Assessment and control of indoor air pollution, pp. Indoor pollutants and sources indoor air quality iaq us epa. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home. Indoor air pollution is caused by burning solid fuel sources such as firewood, crop waste, and dung for cooking and heating. Common sources of co in schools are improperly vented furnaces, malfunctioning gas ranges, or exhaust fumes that have been drawn back into the building. Environmental tobacco smoke is a major source of indoor air contaminants. A variety of particulates, acting as additional irritants or, in some cases, carcinogens, may also be released in the course of combustion. Air pollution can come from a variety of sources including natural sources and manufactured sources. Smithd air pollution in general and indoor air pollution in particular have been associated in many peoples mind with industrialization and urbanization and, thus, with.
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 study analysed the concentration and sources of air pollution at an urban primary school 511 years in wellington, the capital of new zealand. 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. This report summarizes available information on candles and incense as potential sources of indoor air pollution. Prehistoric records note the problem of smoke in caves. This definition implicitly acknowledges that some substances that are considered to be air pollutants are present naturally. Mold is a form of fungus which grows from spores that latch onto damp areas in buildings. Indoor air pollution indoor air pollution is the presence of one or more contaminants indoors that carry a certain degree of human health risk. In some cases, indoor air pollutants may even be 100 times higher than outdoors. Pdf sources, effects, and control of noise in indoor. Indoor air pollution is when pollutants contaminate air indoors and is a very dangerous problem, claiming more than 2 million lives each year. What are the pollutants and the sources of indoor pollution. The resulting indoor air pollution iap is a major threat to health. Outdoor air pollution an overview sciencedirect topics.
In general, the present concentrations do not pose any problems. Although local differences in air temperature and the earths rotation. A primary source results from the direct emissions from an air pollution source. Environmental protection agency sets and enforces air quality standards only for ambient air. There are various sources of indoor air pollutants in any building. A partial list of common sources is given in the table. Indoor air pollution indoor air is air within a building such as your home, classroom, office, shopping center, hospital or gym. The indoor environment contains various chemical pollutants in varying amounts. Natural sources naturally occurring particulate matter pm includes dust from the earths surface crustal material, sea salt in coastal areas and biological material, in the form of pollen, spores or plant and animal debris 1. 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. Report to congress on indoor air quality, volume ii. Chapter 18 indoor air pollution from household use of. Indoor air issues may be traced to the beginning of civilization. To understand the relati onship between indoor air quality and health, it is important to further study the indoor pollu tants that have the most significant effects on human health.
The resulting indoor air pollution iap is a major threat to health, particularly for women and young children, who may spend many hours close to the fire. For environmental health science students air pollution mengesha admassu, mamo wubeshet university of gondar in collaboration with the ethiopia public health training initiative, the carter center, the ethiopia ministry of health, and the ethiopia ministry of education august 2006. Sources of indoor air pollution carbon monoxide co colorless gas or liquid. Pdf children are particularly vulnerable to the health effects of air pollution and as they spend a large proportion of time at school, this is an. British ung foundation 2018 indoor air pollution 2. Jun 05, 2015 identify possible sources of indoor air pollution. Evaluating sources of indoor air pollution bruce a. Avoid indoor sources of air pollution, such as woodstoves and open fireplaces. Chapter 10 air quality department of environmental affairs. Considered to be the concentration of a pollutant in the environment excluding indoor air. Sources are commonly classified into three broad groups.
The burning of such fuels, particularly in poor households, results in air pollution that leads to respiratory diseases which can result in premature death. Indoor pollutants and sources indoor air quality iaq. Tobacco smoke is one of the most significant indoor sources of air pollution. 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 term indoor air pollution may seem a little vague at first, but once you understand what it actually includes you may be very surprised. Asbestos, biologic agents, building materials, radon, tobacco smoke, and. In contrast, a secondary source results from the formation of a pollutant in the atmosphere from the chemical reaction of precursors emitted from air pollution. The market information collected focuses on production and sales data, typical uses in the u. Indoor air pollution may arise from the use of open fires, unsafe fuels or combustion of biomass fuels, coal and kerosene.
