Indoor Air Pollution Control-

Sources, Pollutants & Standards

06 CE 6024 Air Pollution Control Engineering

Dr. Ratish Menon

Associate Professor
Dept. of Civil Engineering
SCMS School of Engineering & Technology, Kochi
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Importance of Indoor Air Quality
 “Indoor air quality” refers to the quality of the air in a home, school, office, or other building
environment.
 According to USEPA, people spend about 90% of their time indoors
Concentrations of some pollutants are often 2 to 5 times higher than typical outdoor
concentrations

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Indoor Air Pollutants & Health Effects

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Effects on Human Health
The link between some common indoor air pollutants (e.g., radon, particle pollution, carbon
monoxide, Legionella bacterium) and health effects is very well established.
Radon is a known human carcinogen and is the second leading cause of lung cancer.
Carbon monoxide is toxic, and short-term exposure to elevated carbon monoxide levels in
indoor settings can be lethal.
Episodes of Legionnaires' disease, a form of pneumonia caused by exposure to
the Legionella bacterium, have been associated with buildings with poorly maintained air
conditioning or heating systems.
Numerous indoor air pollutants—dust mites, mold, pet dander, environmental tobacco smoke,
cockroach allergens, particulate matter, and others—are “asthma triggers,” meaning that some
asthmatics might experience asthma attacks following exposure

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 Sick Building Syndrome
The sick building syndrome (SBS) is used to describe a situation in which the
occupants of a building experience acute health- or comfort-related effects
that seem to be linked directly to the time spent in the building.
It reduces work efficiency and increases absenteeism
Headache, dizziness, nausea, eye, nose or throat irritation, dry cough, dry or
itching skin, difficulty in concentration, fatigue, sensitivity to odours,
hoarseness of voice, allergies, cold, flu-like symptoms, increased incidence of
asthma attacks and personality changes.
The key to SBS is that your symptoms improve after leaving the building in
question, only to come back when you return to the same location.

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SBS Causes

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Pollutants & Sources

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Factors Affecting Indoor Air Quality
Air exchange rate
air exchange rate is affected by the design, construction, and operating parameters of buildings
a function of infiltration (air that flows into structures through openings, joints, and cracks in walls, floors, and
ceilings and around windows and doors), natural ventilation (air that flows through opened windows and
doors), and mechanical ventilation (air that is forced indoors or vented outdoors by ventilation devices, such as
fans or air handling systems).
Air exchange rate= fresh air supply /Volume of room

Outdoor climate
Weather conditions
Occupant behavior
- Weather conditions influence whether building occupants keep windows
open or closed and whether they operate air conditioners, humidifiers, or
heaters, all of which can affect indoor air quality.
- Certain climatic conditions can increase the potential for indoor moisture
and mold growth if not controlled by adequate ventilation or air
conditioning.

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Indoor Air Quality Standards
There are 3 main Indoor Air Quality Standards namely:
1. OSHA – Occupational Safety & Health Administration
2. NIOSH – National Institute of occupational safety and Health
3. ASHRAE – American Society of Heating, Refrigeration & Air conditioning Engineers
4. EPA- US Environmental Protection Agency

India doesn’t have any set standards by law or else for maintaining indoor air quality!

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IAQ Parameter Standards Comparison

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References:
US EPA Report on Indoor Air Quality:
https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-quality
WHO Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality- Selected Pollutants:
http://www.euro.who.int/__data/assets/pdf_file/0009/128169/e94535.pdf

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