INDOOR AIR QUALITY

Indoor Air Quality

Indoor Air Quality

Introduction

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. 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.

Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.

While outdoor air quality and pollution have become issues of concern for many people, the quality of the air we breathe at home or at work has gone largely unnoticed. Many people suffer from illnesses or discomfort that are either caused or aggravated by poor indoor air quality. This essay is about indoor air quality that must be maintained to avoid any harmful effects on human health.

Discussion

The US Environmental Protection Agency studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of pollutants may be 2-5 times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. These levels of indoor air pollutants may be of particular concern because most people spend about 90% of their time indoors (Aldridge, 2000).

Sources of Indoor Air Pollutants

Over the past few decades, concerns regarding indoor air pollutants have increased for variety of reasons. Contributing to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) are construction of more tightly sealed buildings, reduced ventilation rates to save energy, the use of synthetic building materials and furnishings, and increased use of chemical products such as pesticides, housekeeping supplies, and personal care products(Samet 2000).

Mold, mildew, dust mites, animal and insect parts are all agents that can adversely affect indoor air quality. Moisture-related problems in buildings can result in the growth or amplification of biological or microbial organisms such as mold, mildew, dust mites and bacteria.

Indoor Temperature and Relative Humidity

When indoor temperatures are either above or below recommended comfort zones, we tend to feel uncomfortable. Similarly, in winter, the cold, dry air dehydrates our skin and mucous membranes, making our throats ache and our sinus membranes irritated. Unfortunately, since outdoor air is constantly drawn into the building, the air inside the building is usually also low in humidity (Samet 2000). If indoor moisture levels (relative humidity) rise above a certain level, fungi and bacteria may begin to grow, causing very real indoor air quality problems.

Humidity and Microbial Growth

In addition to thermal comfort, the control of relative humidity is important to limit the growth of microorganisms such as mold and dust mites(Gammage 2003).

Exposure to Tobacco Smoke

The role of exposure to tobacco smoke via active smoking as a cause of lung and other cancers, emphysema and other chronic obstructive pulmonary diseases, and cardiovascular and other diseases in adults has been firmly established. Smokers, however (Samet 2000), are not the only ones affected. The exposure to tobacco smoke cause the following consequences

Conjunctival irritation

nose, throat discomfort

headache

allergic ...