Burning of fossil fuels by motor vehicles including cars, buses and trucks and. In the short term, exposure to high concentrations of indoor air pollution can cause eye irritation, headaches, nose and throat irritation, fatigue, and dizziness. A modeling study the study aimed to estimate the potential impacts of this planned lpg expansion the master plan on population health and climate change mitigation, assuming primary, sustained use of. Indoor air pollution the facts about deteriorating indoor air quality iaq what is it. 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.
Indoor air quality iaq refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Indoor air pollution, health and economic wellbeing. Global environmental and occupational health geohealth, including indoor air pollution related events. Air pollution is produced by both human activity and naturally occurring events. A comparative study of indoor air pollution and its. 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. Jun 28, 2011 top 15 causes of indoor air pollution and what you can do about them read on to find out what deadly air pollutants may be present in your home, office and school. Indoor air pollution is caused by burning solid fuel sources such as firewood, crop waste, and dung for cooking and heating. Unlike outdoor air pollution, the effect of indoor air pollution is health related and less of an. The main groups affected are poor women and children in rural areas and urban slums as.
Contaminated indoor air occurs when toxic substances combine with inadequate building ventilation causing health problems such as eye irritation, nose and. Indoor air pollution may arise from the use of open fires, unsafe fuels or combustion of biomass fuels, coal and kerosene. Gas stoves or badly installed woodburning units with poor ventilation and maintenance can increase the indoor levels of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particles. According to the world health organization, 40% of all buildings pose a serious health hazard due to indoor air pollutants. Indoor air pollution is when pollutants contaminate air indoors and is a very dangerous problem, claiming more than 2 million lives each year. This is because contained areas enable potential pollutants to build up more than open spaces. Since the energy crisis of the early 1970s, emphasis on energyefficient homes has skyrocketed. Next, we discuss the available evidence on the relationship between air pollution and health, and between respiratory health and productivity.
Indoor air pollution outdoor pollution indoor pollution 2. Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about. Indoor air pollution refers to chemical, biological and physical contamination of indoor air. Environmental protection agency sets and enforces air quality standards only for ambient air. 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. Air pollution and illness ck12 provides reading, practice, and critical thinking, activities, and study guides on how indoor and outdoor air pollution affects human health cleaning the air teach engineering this lesson provides students an opportunity to work as engineers to remove particulate matter from the air. Assessment and control of indoor air pollution, pp. Contributions of mobile, stationary and biogenic sources to air. Continuous monitoring is a technique for sampling and measuring the realtime concentration of pollutants. The first step to keeping your home and family safe is learning more about the problem. The worst short term civilian pollution crisis in india was the 1984 bhopal disaster. Nih household air pollution research training institute presentations on cookstove research, use, testing and adoption funding program.
Run your dishwasher and washing machine only when full and if possible at night. The present lecture note on air pollution is therefore, prepared to be used as a teaching material to train mainly environmental health and other students of health. Air pollution and illness ck12 provides reading, practice, and critical thinking, activities, and study guides on how indoor and outdoor air pollution affects human health helping to find a solution to air pollution. Best practices for design, construction and commissioning is designed for architects, design engineers, contractors, commissioning agents, and all other professionals concerned with indoor air quality summary part i and detailed part ii guidance provides. We say indoor air pollution if indoor air is contaminated by smoke, chemicals, smells or particles. Top 15 causes of indoor air pollution and what you can do about them read on to find out what deadly air pollutants may be present in your home, office and school. Indoor air pollution is one of the worlds largest environmental problems particularly for the poorest in the world who often do not have access to clean fuels for cooking the global burden of disease is a major global study on the causes and risk factors for death and disease published in the medical journal the lancet. Air conditioners need much more power than fans do. Indoor air pollution is a major public health problem that threatens virtually all workers in new york states school buildings. Hundreds of internal and external links to resources for the design, construction, and commissioning of. Top 15 causes of indoor air pollution and what you can do. Definition of outdoor air pollution outdoor air pollution.
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. We conclude with a discussion on what is known regarding the effectiveness of popular strategies to combat indoor air pollution in developing countries. 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. 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. This is because contained areas enable potential pollutants to build up more than open spaces do. Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals, particulates, or biological materials that cause discomfort, disease, or death to humans, damage other living organisms such as. However, some groups of people are especially sensitive to common air pollutants such as particulates and ground level. Air pollution can come from a multitude of sources. Pdf causes, consequences and control of air pollution. However, indoor air pollution is estimated to have caused. Indoor air pollution caused by burning such traditional fuels as wood, crop residues, and dung is less evident, yet it is responsible for a significant part of country and global disease burdens. In the last several years, a growing body of scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.
Jun 03, 2017 indoor air pollution outdoor pollution indoor pollution 2. But improving indoor air quality isnt just about keeping contaminants out of your indoor air, its also about maintaining a healthy air flow and getting toxins out when need be. Indoor and outdoor air pollution claiming at least 40,000. However, indoor air pollutants can be even more dangerous than outdoor air pollution. Contaminated indoor air occurs when toxic substances combine with inadequate building ventilation causing health problems such as eye irritation, nose and throat irritation, sinus. Published by the arab school for science and technology asst. Pollutants can cause a wide range of shortterm and longterm health problems. Aprilaire eventbased air cleaning thermostats allow you to manage your air purifier based on your needs with a simpletouse control thats conveniently located in your living space. Statistics suggest that in developing countries, health impacts of indoor air. However industry and processing also send huge amounts of sulfur, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide, heavy metals, and particulates into the air. Analysis and abatement of air pollution involve a variety of technical disciplines.
