Indoor Air Pollutants and its Consequences:
Examples, Effects, and Ways to Minimize
Luis Rafael T. Gabriel
Aklan State University, College of Industrial Technology
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, 1-B
Chemistry for Engineers
January 9,2022
Presented to:
Prof. Edna F. Nones
, I N T R O D U C T I O N
Pollution is present in every nooks and crannies of this
world. Is it okay to breathe dirty air or swim in the polluted
water? The three major types of pollution we’ve learned in school
was air, land and water pollution. There’s also pollution inside
our houses and workplaces called indoor air pollution. Houses can
be considered as a safe place for us but it isn’t impossible that
there are potential air pollutants inside. The World Health
Organization (WHO) calls it “the largest single environmental
health risk”. It’s one of the large environmental problems people
are experiencing globally especially those who belongs to poor
household. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, indoor
air pollution, is a leading risk factor for premature death.
This paper focuses on factors defining the nature of indoor
air pollution: (1) examples of indoor air pollutants, (2) harmful
effects, and (3) ways to prevent/minimize it.
, D I S C U S S I O N
There are lots of indoor pollutants people can be exposed
everyday. They are present somewhere in our households or they can
be carried inside. The health risks someone can get from these
indoor air pollutants depends upon short or long term exposures.
Below are some examples of Indoor Air Pollutants found in every
household.
1. WOOD - In poor households, it’s common to use wood as fuel for
cooking. They utilize wood because cleaner fuels like LPG are
either expensive that they can’t afford or unavailable to them
because of their typographical location. Cleaner fuels commonly
refers to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Although clean fuels are
environmental-friendly, poorer households still have higher
dependence on solid fuels like woods. The smoke from wood is the
biggest threat because it contains mixture of gases and particulate
matter (fine microscopic particles). Inhaling woodsmoke may
irritate lungs, cause inflammation, affect immune system and make
someone more prone to lung infections. SARS-CoV-2 is a lung
infection which causes COVID-19.
2. VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS - Aside from wood smoke, there are
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). They are gases emitted from
common household products like aerosol sprays, stored fuels,
paints and pesticides. VOCs contain harmful chemicals that’s why
keep them out of reach of small children. They can damage your
liver, kidney and central nervous system and causes headache, eye
and nose irritation.
3. SECONDHAND SMOKE/ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE - tobacco
smoke/secondhand smoke causes asthma attacks, stroke, heart
disease, lung cancer and other lung conditions. Exposure to
secondhand smoke is referred to as “passive smoking”.
4. ASBESTOS - is used for construction materials like roofing
shingles, insulation and as a fire retardant. It increases
Examples, Effects, and Ways to Minimize
Luis Rafael T. Gabriel
Aklan State University, College of Industrial Technology
Bachelor of Science in Civil Engineering, 1-B
Chemistry for Engineers
January 9,2022
Presented to:
Prof. Edna F. Nones
, I N T R O D U C T I O N
Pollution is present in every nooks and crannies of this
world. Is it okay to breathe dirty air or swim in the polluted
water? The three major types of pollution we’ve learned in school
was air, land and water pollution. There’s also pollution inside
our houses and workplaces called indoor air pollution. Houses can
be considered as a safe place for us but it isn’t impossible that
there are potential air pollutants inside. The World Health
Organization (WHO) calls it “the largest single environmental
health risk”. It’s one of the large environmental problems people
are experiencing globally especially those who belongs to poor
household. According to the Global Burden of Disease study, indoor
air pollution, is a leading risk factor for premature death.
This paper focuses on factors defining the nature of indoor
air pollution: (1) examples of indoor air pollutants, (2) harmful
effects, and (3) ways to prevent/minimize it.
, D I S C U S S I O N
There are lots of indoor pollutants people can be exposed
everyday. They are present somewhere in our households or they can
be carried inside. The health risks someone can get from these
indoor air pollutants depends upon short or long term exposures.
Below are some examples of Indoor Air Pollutants found in every
household.
1. WOOD - In poor households, it’s common to use wood as fuel for
cooking. They utilize wood because cleaner fuels like LPG are
either expensive that they can’t afford or unavailable to them
because of their typographical location. Cleaner fuels commonly
refers to liquefied petroleum gas (LPG). Although clean fuels are
environmental-friendly, poorer households still have higher
dependence on solid fuels like woods. The smoke from wood is the
biggest threat because it contains mixture of gases and particulate
matter (fine microscopic particles). Inhaling woodsmoke may
irritate lungs, cause inflammation, affect immune system and make
someone more prone to lung infections. SARS-CoV-2 is a lung
infection which causes COVID-19.
2. VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS - Aside from wood smoke, there are
VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds). They are gases emitted from
common household products like aerosol sprays, stored fuels,
paints and pesticides. VOCs contain harmful chemicals that’s why
keep them out of reach of small children. They can damage your
liver, kidney and central nervous system and causes headache, eye
and nose irritation.
3. SECONDHAND SMOKE/ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE - tobacco
smoke/secondhand smoke causes asthma attacks, stroke, heart
disease, lung cancer and other lung conditions. Exposure to
secondhand smoke is referred to as “passive smoking”.
4. ASBESTOS - is used for construction materials like roofing
shingles, insulation and as a fire retardant. It increases
