pollution

Indoor Pollution

Indoor Pollution is responsible for many health problems

We put much interest in the outdoor air quality and very less interest in our indoor environment even though we spend the majority of our time in a closed space, whether it is houses, workplaces, schools, commercial centres, transports... The air we breathe in these indoor places contain many pollutants which are toxic, can mix or give us a feeling of uneasiness or diverse symptoms regrouped by the WHO under the Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). The SBS is characterized by uneasiness symptoms and physiological or acute sensorial reactions: irritation of the nasal and ocular mucosal, cough, thoracic oppression, tiredness, headaches, etc. The indoor pollution can also lead to even more negative effects such as asthma, chronic respiratory allergies or Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). Moreover, today’s scientists are researching on the existing correlation between the pollution in our home and the increasing number of cancer cases. Following a study by the Indoor Air Quality Observatory in 2007, the indoor air is more polluted than that outdoor! That is the reason why ionisers and air purifiers use is more and more advised to preserve your health or to sooth people suffering from asthma, allergies, tiredness, headaches, concentration problems, etc.



Some sources of indoor pollution

We are living in a closed universe where the air does not circulate at all or slightly, therefore we are constantly breathing the same air that contains, in addition to the outdoor pollution, all the indoor pollution caused by:


- aerosols
- dust
- microbes
- smoking volatile products
- emanation present in paints and glues
- cooking (barbecue, high temperature oven cooking...)
- radon (heavy gaz) home
- construction, decoration, maintenance and repairing products
- pesticides from wood or by the users (insecticides)
- heating equipments (heaters, production of hot water) which produces carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide
- plants and animals (pollens, allergens, fungus...)
- mites, mould, virus, bacteria, fungus...

Risk factors

- Lack of ventilation
- Lack of maintenance of the ventilation systems
- Contribution of external pollutants via clothes and shoes
- Internal works (painting, sanding, disinfecting...)


How to fight against indoor pollution?

- To fight against mites : do not put any carpet or double curtains, choose synthetic fibres, ventilate your bed, put specific covers on the bed and pillows, etc.
- Prevent humidity by using sufficient daily ventilation
- Prevent from mould by cleaning regularly the ventilation openings
- Make a reasonable consumption of cleaning and repairing products; ventilate the rooms during and after their use
- Use daily an ioniser or air purifier in the house


For more information on indoor air pollution:

http://www.vie-publique.fr/actualite/alaune/sante-qualite-air-logements.html (Documentation française)
 http://www.who.int/topics/air/fr/ (OMS).