Indoor Air Pollutants Affecting Child Health (original) (raw)

Health Effects of Indoor Air Quality on Children and Young People

Issues in Environmental Science and Technology, 2020

The inside story: Health effects of indoor air quality on children and young people Glossary Some of the terms used in this report may be unfamiliar to readers. There are brief descriptions in the text; this glossary is intended as a helpful reference point and to provide some additional context. Ammonia At room temperature ammonia is a gas. It is found in many cleaning products and in tobacco smoke. Outdoor sources such as industry and agriculture can also contribute to exposure indoors. Animal and biological pollutants Indoor allergens include those from house dust mites (HDM), cat, dog, cockroach and mouse allergens. Mould and fungi are also found indoors and can reduce air quality. These pollutants are found in the air, dust and on furniture. Carbon dioxide Carbon dioxide (CO 2) concentrations are used to assess the adequacy of ventilation in rooms and buildings. High levels of CO 2 are a sign of inadequate ventilation and may have cognitive effects such as reduced ability to concentrate. CO 2 in indoor air is also influenced by the levels outdoors. This atmospheric CO 2 has been increasing in recent decades, in part due to the use of fossil fuels, and is a significant factor in climate change. Carbon monoxide Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless highly poisonous gas, formed from the incomplete combustion of fuels. Common sources include cooking and heating appliances, vehicle emissions, and smoking. Endocrine disrupting chemicals Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals (EDCs) are generally synthetic compounds and interfere with human hormones. They are found in pesticides, personal care and cleaning products, household items and a range of materials including paints. Indoors these are often present in dust and in the air. See also 'semi-volatile organic compounds'. Endotoxin Endotoxin is shed from bacteria and can be found indoors in the dust or the air. Studies often look at endotoxin alongside β-d-glucan, a marker for bacteria or mould in the home. Flame retardants Flame retardants are substances added to combustible materials to stop or slow fire. The term is based on the function as the chemicals used are quite diverse. They are used to treat a variety of building materials and furnishings. Some flame retardants are known to be Endocrine Disrupting Chemicals. One type, Polybrominated Diphenyl Ethers (PBDEs), is no longer produced in the EU. The inside story: Health effects of indoor air quality on children and young people Formaldehyde Formaldehyde is a naturally occurring gas and produced synthetically for a wide range of uses. It is present in many building materials, furniture, coatings and finishes, and household products. It is also found in tobacco smoke, produced in chemical reactions, and can be emitted through cooking. Nitrogen oxides Nitric oxide (NO) and nitrogen dioxide (NO 2) are key components of outdoor air pollution. Together they are often referred to as NO X and are a product of combustion. Sources include motor vehicles, energy production, and industry. Indoor air quality is affected by outdoor NO X coming inside. Indoor pollution (NO 2 in particular) can be caused by burning gas, oil, paraffin, coal or wood. Tobacco smoking and candles are also sources. Ozone Ozone (O 3) can be produced when sunlight reacts with pollutant mixtures in the atmosphere. At ground-level it is a significant air pollutant and, like other outdoor air pollutants, also enters buildings. Ozone can also be produced by some devices such as printers, photocopiers and some air cleaning appliances. Ozone reacts with other indoor air pollutants. In contrast, ozone in the stratosphere protects against ultraviolet rays and became depleted through the use of Chlorinated Fluorocarbons (CFCs) which are now banned. Particulate matter Particulate matter (PM) is suspended droplets and inhalable solid particles found in the air, in dust, or on surfaces. PM is usually classified into three categories. These are grouped by the maximum diameter in micrometres: inhalable particles (PM 10), fine particles (PM 2.5), and ultrafine particles (UFP). UFP have a diameter of less than 0.1 micrometre. The chemical composition of PM in the air changes depending on the source of the particles. Major indoor PM sources include outdoor air, smoking, cooking, burning (fires, stoves, candles, and incense), cleaning and people. Per-and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances Per-and poly-fluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) are a group of manufactured chemicals. These chemicals do not break down, and they can stay in the human body for a long time. PFAS are used as stain or water repellents on a wide range of products, and in non-stick coatings. They have been found in air and dust samples indoors. Pesticides or insecticides Pesticides and insecticides are mainly used outdoors but can contribute to indoor air quality through air, soil or other particles entering the home. Indoor uses include to control pests in the home, on pets, and for houseplants. There are a range of diverse chemicals used, including organophosphates (halogenated and non-halogenated). Phenols Phenols are a type of synthetic, water-soluble chemical (organic phenol is commonly found in foods). Indoors, phenols are found in cleaning products, polishes, paints and adhesives. Phenols can also be released by burning wood, fuels or tobacco. The inside story: Health effects of indoor air quality on children and young people Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs) are a subset of Volatile Organic Compounds. PAHs are formed from incomplete combustion of organic matter. Indoors this means key sources are outdoor air, cooking, and burning wood, coal or tobacco. PAHs include benzene, benzo-a-pyrene, naphthalene, toluene, and xylenes. See also 'Volatile Organic Compounds'. Volatile Organic Compounds Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are emitted from a very wide range of indoor and outdoor sources. This happens through combustion and from the use of products such as paints, coatings or pesticides; VOCs can vaporise into the air from the source materials. Total VOCs (TVOCs) is used as a measure of the combined concentration of VOCs.

