Air pollution in schools has been studied frequently in recent years e. 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. Another gas that contributes to indoor air pollution is carbon monoxide. This is an odorless and colorless gas which is very dangerous to people.
Pollutants can cause a wide range of shortterm and longterm health problems. Smokers are at higher risk of developing radon induced lung. Indoor air pollution is the degradation of indoor air quality by harmful chemicals and other materials. Most of us spend much of our lives inside buildings. Most people are aware of the health dangers of outdoor air pollution, but not many realize that air pollution in their homes, offices, and schools can also have significant health effects. The clinician should consider the following possible sources of indoor air pollution when eliciting information on exposures. You might think that if indoor air pollution is a problem in an enclosed place like your house, then it must be even worse in an airplane. In many developing countries, exposure to indoor air pollution causes a major health burden committee on the medical effects of air pollutants, 2004. Prepared for by united states environmental protection. Air pollution threatens the health of humans and other living beings in our planet. 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.
Air pollution can result from both human and natural actions. Subsequently, exposure to indoor air pollutants and health effects are. Epa studies indicate that the levels of many air pollutants may be two to five times higher in indoor air than outdoor air. A 1987 study by the epa showed that indoor air pollution was the fourth highest cause for cancer out of environmental problems. The use of disinfectants, cleaning products, accumulated dust and dirt, room fresheners, incense sticks, everything contributes to indoor air pollution. Today, indoor air pollution caused by burning of traditional solid fuels such as woodfuel, agricultural residues, and dried animal dung in unvented cookstoves in rural areas of developing countries is not much different. Indoor air pollution occurs when harmful gases andor particles are present in the air of a house. This is because contained areas enable potential pollutants to build up more than open spaces.
Causes and prevention of indoor air pollution kent. Prevent indoor air pollution improving indoor air quality with prevention and filtration. Indoor air quality is affected by many factors including the type and running conditions of indoor pollution sources, ventilation conditions, as well as indoor activities. Assessing the health risks of indoor air pollution is very difficult as indoor air may contain over 900 chemicals, particles and biological materials with potential health effects. Pdf indoor air pollution is ubiquitous, and takes many forms. The gas is released when fossil fuels are burnt and is part of the furnace system of many buildings. But a few simple tricks can reduce your risk, protect your health, and safeguard the health of your family.
Household air pollution news, resources and funding for. Indoor air pollutants and the impact on human health. Natural events that pollute the air include forest fires, volcanic eruptions, wind erosion, pollen dispersal, evaporation of organic compounds and natural radioactivity. Indoor air pollution has occurred since prehistoric times when people moved to live indoors and fire was brought into closed shelters for cooking and space heating 1. The problem is homeowners are unaware of these pollutants that are lurking in their homes. Household air pollution news, resources and funding for global health researchers over 3 billion people in the world rely on open fires and rudimentary stoves for cooking food and heating their homes. Indoor air pollution environmental health student portal. Indoor air pollutants affecting child health outline 1.
Research has shown, however, that the ventilation systems used by commercial aircraft may actually reduce the spread of airborne organisms by as much as 63 percent source. As a business owner, you are responsible for maintaining a workplace that is relatively free from indoor air pollution and other such hazards. It creates smog and acid rain, causes cancer and respiratory diseases, reduces the ozone layer atmosphere and contributes to global warming. Keeping pollutants and contaminants out of your home before they start causing health problems for you and your family is much simpler and. In some cases, indoor air pollutants may even be 100 times higher than outdoors.
Indoor air pollution can be a serious and potentially deadly problem. Asbestos, biologic agents, building materials, radon, tobacco smoke, and. Indoor air pollution an overview sciencedirect topics. This definition implicitly acknowledges that some substances that are considered to be air pollutants are present naturally. Environmental protection agency office of radiation and indoor air august 24, 2010 by paula schenck, mph a. Sources of volatile organic compounds indoors include. Indoor air pollution may arise from the use of open fires, unsafe fuels or combustion of. In the short term, exposure to high concentrations of indoor air pollution can cause eye irritation, headaches, nose and throat irritation, fatigue, and dizziness. We work, study, eat, drink and sleep in enclosed environments where air circulation may be restricted.
