Although the niehs report does not specifically address indoor contaminants or transformations of outdoor constituents in the indoors, it identifies pertinent relationships between outdoor air pollutants and health outcomes. An introduction to air pollution definitions, classifications, and history. Anthropogenic air pollution commenced with humans systematic use of fire. Man made activities thermal power plants, agricultural activities. Students will learn about indoor air pollutants the types and legal concentrations and affects on human health. Indoor air pollution in developing nations is a significant form of indoor air pollution iap that is little known to those in the developed world three billion people in developing countries across the globe rely on biomass, in the form of wood, charcoal, dung, and crop residue, as their domestic cooking fuel. Outdoor air pollution is emitted by motor vehicles, industrial facilities, and forest fires indoor 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. 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. With both definitions indoor air chemicals, especially tvoc, and high stress during. Urban and rural outdoor environments contain infections, allergens, irritants and chemical toxins that can reduce the quality of life and cause disease. Air pollution threatens the health of humans and other living beings in our planet. 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. Indoor environmental quality has a sig nificant impact on public health and well being. Epa studies indicate that the levels of many air pollutants may be two to five times higher in indoor air than outdoor air. A truly classic air pollution text, this book is suitable for a variety of engineers and scientists who wish to gain an introduction to the field of air pollution. Furthermore, the reliance on solid fuels and inefficient stoves has other, farreaching consequences for health, the environment, and economic development. Chemical, physical, or biological contaminants in indoor air. Air pollution and its effects on health case studies, india. The changes were positively associated with pm 10 and pm 2.
This image represents illustrative examples of sources of air pollution. Stationary and mobile sources of air pollution stationary sources have relatively fix location point sources. 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. Health is defined, for the purpose of this report, according to the wellknown who. Poor indoor air quality has been linked to sick building syndrome, reduced productivity and impaired learning in schools iaq can be affected by gases including carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds. A comparative study of indoor air pollution and its. It may cause diseases, allergies and even death to. Indoor air quality iaq is the air quality within and around buildings and structures. The laundry room is one of the biggest offenders for indoor air pollution, and not just because of the water that gets used. Indoor air pollution includes air pollutants found within the home, such as pollutants from cigarette smoke, charcoal or wood stoves, fine particles, and carbon monoxide. In other words, all manmade anthropogenic emissions into the air can be called air pollution, because they alter the chemical composition of the natural atmosphere.
As a result of their activities in grades 912, all students should develop an understanding. Summary and conclusions indoor pollutants ncbi bookshelf. In addition to lung cancer, indoor air pollution can cause other respiratory conditions, such as bronchitis, pneumonia and emphysema. Use nontoxic hand soaps and cleaners to prevent exposing yourself to even more indoor air pollution. The students will also determine the pathway for the formation of radon. Almost overnight, the public became concerned with ventilation, filtration, and humidity control issues. Indoor air pollution in developing nations wikipedia. Environmental protection agency epa published its seminal report to congress on indoor air quality iaq in 1989, the hvac industry raced to provide products and services that would help improve the quality of the air in homes and businesses alike. This definition implicitly acknowledges that some substances that are considered to be air pollutants are present naturally. Pollutants are any harmful contaminants in the air. Join our community just now to flow with the file air pollution and make our shared file collection even more complete and exciting. Pdf causes, consequences and control of 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.
In this estimate, the burden of disease is defined as lost healthy life years. Known for its detailed development and application of equations, the text emphasizes an understanding of the relationship between sources and control of air pollution, rather than. We conclude with a discussion on what is known regarding the effectiveness of popular strategies to combat indoor air pollution in developing countries. Next, we discuss the available evidence on the relationship between air pollution and health, and between respiratory health and productivity. Air pollution is responsible for many health problems in the urban areas. Chronic exposure to urban air pollution affects lung function, increases the risk of cvd and lung cancer, alters immunity, induces dna and. This article will help by covering 7 common indoor air pollutants.