Indoor air pollution and the respiratory health of children

Pediatric Pulmonology, 1999

Indoor air pollution (IAP) is a key contributor to the global burden of disease mainly in developing countries. The use of solid fuel for cooking and heating is the main source of IAP in developing countries, accounting for an estimated 3.5 million deaths and 4.5% of Disability-Adjusted Life Years in 2010. Other sources of IAP include indoor smoking, infiltration of pollutants from outdoor sources and substances emitted from an array of human utilities and biological materials. Children are among the most vulnerable groups for adverse effects of IAP. The respiratory system is a primary target of air pollutants resulting in a wide range of acute and chronic effects. The spectrum of respiratory adverse effects ranges from mild subclinical changes and mild symptoms to life threatening conditions and even death. However, IAP is a modifiable risk factor having potential mitigating interventions. Possible interventions range from simple behavior change to structural changes and from shifting of unclean cooking fuel to clean cooking fuel. Shifting from use of solid fuel to clean fuel invariably reduces household air pollution in developing countries, but such a change is challenging. This review aims to summarize the available information on IAP exposure during childhood and its effects on respiratory health in developing countries. It specifically discusses the common sources of IAP, susceptibility of children to air pollution, mechanisms of action, common respiratory conditions, preventive and mitigating strategies.

Are children safe indoor from outdoor air pollution? A short review

Open Journal of Pediatrics, 2012

Background: Air pollution is a serious threat to children health. Given that children spend over 80% of their time indoors, understanding transport of pollutants from outdoor to indoor environments is important for assessing the impact of exposure to outdoor pollution on children health. The most common advice given during a smoke pollution episode is to stay indoors. How well this works depends on how clean the indoor air is and how pollutants from outdoor air contribute to pollutants load in indoor air. Objective: To assess the amount of outdoor air pollution coming indoors threatening children health. Methods: A Medline/EMBASE search of scientific articles was performed to evaluate the indoor-tooutdoor (I/O) concentration ratios of two main pollutants: ultrafine particles (UFP) and ozone (O 3 ). Result: Under infiltration condition, the highest I/O ratios (0.6 -0.9) were usually observed for larger UFP (70 -100 nm), while the lowest I/O ratios (0.1 -0.4) occurred typically around 10 -20 nm. O 3 I/O ratios vary according to air exchange and may be 0.6 -0.8 for interiors having a large volume exchange with outdoor air (i.e. open windows) and 0.3 -0.4 with conventional air conditioning systems. Conclusions: In the absence of indoor sources or activities, indoor UFP particles originate from outdoors. O 3 concentration indoors may reach concentration similar to outdoors. Environmental and energy policies must also explicitly account for all the impacts of fossil fuel combustion on child health and development.