Anaerobic process refers to processes occurring in oxygendeficient environments. Radon is a natural radioactive gas released from the earth, and it can be found concentrated in basements in some parts of the united states. Types and sources of air pollutants compiled by professor roseanne diab. Epa studies indicate that the levels of many air pollutants may be two to five times higher in indoor air than outdoor air. Urban air pollution is largely a result of combustion of fossil fuels that are used in transportation, power generation, industrial sector, and other economic activities. Indoor air pollution sources particularly skunk and their impacts on health and the environment in the occupied palestinian territories, in. However, some products, activities, appliances, are. Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. The major historical air pollution episodes all occurred during stagnant inversions in regions that had significant sources of combustionrelated air pollutants see chapter 1. It results from incomplete oxidation of carbon in combustion processes. For each of these groups, effects associated with indoor air pollution iap, the principle agents and sources, evidence linking iap to the effects. Sources of indoor air pollution carbon monoxide kills.
Environmental protection agency research triangle park, north carolina evaluation of indoor air pollution problems requires an understanding of the relationship between sources, air movement, and outdoor air exchange. There are numerous sources of indoor air pollution, including combustion of domestic fuels such as coal, wood. Indoor air pollution has too often taken a backseat to outdoor air pollution, a subject that receives much attention, nationally and internationally. Identifying the sources of air pollution in your house can be a daunting task. Understanding the factors that influence indoor air quality in schools is critical for the assessment and control of indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke, cooking and heating appliances, and vapors from building materials, paints, furniture, etc. The clinician should consider the following possible sources of indoor air pollution when eliciting information on exposures. Pdf causes, consequences and control of air pollution. Since the early 1970s, the health effects of indoor air pollution have been investigated with increasing intensity. In this article, well answer these three questions. Indoor air pollutant description sources carbon monoxide co carbon monoxide co is a colorless, odorless gas.
Consequently, a large body of literature is now available on diverse aspects of indoor air pollution. Sources of air pollution sources of air pollution 1 include natural sources 2 and humanmade sources 3. Sources, effects, and control of noise in indooroutdoor living environments article pdf available april 2015 with 9,664 reads how we measure reads. Household air pollution hap, also known as indoor air pollution iap, is a serious area of concern in rural spaces, as majority of this population. If you are not sure what is causing poor air quality in your home, you have to read this list of 20 sources of indoor air pollution in most homes. Pdf sources of indoor air pollution at a new zealand urban. Gas stoves or badly installed woodburning units with. Learn vocabulary, terms, and more with flashcards, games, and other study tools. Natural sources include forest fires and volcanoes, while cars, trucks, trains, planes, boats, factories, and power plants contribute to air pollution through manufactured sources. Another source may be motor vehicle emissions due, for example, to proximity to a garage or a loading dock located near air intake vents.
Dec 22, 2005 this report summarizes available information on candles and incense as potential 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. Indoor sources are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes. Effects of indoor air pollution on human health prepared by working group 4 birgitta berglund, department of psychology, university of stockholm, sweden. Status of indoor air pollution in india the principal sources of indoor air. Sources of indoor air pollution at a new zealand urban. Environmental protection agency, office of air and radiation. 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 what causes indoor air pollution. Access to modern energy sources has been described as a. Pdf indoor air pollution sources particularly skunk and. Indoor air pollution can pose a serious health threat. Furthermore, the reliance on solid fuels and inefficient stoves has other, farreaching consequences for. Air pollution is the name for the mixture of harmful particles and gases in the air around us that we breathe. Although outdoor air pollution first caught the worlds attention as a health threat because of major pollution disasters, such as the london smog episode in 1950 that resulted in thousands of excess deaths ministry of health of great britain, 1954, indoor air pollution has also now been increasingly recognized as also providing air pollution.
Basic information on pollutants and sources of indoor air pollution. Policies to address air pollution also generate a range of benefits to human health, not only through air quality ted to household and ambient air. Sources of indoor air pollution range from home improvements, to our furry friends, to outside contaminants that make their way inside. The ubiquitous nature of ets in indoor environ ments indicates that some. The european commission has developed a series of framework directives for controlling ambient air pollution and monitoring concentrations. Several types of combustion sources release inorganic gaseous pollutants, formaldehyde, suspended particulates that can be breathed, and other toxic chemicals. 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 of outdoor air pollution depends on where you are. Abstract indoor air pollution iap is a relevant area of concern for most developing countries as it has a direct impact on mortality and morbidity. Download printerfriendly version adobe pdf file adobe pdf file pdf 1. Sources of air pollutants outdoor air pollution ncbi. To minimize health risks, choose lowvoc paint and keep the windows open while painting and for several days. Their airways are smaller, so inflammation caused by pollution can cause them to narrow more easily than in. 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. Carbon monoxide co formaldehyde pressed wood products.