Indoor Air Pollution
Understanding
Indoor Air Pollution
The World Health Organisation has labelled indoor air pollution as 'the world's largest single
environmental health risk.' We usually think of air pollution as being outdoors, but the air indoors
too could be polluted.
Adverse health conditions due to indoor air pollutants could be experienced soon after exposure or
possibly, years later.
Understanding and controlling common indoor air pollutants can help reduce health concerns.
Common Indoor
Air-pollutants
We can encounter pollutants in almost all indoor spaces – from crowded lobbies, offices, shops,
restaurants and gyms, to doctors' clinics, schools and universities. Carpets, air-fresheners, cleaning
agents, organic matter, etc. all generate pollutants.
A few prominent pollutants are:
- VOCs such as toluene, formaldehyde, acetone, hydrocarbons, etc.
- Lead dust, fertilizers, animal waste, dust mites, insects
- Biological contaminants
- Alcohol, chlorine, ammonia, & petroleum-based solvents
- Oxides of nitrogen & sulphur, ozone, carbon monoxide and smoke
- Bacteria and odor from left-over food
- Aerosol or virus contained in exhaled air
- Allergen components
How Air-pollutants Impact Health
7 million people die every year from air pollution. Usually, indoor air pollution causes discomfort,
wherein most people feel better as soon as they move out of the polluted space. But some pollutants can cause diseases that show up much later, such as respiratory disorders, viral infections,
allergies, to name a few.
Why You Need an Air
Purification System
Respiratory viruses such as SARS-CoV-2 (COVID-19), influenza (flu), RSV, and other common airborne pathogens are transmitted through exposure to infectious respiratory fluids, particularly in indoor environments.
- Inhalation of air carrying very small fine droplets and aerosol particles. Risk of transmission is greatest within three to six feet of an infectious source
- Deposition of virus carried in exhaled droplets (quiet breathing, speaking, singing, exercise, coughing, sneezing) and particles of various sizes onto exposed mucous membranes in the mouth, nose and eye.
- Touching mucous membranes with hands soiled by exhaled respiratory fluids containing virus or from touching inanimate surfaces contaminated with virus.
- People release respiratory fluids during exhalation (e.g., quiet breathing, speaking, singing, exercise, coughing, sneezing) in the form of droplets across a spectrum of sizes. These droplets carry virus and transmit infection.
- The smallest very fine droplets and aerosol particles formed when these fine droplets rapidly dry, are small enough that they can remain suspended in the air for minutes to hours.
- Besides indoor air pollutants, very fine Aerosol Particles containing the COVID-19 virus contribute to spreading the viral infection.
The Relative Size of Pollutants
Some indoor pollutants are so small that they are invisible to the naked eye and easily inhaled deep into the lungs. These fine and ultrafine particles are associated with a range of health outcomes that may develop over time.
This includes asthma and chronic lung disease, allergic and inflammatory responses, cardiovascular and other systemic health effects, and increased susceptibility to viral and bacterial infections.
What makes these pollutants especially concerning is their size. The smallest particles can remain suspended in indoor air for extended periods, travel throughout enclosed spaces, and bypass the body’s natural defences when inhaled.
But just how small are some of these?
*um – micrometre, also called micron, metric unit of measure for length equal to 0.001 mm
- Arrests 99.99% of all viruses including COVID-19/CORONA VIRUS
- 5.5 AIR CHANGES PER HOUR in a 1200 sq.ft area
- 5 STAGES OF FILTRATION