They will be indoor air pollution monitoring instruments. Health effects due to indoor air pollution john a hoskins, 2003. This brochure explains how to use the air quality index, and how high levels of ozone and particle matter can affect your health. Since the early 1970s, the health effects of indoor air pollution have been investigated with increasing intensity. Symptoms of poor indoor air quality are very broad and depend on. Air pollution and health from smog hanging over cities to smoke inside the home, air pollution poses a major threat to health and climate.
This colorful poster is designed for use in patient waiting areas or exam rooms to educate your patients about the health effects of air pollution on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems. The health effects of indoor air pollution exposure in. In sum, indoor air pollution has the potential to not only impact health, but also impact the general economic wellbeing of the household. Millions of americans live in areas where urban smog, particle pollution, and toxic pollutants pose serious health concerns. The state of global air website is a collaboration between the health effects institute and the institute for health metrics and evaluation, with expert input from the university of british columbia. What are the causes and effects of indoor air pollution. Pdf domestic pollution is relevant to health because people spend most of their time indoors. Jan, 2020 indoor air pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant risk for respiratory illness, particularly in vulnerable populations. Your actual risk of adverse effects depends on your current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of.
Define what air pollution means and other related terms 3. The health effects of chronic exposure of young children and pregnant women to levels of co just below current who guidelines have yet to be studied. Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures. Its effects can range from higher disease risks to rising temperatures. Sources and potential health effects of indoor air pollutants. Who is most vulnerable to health effects of air pollution. Symptoms of indoor air pollution 1 common symptoms of indoor air pollution. Why iaq is important to your school most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but many do not know that indoor air pollution can also have significant health effects. Health effects of indoor air pollution rsc publishing royal. Pdf the health effects of nonindustrial indoor air.
Symptoms of poor indoor air quality are very broad and depend on the contaminant. Describe the importance of air as the basic health requirement of human life 2. 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. If you would like more information about indoor air quality and health please call us tollfree at 1800cdcinfo. World health organization protection of the human environment geneva 2002.
The indoor microenvironment has its own pollutants and pollution levels. Outdoor air pollution involves exposures that take place outside of the built environment. In addition, people exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods are often those most susceptible to their effects. 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. 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. Request pdf health effects due to indoor air pollution the indoor environment can be very polluted with pollution levels indoors higher than those outdoors, particularly so when there are. Reducing indoor air pollution can reduce or eliminate health problems caused by breathing impure air activity 2 how indoor pollution spreads 1. Carbon monoxide at low concentrations may cause fatigue in healthy individuals as well as chest pain in people suffering from heart diseases. People exposed to high enough levels of certain air pollutants may. Health risks from indoor air pollution are likely to be greatest in cities in developing countries, especially where risks associated with solid fuel combustion coincide with risk associated with modern buildings. Jan 10, 2020 air pollution surrounds people every day, both indoors and outdoors.
Respiratory health effects of indoor air pollution article pdf available in the international journal of tuberculosis and lung disease 149. The who has also linked well over 4 million deaths to indoor air pollution in 2012. Read about some common air pollutants and how they can affect a persons health here. Pdf respiratory health effects of indoor air pollution. Pdf respiratory health effects of indoor air pollution researchgate.
Reducing indoor air pollution is an important step to a lifetime of better health for you and your family. Air pollution is a mixture of natural and manmade substances in the air we breathe. Did you know that the us epa found that indoor air pollutants posed a greater risk to your health than eversoaring outdoor pollution levels. In general there are two types of health effects arising from indoor air. Who the health effects of indoor air pollution exposure in. Given the knowledge we have regarding household air pollution, longterm measures to curb its health effects have remained grossly insufficient. Health effects are presented for individual compounds or pollutant mixtures based on realworld exposure situations. Effects of indoor air pollution on health the illeffects of indoor air pollution result in about 2 million premature deaths per year, wherein 44% are due to pneumonia, 54% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd, and 2% from lung cancer. The health consequences of indoor air pollution clean cooking. Taking an exposure history procedures and form for measuring toxicants in the home and environment. Indoor air pollution by formaldehyde in european countries.
Thirtysix children aged 614 years with moderatesevere asthma from inner city areas in new york city were studied for 2week periods summer and winter using diaries and spirometry. This booklet explains epas air quality index and the health effects of major air pollutants. Our mission is to promote health and quality of life by preventing and controlling disease, injury and disability. Indoor air pollution is increasingly recognized as a significant risk for respiratory illness, particularly in vulnerable populations. Guideline for the characterization of volatile organic compounds emitted from indoor. Health impacts of air pollution environmental defense fund. Subsequently, exposure to indoor air pollutants and health effects are considered, with an empha sis on those indoor air quality problems of greatest concern at. Based on cancer risk alone, federal scientists have ranked indoor air pollution as one of the most important environmental problems in the united states. Anne steinemann, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and. Indoor air pollution and respiratory health effects in inner. Effects of indoor air pollution on health the ill effects of indoor air pollution result in about 2 million premature deaths per year, wherein 44% are due to pneumonia, 54% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease copd, and 2% from lung cancer. Air quality index a guide to air quality and your health.
Health effects due to indoor air pollution request pdf. The combined effects of ambient outdoor and household air pollution cause about 7 million premature deaths every year, largely as a result of increased mortality from stroke, heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, lung cancer and acute. The health effects of indoor air pollution and ways to. Who the health effects of indoor air pollution exposure. The indoor microenvironment has its own pollutants and pollution levels indoors may be higher than those outdoors. Irritation of the mucous membranes eyes, nose, throat cough, wheeze, chest tightness increased airway responsiveness to allergens increased incidence of acute respiratory illness. 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.