Indoor air pollution can come from sources outside the home, such as emissions from transport or smoke from neighbouring wood heaters, and from sources within homes. Control indoor air pollution in your home with eventbased air cleaning. Sometimes the symptoms resemble asthma, while others resemble cold symptoms. Choosing natural, lowtoxin options that have as little scent as possible is therefore important for air pollution prevention. Outdoor air pollution environmental health student portal. When it comes to air pollution, most people would associate it with dirty air that exists outside the boundary of their home, school or office building. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns. 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. Oecd glossary of statistical terms indoor air pollution.
Indoor air pollution is the degradation of indoor air quality by harmful chemicals and other materials. The burning of such fuels, particularly in poor households, results in air pollution that leads to respiratory diseases which can result in premature death. Household air pollution news, resources and funding for. Exposure to air pollution is linked to lung cancer, asthma attacks, cardiovascular damage. A great deal of attention centers on making homes airtight to decrease the amount of energy and expense needed for heating, which may decrease natural ventilation an exchange of outside and inside air. Indoor air pollution environmental health student portal. Leaked indu strial vapours from the union carbide factor y, b. Though there is a decrease in household air pollution from solid fuels in southeast asia, still. 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. This article will help by covering 7 common indoor air pollutants. The students will also determine the pathway for the formation of radon. An aprilaire air purifier gives you the ability to control when and how it works.
Indoor air pollution the amount of contaminants in the air inside a building from sources such as cigarette smoking, fuel combustion for heating or cooking, certain wallboards, carpets, or insulation as well as the geology of the area radon in soil or rocks beneath the structure. Outdoor air pollution and your health american thoracic society. As a result of their activities in grades 912, all students should develop an understanding. 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. As we spend much time in our homes, it is important that the air is as clean as possible. It may cause diseases, allergies and even death to humans. Indoor air pollution is a concern in the developed countries, where energy efficiency improvements sometimes make houses relatively airtight, reducing. Give a try to strategically placed fans and open windows at night to cool down your room. Introduction to indoor air quality indoor air quality iaq. Indoor air pollution, the degradation of indoor air quality by harmful chemicals and other materials, can be up to 10 times worse than outdoor air pollution source. This activity demonstrates how visible and invisible pollutants can spread through the. Indoor air pollution is a concern in the developed countries, where energy efficiency improvements sometimes make houses relatively airtight, reducing ventilation and raising pollutant levels. Report to congress on indoor air quality, volume ii. The number one source of air pollution is the burning of fossil fuels primarily in our motor vehicles.
Outdoor air pollution scope of the problem worldwide, outdoor air pollution contributes to. Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances are introduced into earths atmosphere. Mar 12, 20 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. Mar 09, 2018 is the indoor air you breathe healthy. Students will learn about indoor air pollutants the types and legal concentrations and affects on human health. Why it matters uk citizens spend 90% of their time indoors1 and. Indoor air pollution indoor air is air within a building such as your home, classroom, office, shopping center, hospital or gym. Trees and air quality wisconsin department of natural resources lesson plan for grades 49 to teach ways in which trees benefit air quality and how landscaping can decease energy use.
Indoor air pollution has too often taken a backseat to outdoor air pollution, a subject that receives much attention, nationally and internationally. This definition implicitly acknowledges that some substances that are considered to be air pollutants are present naturally. 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 from solid fuels accounted for 3. Chemistry and environmental sciences indoor air pollution. Outdoor pollution, much of it from vehicles, causes 40,000 deaths a year in the uk but the number linked to indoor pollution is not known. Breathing is essential for survival, but in some places the air quality poses significant health risks. Sources of air pollution include gases such as ammonia, carbon monoxide, sulfur dioxide, nitrous oxides, methane and chlorofluorocarbons, particulates both organic and inorganic, and biological molecules. The main groups affected are poor women and children in rural areas and urban slums as they go about their daily activities. An introduction to air pollution definitions, classifications, and history. The air we breathe teach engineering lesson plan to teach students how engineers work to reduce air pollution by understanding the causes of air pollution. Just like outdoor air pollution, indoor air pollution can pose a risk to health.
An introduction for health professionals printable version this document serves to assists health professionals especially the primary care physician in diagnosis of patient symptoms that could be related to an indoor air pollution problem. Indoor air pollution india environment portal news. Environmental protection agency, office of air and radiation. Indoor air quality is subject to both temporal and spatial variations, and data on these variations would be needed to determine the concentrations to which occupants are exposed or to model indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution health and climate impacts of scaling adoption of liquefied petroleum gas lpg for clean household cooking in cameroon.
The following is a list of the most common indoor air pollutants and their sources. Monitoring and modeling of indoor air pollution indoor. 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. Use air conditioners in the summer only when absolutely necessary.
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