Indoor air quality

Question 1

Provide at least four examples of indoor air pollutants. List their sources and (potential) health effects.

Answer 1

PM
- Source: Combustion
- Health effect: Lung disease, cance

Radon
- Source: Soil gas, building material
- Health effect: Lung cancer

Aerosol
- Source: Combustion, tobacco smoke, cooking, cleaning
- Health effect: lung cancer, allergies, irritation & discomfort

CO2
- Source: Combustion, occupants
- Health effect: irritation, dizziness, lung & heart disease

Question 2

How can poor indoor air quality impact users/occupants in indoor environments?

Answer 2

They can feel dissatisfied/discomfort. Make them feel irritation in eyes, allergic reactions, asthma, headache, fatigue and dizziness. This may affect work performance and less productivity.

Sick building syndrome
The term “sick building syndrome” (SBS) is used to describe situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but no specific illness or cause can be identified.
headache
Drowsiness
Eye irritation
Nose and throat infection etc.