What Exactly Is Indoor Air Pollution?

The air you breathe indoors may be more hazardous to your health than you realize. Most people are quite familiar with smog and other pollutants outdoors, but not everyone is aware of the environmental culprits lurking in office buildings, warehouses, retail establishments, and homes. Some public and private indoor spaces contain so many pollutants that inhabitants develop serious illnesses such as respiratory disease or cancer.

Factors That Impact Quality of Indoor Air

There are several factors that influence the quality of indoor air. If human beings come into contact with environmental irritants over extended periods of time, they may suffer an array of health challenges. Some of the factors that lead to poor air quality include the following.

•Ventilation: If a building has too little ventilation, the stuffiness can reduce air quality and gradually impact the energy levels and wellbeing of the inhabitants.

•Chemicals: There are multiple chemicals used in appliances, furnishings, carpeting, and cleansers that irritate noses, throats, and eyes.

•Microbes: Molds, viruses and other microbes can cause inhabitants of a building to develop allergies and asthma.

•Pests: Living critters such as mice, cockroaches, dust mites, and even pets can lead to unhealthy air.

•Humidity: When a room is too humid, it can result in dust mites and mold; when it’s too dry, individuals who spend a lot of time in the space can develop dry skin, nasal dryness, and skin rashes.

•Radon: This pollutant occurs naturally in some regions and can lead to cancer of the lungs.

Dangerous Chemicals

Chemicals that are contained in building materials, appliances, and household products can lead to serious health problems. For example, heaters and devices that are fueled by wood and gas can emit carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide. Here are some other concerning products.

•Lead: Paint in older buildings may contain lead, which is poisonous.

•Tobacco smoke: Cigarettes and cigars don’t just harm the smoker. Secondhand smoke inside a building can result in respiratory problems, sudden infant death syndrome, ear infections, and heart disease.

•Pesticides: Chemicals used to kill bugs inside a building can also harm humans’ nervous systems, especially children’s.

•Asbestos: The thin, long fibers of asbestos are so small you can’t actually see them, but when they are present in a building, they can float through the air and be inhaled.

•Formaldehyde: This gas is colorless and flammable and can be very dangerous to human health.

How Scientists Evaluate Health Risks in Indoor Air

In order to determine the health risks inside a building, scientists gather evidence and evaluate four things:

•Exposure: Because the impact of exposure varies depending on the situation and individual, scientists look at low, high, and average rates.

•Exposure-response relationships: Researchers investigate how people respond to a range of concentrations of pollutants in the air.

•Toxicity of pollutants: The toxicity rate and concentration of chemicals are taken into consideration when evaluating risk.

•Risk characterization: After all data is gathered and calculated, a final assessment is made.

Vulnerable Individuals

In the course of evaluating indoor air quality, researchers also study how pollutants impact certain populations. While all individuals are different in their physical makeups, certain groups of humans are more susceptible to being harmed than others. Some of the more vulnerable groups include the following:

•Elderly individuals

•Pregnant women

•Children

•People who are ill with respiratory or cardiovascular diseases

Other factors also play a part in how vulnerable individuals are to indoor air pollution. For example, people with poor nutrition, unhealthy lifestyles, certain genetic traits, and autoimmune challenges can be more severely impacted than those with healthier countenances and lifestyles.

Evaluating the risks of indoor air pollution is challenging because there are so many particles, chemicals, biological materials, and environmental considerations involved. Buildings that have a high rate of pollution may be labeled as “sick buildings” that are not habitable. By addressing factors such as ventilation, building materials, chemicals used, and lifestyle habits, the air quality with buildings can be improved.

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