the protection of public health from a number of chemicals commonly present in indoor air. Indoor air quality iaq is the air quality within and around buildings and structures. Indoor air pollution may arise from the use of open fires, unsafe fuels or combustion of.
Breathing is essential for survival, but in some places the air quality poses. Tightly constructed buildings, for instance, reduce the amount of fresh air for dilution and for purging out of pollutants, which, in turn, builds up high levels of toxic substances indoors. Electrostatic air cleaners can filter out many air pollutants in the home, but they also create ozone, itself a respiratory irritant. Pollutants that originate outside get a lot of attention from. Who air quality guidelines, global update, 2005 whoeurope. Ozone is a lung irritant that can cause adverse health effects. Outdoor ozone and building related symptoms in the base study pdf. We may find it useful to combine the tools of the physical sciences with those of the. However, it is not necessarily true that the effects noted occur at the pollutant concentration levels typically found in the home. In the past, asbestos was one of the main indoor air pollutants, but this has been. Common residential indoor pollutants include excessive moisture, volatile organic compounds vocs, combustion products, radon, pesticides, dust particles, viruses, and bacteria. Air pollution ppt and pdf for free download study mafia.
This page provides a list of links for other air pollutants and indoor air pollutants. Reference guide to major indoor air pollutants in the home the pollutants listed in this guide have been shown to cause the health effects mentioned. Chemistry and environmental sciences indoor air pollution. Household fuel combustion set emissions thresholds, by which the cleanest cookstove and lighting technologies may be identified. 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. This definition implicitly acknowledges that some substances that are considered to be air pollutants are present naturally. Indoor pollutants and sources indoor air quality iaq. Identify major indoor air pollutants describe sources of indoor air pollutants identify the people who are most susceptible to indoor air pollution explain the health consequences of indoor air pollution. Dangers of indoor air pollution the new york times. Benzene 15 general description 15 indoor sources 15 pathways of exposure 17 indoor concentrations 18. Students will learn about indoor air pollutants the types and legal concentrations and affects on human health. Pdf on feb 3, 2012, klara slezakova and others published indoor air. Tobacco smoke is one of the most significant indoor sources of air pollution.
Chemistry and environmental sciences indoor air pollution objectives. Air pollutant levels in the home increase if not enough outdoor air is brought in to dilute emissions from indoor sources and to carry indoor air pollutants out of the home. Learn more about these 10 common indoor air pollutants. Indoor air pollution can begin within the building or be drawn in from outdoors. Oecd glossary of statistical terms indoor air pollution. Sources and emissions of air pollutants learning objectives by the end of this chapter the reader will be able to. Learn indoor air pollution with free interactive flashcards. Contact us today to have your home assessed for indoor air pollutants and learn about our steps to remove them. Pollution levels in one home may be quite different from those in another, depending on the presence and usage of sources of pollutants and on the ventilation habits. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants. What could be done to improve the air quality of your home. The causes of indoor air pollution comfy home corner. Epa calls these pollutants criteria air pollutants because it regulates them by developing human healthbased andor environmentallybased criteria sciencebased guidelines for setting permissible levels.
Choose from 500 different sets of indoor air pollution flashcards on quizlet. Indoor air pollution, health and economic wellbeing. They provide a scientific basis for legally enforceable standards. 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. This activity demonstrates how visible and invisible pollutants can spread through the. Since most people spend more time indoors than out. An official website of the united states government. Exploring the consequences of climate change for indoor air quality. These pollutants can harm your health and the environment, and cause property damage. To ensure the protection of public health, it is necessary to combine all our available. Outdoor air pollution is a complex mixture of several pollutants. Pdf indoor air pollution has occurred since prehistoric times when people moved to live. There are, however, some source emission standards that specify maximum rates at which contaminants can be released from a source. Business parks that merge industrial and nonindustrial.
Oct 21, 2012 air pollution air pollution defined as the of one or more contaminants or combinations in such quantities and of such durations as may be or tend to be injurious to human, animal or plant life, or property, or which unreasonably interferes with the comfortable enjoyment of life or property or conduct of business. Radon 10 common indoor air pollutants howstuffworks. In the united states, these include carbon monoxide co, nitrogen oxides nox, ozone o 3, particulate matter, sulfur dioxide so2, and lead. An aqi value of 100 generally corresponds to the national ambient air quality standard naaqs for the pollutant, which is the level the united states. When there are low levels of carbon monoxide in the air, it can lead to nausea and unconsciousness. Indoor air pollutants and their emissions sources, adapted from jones, 2002. Volatile organic compounds originate mainly from solvents and chemicals.
Developing indoor air quality guidelines 2 setting indoor air quality guidelines 4 preparation of the guidelines 7 combined exposures 9 use of the indoor air quality guidelines in protecting public health 11 references 1. The high risk of death which comes with this air pollutant is the reason why people are advised to have a carbon monoxide detector in their homes. In 1970, congress passed the clean air act that established national air pollutant standards for 6 criteria pollutants. The european commission has developed a series of framework directives for controlling ambient air pollution and monitoring concentrations. Human exposure to indoor air pollutants is difficult to quantify due to the fact that it is largely determined by microenvironmental characteristics. The fact that indoors air quality is not an exact reflection of the ambient air quality was recognized only recently. Whereas, indoor air pollution causes serious health effects, including cancer, premature.
The students will also determine the pathway for the formation of radon. Climate change will affect the concentrations of air pollutants in buildings. Major air pollutants pollutant description sources effects release carbon monoxide co co is an odorless, colorless, and poisonous gas produced by the incomplete burning of fossil fuels gasoline, oil, natural gas. Indoor air pollution by formaldehyde in european countries. Indoor air pollution environmental health student portal. Cars, trucks, buses, small engines, and some industrial processes are major sources.