In the scottish study, total mor tality was increased for women living with. These are problems that usually affect the air outdoors, but there can be indoor pollution, too. Indoor air pollution is a major global public health threat requiring greatly increased efforts in the areas of research and policymaking in developing countries as well as in developed countries as it is associated with increased morbidity and mortality. In addition to cancer, indoor pollutants can cause other types of problems, including bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema, heart disease, impaired mental function, allergic reactions, asthma attacks, liver damage and more. Studies revealed that the outdoor environment is also an important factor that. 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. In developing countries, the main source of indoor air pollution is biomass smoke which contains suspended particulate matter 5pm, nitrogen dioxide no2, sulphur dioxide so2, carbon monoxide ca.
The effects of indoor air pollution on building occupants are varied, but can include irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, respiratory illness, headaches, dizziness and fatigue epa 2008. To minimize health risks, choose lowvoc paint and keep the windows open while painting and for several days. Indoor air pollution, health and economic wellbeing. Indoor air pollution can pose a serious health threat.
Indoor air pollution indoor air is air within a building such as your home, classroom, office, shopping center, hospital or gym. Dust, which can trigger respiratory allergies in people who are sensitive to them. Prevention is the best medicine when it comes to maintaining healthy indoor air quality. Indoor air pollution by formaldehyde in european countries. The causes of indoor air pollution comfy home corner. When we talk about air pollution, we often think of smog, chemicals produced by factories or exhaust from cars. 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. So, in this blog and infographic, we discuss the causes of indoor air pollution in detail. No 2 acts mainly as an irritant affecting the mucosa of the eyes, nose, throat, and respiratory tract. Pollution from natural occurrences is not very often. Common indoor air pollutants university of kentucky. The health effects of indoor air pollution exposure in developing countries. Its purpose is to deliver highquality research and practical guidance to help the industry meet its considerable challenges. Factors like ventilation, cleaning conditions, building characteristics, products used in households, cultural habits, climate and outdoor environment all influence indoor air quality.
Consequences of air pollution co 2 is a good transmitter of sunlight, but it also partially restricts infrared radiation going back from the earth into space, which produces the socalled greenhouse effect that prevents a drastic cooling of the earth during the night increasing the amount of co 2 in the atmosphere. In this industrial age, air pollution cannot be eliminated completely. Indoor air pollution refers to chemical, biological and physical contamination of indoor air. We say indoor air pollution if indoor air is contaminated by smoke, chemicals, smells or particles unlike outdoor air pollution, the effect of indoor air pollution is health related and less of an environmental issue. Increased concern regarding indoor air quality especially in the last two decades has led to a number of studies and meetings on the subject.
Karim ahmed, phd anne bracker, mph, cih robert debernardo, md, mba, mph section of occupational and environmental medicine center for indoor environments and health. Environmental protection agency epa studies of human exposure to air pollution indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 25 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. What are the causes of air pollution pollutant description and main uk sources potential effects on healthenvironment particulate matter pmpm 10 and pm 2. These are the problems more likely to be encountered by the primary health care provider. Indoor air pollution might also reduce the productivity of teachers and degrade the student learning experience e. Gases or particles that are released into the air from a variety. Poor awareness and knowledge about indoor air pollution in. Poor awareness and knowledge about indoor air pollution in the urban population of mumbai, india pramod v niphadkar1, 2, kshitija rangnekar1, pooja tulaskar1, sudha deo2, sujata mahadik2, amol m kakade2 including formaldehyde can irritate eyes and the respiratory tract. Health effects and sources of indoor air pollution. Pdf causes, consequences and control of air pollution. It refers to the physical, chemical, and biological characteristics of air in the indoor environment within a home, building, or an institution or commercial facility. We conclude with a discussion on what is known regarding the effectiveness of popular strategies to combat indoor air pollution in developing countries.
Etiology can be difficult to establish because many signs and symptoms are nonspecific, making differential diagnosis a. Sometimes the symptoms resemble asthma, while others resemble cold symptoms. Oecd glossary of statistical terms indoor air pollution. With the continual improvement in our quality of life, indoor air quality has become an important area of concern in the twentyfirst century. Indoor air pollution is a concern in the developed countries, where energy efficiency improvements sometimes make houses relatively airtight, reducing. For these reasons, some experts feel that more people suffer from the effects of indoor air pollution than outdoor pollution. Concise summary of the evidence for health effects of exposure to indoor air pollution from solid fuel use in children and adults. Extremely highdose exposure as in a building fire to no 2 may result in pulmonary. Top 15 causes of indoor air pollution and what you can do. In infants and young children up to 3 years, exposure to ets causes an approximate doubling in the. Vapors of agricultural chemicals contain toxic substances such as arsenic that are known to disrupt the endocrine system and lead to cancerous growth.
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