Indoor Air Quality & Health Outcomes

Question 1

In 2014, WHO guidelines for fuel combustion emission rate indoor households:

Answer 1

Recommendation:
(1) unvented stoves: PM2.5 0.23 mg/min
CO 0.16 g/min

(2) vented PM2.5 0.80 mg/min
CO 0.59 g/min

Question 2

Households in urban centers from developing countries have increased levels of indoor air pollutants generated by a variety of sources.

TRUE or FALSE?

Answer 2

TRUE
[Indoor environment, in many cases, become an imminent threat for human health]

Question 3

Indoor Air Pollution Sources: (5)

Answer 3

• Mold & bacteria
• Carbon monoxide fumes from attached garage
• Chemicals released from building & furnishing materials
• Tobacco smoke
• Gases including radon seeping through foundation.

Question 4

Indoor Air Pollution Sources (pt2) : (9)

Answer 4

• Dust mites
• Cockroaches
• Dander of furred or feathered animals
• Fungi
• Fuel combustion by products
• Chemicals used for cleaning & disinfecting
• Cooking bio-aerosols
• Beauty products
• Plants

Question 5

Chemical Analysis of Air Pollutants

Answer 5

Determination of indoor PM elemental composition is very important as people spend a majority of their time indoors.
- Composition of indoor PM has not been fully determined / limited to elemental analysis only.

[Organic analysis is equally important to study in order to understand health risk associated with indoor air pollutants]

Question 5

PM Mineral Composition: Indoor & Outdoor

Answer 5

• Indoor PM’s have some metal & metal salts (including; platinum chloride, beryllium, cobalt, nickel, chromium, & iron)