Adverse respiratory effects of Indoor air pollution

The effects of exposure to indoor air pollution in schools on respiratory symptoms in children are insufficiently understood. A survey was conducted to evaluate the association between indoor air exposure and children's respiratory symptoms.

Sources of indoor air pollution and respiratory health in preschool children

2010

We carried out bibliographic searches in PubMed and Embase.com for the period from 1996 to 2008 with the aim of reviewing the scientific literature on the relationship between various sources of indoor air pollution and the respiratory health of children under the age of five. Those studies that included adjusted correlation measurements for the most important confounding variables and which had an adequate population size were considered to be more relevant. The results concerning the relationship between gas energy sources and children's respiratory health were heterogeneous. Indoor air pollution from biomass combustion in the poorest countries was found to be an important risk factor for lower respiratory tract infections. Solvents involved in redecorating, DYI work, painting, and so forth, were found to be related to an increased risk for general respiratory problems. The distribution of papers depending on the pollution source showed a clear relationship with lifestyle and the level of development.

Ambient Air Pollution: Health Hazards to Children

Pediatrics, 2004

Ambient (outdoor) air pollution is now recognized as an important problem, both nationally and worldwide. Our scientific understanding of the spectrum of health effects of air pollution has increased, and numerous studies are finding important health effects from air pollution at levels once considered safe. Children and infants are among the most susceptible to many of the air pollutants. In addition to associations between air pollution and respiratory symptoms, asthma exacerbations, and asthma hospitalizations, recent studies have found links between air pollution and preterm birth, infant mortality, deficits in lung growth, and possibly, development of asthma. This policy statement summarizes the recent literature linking ambient air pollution to adverse health outcomes in children and includes a perspective on the current regulatory process. The statement provides advice to pediatricians on how to integrate issues regarding air quality and health into patient education and chil...

Indoor air pollution and effects on human health

Background and Purpose: Indoor pollutants could be significant public health risks. People in modern societies spend about 90% of their time in indoor environment. In spite of the evidence of harm to human health, poor indoor environments are generally hard to understand. Materials and Methods: There are numerous indoor atmospheric pollutants. Specifically, combustion sources, building materials, volatile organic compounds, central heating and cooling system are described. Results: Indoor home environments are the site of a variety of biological and other environmental hazards. Indoor environmental quality has a significant impact on public health and well-being. These hazards cause and exacerbate a variety of adverse health effects in humans, ranging from acute and chronic respiratory symptoms and diseases to cancer. We review the effects of indoor allergen exposure and sensitization on asthma, focusing on dust mite, fungi, indoor pollutants such as ozone, particulate matter nitrog...

Effects of Indoor Air Pollution on Human Health

Indoor Air, 1992

T h i s article cotuains a summary discussion of human health effects linked to indoor air pollution (UP) in homes and other non-industrial environments. 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. The following groups of effects have been comdered: effects on the respiratory system; a l k y and other effects on the immune system; cancer and effects on reproduction: effects on the skin and mucous membranes in the eyes, nose and throat; sensory effects and other effects on the m o u s system; effects on the cardiovascular system; systemic effects on the liver, kidney and gastro-intestinal system. For each of these groups, effects ass& ciated with L A 8 the principal agents and sources, evidence linking IAP to the effects, susceptible groups, the public health relevance, methods for assessment, and major research needs are briefly discussed. For some groups of effects, c h r relationships with exposure to IAP have been reported in the world literature. Among these are respiratory disease (particularly among children), alL?rgy (particularly to house dust mites) and mucous membrane irritation (particularly due to formaldehyde). Large numbers of people have been, and are still being affected.