Birth defects and others issues linked to indoor air pollution. For additional information on levels of other pollutants in indoor air pollution 795 biomass and coal smoke, see. Thus, for many people, the risks to health from exposure to indoor air pollution may be greater than risks from outdoor pollution. Introduction to indoor air quality indoor air quality iaq. Indoor air quality information by state this page offers links to offices or programs identified by each state as dealing with indoor airrelated. May 14, 2018 health effects arising from these causes of indoor air pollution and other sources vary with the level of exposure. A survey of selected scented consumer goods showed the products emitted more than 100 volatile organic compounds vocs, including some that are classified as toxic or hazardous by federal laws. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns.
Generally, when you and i think of pollution we think of car emissions or fossil fuels. Concerns about potential public health problems due to indoor air pollution are based on evidence that urban residents typically spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors. The government of canada estimates that 14,600 premature deaths per year in canada can be linked to air pollution from fine particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide and ozone, as outlined in the technical report health impacts of air pollution in canada estimates of morbidity outcomes and premature mortalities 2019 report. Indoor air pollutants and their emissions sources, adapted from jones.
For additional information on levels of other pollutants in indoor air pollution 795 biomass and coal smoke, see saksena, thompson, and smith 2004. A number of groups are at higher risk of experiencing certain health effects of outdoor air pollution. Health impacts of air pollution around the world, nine out of 10 people breathe unhealthy air. Consequently, a large body of literature is now available on diverse aspects of indoor air pollution. Discusses the types of air pollution, the air quality index, and the effects of pollution on humans. For more information we want to help you to stay healthy. Indoor air pollution from solid fuel usage kills 2 million people annually. This publication is a concise summary of the evidence for health effects of exposure to indoor air pollution from solid fuel use in children and adults. 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. Damaged or deteriorating insulation, fireproofing, and acoustical materials. These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. The health effects of indoor air pollution exposure in developing countries. Although official efforts to control air pollution have traditionally focused on outdoor air, it is now apparent that elevated contaminant concentrations are common inside some private and public buildings. Indoor air pollution and respiratory health effects in.
Indoor air quality information by state this page offers links to offices or programs identified by each state as dealing with indoor air related. Exposure to indoorgenerated air pollution causes a large number of deaths and cases of disease. Indoor air and your health health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later. Effects of indoor air pollution on human health berglund. Some studies have shown evidence that indoor air pollution increases the risk of respiratory and atopic diseases even in adult populations 1114, but information on health effects of such pollutants in the elderly is sparse. Children and teens may be more sensitive than adults to the health effects caused by air pollution especially children with asthma. Indoor air pollution and how they affect your health.
Dec 01, 2003 health effects are presented for individual compounds or pollutant mixtures based on realworld exposure situations. The health effects of nonindustrial indoor air pollution. Your source for the latest global, regional, and countryspecific data on air quality and health. The next page gives more details about the health effects of some indoor pollutants. Cleaner air has been shown to lead to many health benefits, including the reduction of strokes, heart disease, lung cancer, and respiratory diseases, such as asthma. The breadth and depth of the evidence make clear that air pollution is a formidable disruptor of childrens health one that deserves far greater attention from both policymakers and. Air pollution is a mix of particles and gases that can reach harmful concentrations both outside and indoors. The health effects of indoor air pollution and ways to reduce it. Children in the uk spend more and more of their lives indoors, and the health impact of the air within our homes and schools must be taken seriously. Rather than discussing the health effects of the many different pollutants which can be found in indoor air, the approach has been to group broad categories of adverse health effects in separate chapters, and describe the relevant indoor exposures which may give rise to these health effects. Air pollution e health effects e cancer e biomass e. Indoor air pollution, health and economic wellbeing.
Health effects and sources of indoor air pollution, parts i and ii. Indoor air pollution and respiratory health in the elderly. Health effects due to indoor air pollution sage journals. Air pollution also has further consequences on human health, leading in particular to an increasing number of respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Air pollution surrounds people every day, both indoors and outdoors. Indoor air pollution adverse health effects of air pollutants acute. Disease gbd study estimates that air pollution indoor and outdoor combined was the cause of 5. Even healthy people can experience health impacts from polluted air including respiratory irritation or breathing difficulties during exercise or outdoor activities.
Oct 28, 2016 stringent implementation of who guidelines on indoor air quality and a combined effort from the healthcare profession, industry, and healthcare policy makers can reinforce ways to curb household air pollution and, to an extent, limit its effects on health. Infants and young children children and adults with lung diseases including outdoor air pollution and your health am j respir crit care med vol. Pollutant major indoor sources potential health effects asbestos. Air pollution is now the biggest environmental risk for early death, responsible for as many as 5 million premature deaths each year from heart attacks, strokes, diabetes and respiratory diseases. We make recommendations for government and local authorities, and provide guidance for families. Health effects and sources of indoor air pollution. Place a fan in the front of the room and turn it on. Although a lot has been done in the arena of household air pollution, there is still room for further understanding the newer sources of indoor air pollution. Your actual risk of adverse effects depends on your current health status, the pollutant type and concentration, and the length of your exposure to the polluted air. Introduction to the course air is essential for life it self.