What are the sources of indoor air pollution?

Indoor air pollution is a phenomenon that should not be neglected when it comes to your health and that of your children.

We spend 90% of our time inside buildings (businesses and homes), whose air is laden with harmful particles that we do not detect.

All materials used for construction or interior design, release harmful substances and pollute the ambient air little by little.

Air pollution due to industrial activity has decreased significantly thanks to regulations. However, the increase in the number of cars and transport has largely cancelled out this decrease.

But what are the sources of air pollution and how are they formed?

Combustion:

Air pollution by "combustion" is the most important ambient air pollution! Industries, thermal power plants, individual heating, cars, waste (incineration plants, landfills, crematoria).

"Combustion" leads to the release of Sulphur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, carbon monoxide into the air.35% of the particles in the air, and 38% of the hydrocarbons in the air are generated by motor traffic!

Thankfully the ban on lead in fuels in January 2000, has halved the level of lead in the blood.

Combustion of products in the home is also very harmful, and probably the most present:

- The use of scented candles (one candle corresponds to a packet of cigarettes) and incense strongly pollute the air even if a good smell is diffused. To be avoided in children's rooms. Ventilate your rooms well.

- The use of your kitchen and oven with the burning of fats, or food, voluntarily or accidentally, generates a very important pollution. Use your host as much as possible and ventilate every time.

.

The chemical reactions:

The notorious VOCs (volatile organic compounds); carbon monoxide (CO: slow burning) and nitrogen oxides (NOx) are strongly present in cities and in indoor air. These are released over time, naturally or due to the action of the sun on certain materials.

Ozone, the pollution of the sun, is very present in cities, and peri-urban areas. The chemical reactions are less present inside your home or business.

.

Evaporation:

Similar to chemical reactions, the evaporation of hydrocarbons, solvents, household products and all unnatural aqueous solutions, releases VOCs and toxic substances into the air.

Evaporation is also one of the main causes of indoor air pollution. The use of glues, paints, sealants,

If after using a cleaning product, the room smells good it often means that your floor is well cleaned and disinfected!But it also tells you a high level of odorous chemical molecules, which are harmful to your health!

Beware also that the floor is not clean.

Also beware of scent delivery systems that plug into electrical outlets.

Air-condition your home or business premises for a long time, after using cleaning products, or perfume diffusers.

The scattering:

The countryside suffers from this phenomenon because of the pesticides and fertilisers abused on the crops.With each treatment, m3 of products are sent to the plants, and a large part of them is necessarily dispersed into the atmosphere and waterways.

The concentration of these products in the air is very harmful. If you live or work near a farm, then you are highly exposed to this dispersion problem. Avoid opening windows during treatment periods, and ventilate heavily afterwards.

What are the health effects, of all these pollutants?

Indoor air can be 5 to 10 times more polluted than outdoor air!

Who is sensitive to these particles? 

People with chronic respiratory problems, cardiovascular patients, asthmatics, children and the elderly.

What are the health risks according to the particles?

For sulphur dioxide(SO2), increased mortality in chronic bronchitis and asthma. Increase in respiratory diseases. Carbon monoxide (CO) causes nausea, dizziness, headaches, hearing and vision problems. Nitrogen oxides (NOx) irritate the lung alveoli. Ozone (03) decreases respiratory function. Hydrocarbons, perfumes and solvents are potentially carcinogenic (Presence of Benzene).

And finally all the particles in suspension create a respiratory discomfort. Our lungs, which have a surface area of 90m? absorb between 17 and 20m3 of air every day... Important filtration.

As you have understood, air pollution due to the presence of these particles in the air is not to be taken lightly! There is a much higher rate of cancers in industrialised and urbanised areas than in rural areas.

Where are we most exposed? Just about everywhere...

- In the city, in large urban areas, especially in neighbourhoods where buildings exceed 4 storeys. Exhaust fumes are poorly evacuated.

- In your car, you breathe 2 to 3 times more benzene and carbon monoxide than in a bus; 5 to 6 times more than in the metro. The level is twice as high as the norm.

- In your car, you breathe 2 to 3 times more benzene and carbon monoxide than in a bus; 5 to 6 times more than in the metro. The level is twice as high as the norm.

- When cycling, you are exposed directly due to the proximity of cars! Even masked you are exposed, because masks limit exposure to particles but not to gases. Surgical masks are false protection, as are scarves in front of the nose and mouth.

- In the countryside near farms that heavily treat their crops.

Conclusion:

Unfortunately we are exposed everywhere outside, and also inside!

Outdoors, general awareness can improve and decrease outdoor air pollution.

For indoor air, it is up to you to act by limiting the use of the products mentioned above. However, you will not be able to eliminate everything, and the ventilation of your home will also bring in particles and gases.

Solutions:

To remove all airborne particles, the use of air purifying ionizers is effective due to the electro-magnetic action on the particles. There is no other solution to reduce indoor air pollution!

If you have to choose a ventilation system, adopt the double flow mechanical ventilation. This system will allow you to permanently renew the air in your home.The filters of these systems will eliminate a good part of the particles.