| Title: | Indoor Exposure to Selected Air Pollutants in the Home Environment: A Systematic Review |
| Author(s): | Vardoulakis S; Giagloglou E; Steinle S; Davis A; Sleeuwenhoek A; Galea KS; Dixon K; Crawford JO; |
| Address: | "Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK. National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, ACT 2601 Canberra, Australia. Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, 6410 Wellington, New Zealand" |
| Journal Title: | Int J Environ Res Public Health |
| ISSN/ISBN: | 1660-4601 (Electronic) 1661-7827 (Print) 1660-4601 (Linking) |
| Abstract: | "(1) Background: There is increasing awareness that the quality of the indoor environment affects our health and well-being. Indoor air quality (IAQ) in particular has an impact on multiple health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular illness, allergic symptoms, cancers, and premature mortality. (2) Methods: We carried out a global systematic literature review on indoor exposure to selected air pollutants associated with adverse health effects, and related household characteristics, seasonal influences and occupancy patterns. We screened records from six bibliographic databases: ABI/INFORM, Environment Abstracts, Pollution Abstracts, PubMed, ProQuest Biological and Health Professional, and Scopus. (3) Results: Information on indoor exposure levels and determinants, emission sources, and associated health effects was extracted from 141 studies from 29 countries. The most-studied pollutants were particulate matter (PM(2.5) and PM(10)); nitrogen dioxide (NO(2)); volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene, toluene, xylenes and formaldehyde; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including naphthalene. Identified indoor PM(2.5) sources include smoking, cooking, heating, use of incense, candles, and insecticides, while cleaning, housework, presence of pets and movement of people were the main sources of coarse particles. Outdoor air is a major PM(2.5) source in rooms with natural ventilation in roadside households. Major sources of NO(2) indoors are unvented gas heaters and cookers. Predictors of indoor NO(2) are ventilation, season, and outdoor NO(2) levels. VOCs are emitted from a wide range of indoor and outdoor sources, including smoking, solvent use, renovations, and household products. Formaldehyde levels are higher in newer houses and in the presence of new furniture, while PAH levels are higher in smoking households. High indoor particulate matter, NO(2) and VOC levels were typically associated with respiratory symptoms, particularly asthma symptoms in children. (4) Conclusions: Household characteristics and occupant activities play a large role in indoor exposure, particularly cigarette smoking for PM(2.5), gas appliances for NO(2), and household products for VOCs and PAHs. Home location near high-traffic-density roads, redecoration, and small house size contribute to high indoor air pollution. In most studies, air exchange rates are negatively associated with indoor air pollution. These findings can inform interventions aiming to improve IAQ in residential properties in a variety of settings" |
| Keywords: | "Air Pollutants/*analysis Air Pollution, Indoor/analysis/*statistics & numerical data Child Humans Particulate Matter/analysis Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons/analysis Volatile Organic Compounds/analysis Pah Voc asthma benzene chemicals formaldehyde indoo;" |
| Notes: | "MedlineVardoulakis, Sotiris Giagloglou, Evanthia Steinle, Susanne Davis, Alice Sleeuwenhoek, Anne Galea, Karen S Dixon, Ken Crawford, Joanne O eng Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't Systematic Review Switzerland 2020/12/06 Int J Environ Res Public Health. 2020 Dec 2; 17(23):8972. doi: 10.3390/ijerph17238972" |