This quizworksheet combo helps you understand the sources of indoor air pollution, its effect on human health, and measures that minimize its impact. Environmental protection agency sets and enforces air quality standards only for ambient air. 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. One could claim that air pollution started when humans began burning fuels. Natural pollution volcanic eruptions, forest fires, biological decay. A wellrespected air pollution text, this book is suitable for a variety of engineers and scientists who wish to gain an introduction to the field of air pollution. Definitions and classifications used in the study of air pollution are. 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. These are problems that usually affect the air outdoors, but there can be indoor pollution, too. The definition for what is indoor air pollution includes any toxic contaminants that are encountered within the spaces we dwell that are inside, such as our homes, schools, department stores, and workplaces. Since much of the cooking is carried out indoors in environments that.
Studies revealed that the outdoor environment is also. These are the problems more likely to be encountered by the primary health care provider. Fuel switching based on meteorological conditions or air pollution forecasts have been used to prevent air pollution problem in many areas. The presence of one or more contaminants like dust, smoke, mist and odor in the atmosphere which are injurious to human beings, plants and animals. Published by the arab school for science and technology asst. However, indoor air pollutants can be even more dangerous than outdoor air pollution. The increase in the global concentrations of greenhouse gases co 2. 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. Air pollution and its control measures 447 the other choice for an electric utility can be the use of natural gas as a fuel. Indoor air pollution is a concern in the developed countries, where energy efficiency improvements sometimes make houses relatively airtight, reducing ventilation and raising. High temperature and humidity levels increase concentrations of some pollutants. Air pollution occurs when harmful or excessive quantities of substances are introduced into earths atmosphere. The first step to keeping your home and family safe is learning more about the problem.
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. Inhaled air pollution is directed at the the nose, throat and lungs. Etiology can be difficult to establish because many signs and symptoms are nonspecific, making differential diagnosis a. An introduction to air pollution definitions, classifications, and. Understanding and coping with pollution pollute make unclean, impure, corrupt, dirty contaminate water, air, etc. In some cases, indoor air pollutants may even be 100 times higher than outdoors. Indoor air pollution may arise from the use of open fires, unsafe fuels or combustion of biomass fuels, coal and kerosene. These sources can be further differentiated into either mobile or stationary sources 2. Air pollution is defined as the emission of particulate toxic elements into the atmosphere by natural or anthropogenic sources 1. Because of the large variety of distinct indoor environmentssingle and multifamily residences, offices, hospitals, restaurants, schools, recreational facilities, transportation facilities, etc. Numerous studies in physics, chemistry, geography, and other relevant areas have been conducted to investigate the cause and seriousness of the air pollution problems seinfeld, 1986. This activity demonstrates how visible and invisible pollutants can spread through the.
Chemistry and environmental sciences indoor air pollution. Iaq is known to affect the health, comfort and wellbeing of building occupants. The resulting indoor air pollution iap is a major threat to health. Assessment and control of indoor air pollution, pp. 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.
Air pollution is the introduction into the atmosphere of chemicals, particulates, or biological materials that cause discomfort, disease, or death to. Indoor air pollution, health and economic wellbeing. The air quality of the indoor environment has been characterized in a limited number of pilot studies. Of late, the air pollution status in delhi has undergone many changes in terms of the levels of pollutants and the control. 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. Environmental protection agency, office of air and radiation. Presence of any substance which has harmful effects. Air pollution, both indoor and outdoor, is a significant cause of health problems worldwide. 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.
Pdf indoor air pollution is ubiquitous, and takes many forms. These hazards cause and exacerbate a variety of adverse health effects in. Gas stoves or badly installed woodburning units with. Benzene 15 general description 15 indoor sources 15 pathways of exposure 17 indoor concentrations 18. Indoor air pollution can pose a serious health threat. View indoor air pollution research papers on academia. For each of these groups, effects associated with indoor air pollution iap, the principle agents and sources, evidence linking iap to the effects, susceptible groups, the public health relevance, methods for assessment, and major research needs are. Oecd glossary of statistical terms indoor air pollution. Toxic compounds found inside the home have also been linked to heart disease, headaches, loss of eyesight. Indoor air pollution indoor air is air within a building such as your home, classroom, office, shopping center, hospital or gym.
Indoor air pollution environment definition,meaning. Report to congress on indoor air quality, volume ii. Most of us spend much of our lives inside buildings. Air pollution has become a public concerned problem in modern metropolises. 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. Causes of indoor air pollution inadequate ventilation increases 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. Lecture 9 particle penetration march 26, 20 pdf 15 mb. 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 from that of the past. These include smokestacks, vents and surface areas of commercial or industrial facilities. 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.
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