SANITASI LINGKUNGAN PERUMAHAN DAN PERMUKIMAN

INDOOR AIR POLLUTION

By
Dr. Siti Nurshahida Nazli
(PhD in Environmental Health and Safety)

Universiti Teknologi MARA (UiTM)

Cawangan Pulau Pinang
Kampus Bertam
Malaysia
 Some introductions about myself
Dr. Shida
Program Coordinator of Department of Environmental Health, UiTM
PhD in Environmental Health and Safety (IAQ)
Masters in the Specialisms of the Built Environment
BSc (Hons) in Environmental Health and Safety
Diploma in Environmental Health
Teaching subjects: Microbiology for Environmental Health, Environmental Pollution and
Monitoring, Environmental Toxicology, Land Use and Housing, Prevention and Control of
Disease
Emel: shidafsk@uitm.edu.my
+60132740156
CONTEN Introduction to
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor Pollution
Sources And Health

T
Impacts

Types of Symptoms
Strategies to Improve
and Complaints from
IAQ
Poor IAQ

Guidance Note On
Ventilation And IAQ
IAQ Standards and
For Residential
Assessment Methods
Setting During Covid-
19 Pandemic
 HOW DO YOU FEEL
ABOUT YOUR INDOOR
ENVIRONMENT?
 INTRODUCTION TO
INDOOR AIR QUALITY
• Indoor air quality (IAQ) is the air quality
within and around buildings and structures,
especially as it relates to the health and
comfort of building occupants (EPA).
• IAQ refers to the quality of air inside
buildings represented by concentrations of
pollutants and thermal conditions.
• IAQ has been one of the most significant
environmental problems worldwide due to
the impact on the building occupants.
• Health effects from indoor air
pollutants may be experienced soon
after exposure or, possibly, years later.
Patterns of • Different life activities cause people to spend
Time Spent a majority of their time in different types of
buildings.
Indoors

Mannan and Al-Ghamdi, 2021

The Importance of IAQ

• The IAQ in indoor environments is a significant determinant of

human health and wellbeing.
• Studies have established links between positive human health
impacts and improved indoor environments.
• Low IAQ results in unwanted health conditions, including death
in the worst-case scenarios.
HOUSEHOLD AIR POLLUTION-FACTS BY THE WHO
• 3.8 million people a year die prematurely from illness attributable to the household air
pollution caused by the inefficient use of solid fuels and kerosene for cooking. Among
these 3.8 million deaths:
• 27% are due to pneumonia-double risk for children (45% death less than 5 years old)
• 18% from stroke
• 27% from ischaemic heart disease
• 20% from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD)
• Risk is double among women than man who smoke)
• 8% from lung cancer (higher risk for women –role in food preparation)

• WHO’s Guidelines for indoor air quality: household fuel combustion

Proportion Of Population
With Primary Reliance On
Clean Fuels And
Technologies For Cooking
(%)
 • The energy crisis of the 1970s -the importance of energy savings in
INDOOR buildings-more airtight and insulated buildings worldwide.
POLLUTION • For energy savings, reduced amounts of fresh air are circulated in air
SOURCES AND conditioning systems.
• With the advent of improved living standards, more synthetic materials
HEALTH and chemicals are being used in buildings for indoor construction and
IMPACTS decorating purposes.
• Other sources of indoor air pollution-pesticides, cleaning agents, air
fresheners, and gases from cooking.
CONT…

• Inadequate ventilation, lack of air

conditioning systems, human
activities, and numerous materials,
chemicals, and gases mainly
influence indoor pollution.
• USEPA and WHO have recognized
IAQ as a multi-disciplinary
phenomenon and classified
pollutants into several
categories.
 CONTAMINANTS SOURCES POSSIBLE

1. Biological CONSEQUENCES

Contaminants Allergens Furry pets, dust mites Asthma

Endotoxins Presence of cats and dogs, Asthma,
contaminated humidifiers, reduced lung
storage of food waste, function
lower ventilation rate,
increased amount of
settled dust

Dampness and Unattended plumbing Upper

mold leaks, leaks in building respiratory
fabric, hidden food spills, symptoms,
standing water cough,
wheeze, and
asthma
2. Chemical Contaminants
Contaminants Sources Possible consequences
Smoke Tobacco smoke Premature mortality, lung cancer, coronary artery
disease, childhood cough and wheeze, respiratory
illness, infant death syndrome

Coal & biomass fuels Cooking and heating Combustion of solid fuels releases CO, N2O,
combustion product particulates, poly-cyclic hydrocarbons, which
increases risk of lung cancer, childhood asthma

Carbon Monoxide (CO) Vehicle exhaust from attached garages, Headache, nausea, fatigue
gas stoves, furnaces, woodstoves,
fireplaces & cigarettes
Nitrogen dioxide (N2O) Combustion of fossil fuels e.g., gas or oil Increased risk of respiratory symptoms
furnaces and stoves
Pesticides Contaminated soil, stored pesticide Irritation to eye, nose, and throat, damage to
containers central nervous system
 3. Off Gassing Emissions
(Gases released from indoor
materials)

Contaminants Sources Possible consequences

Formaldehyde (HCHO) Wood-based products assembled using Eye, nose, throat irritation, asthma,
urea-formaldehyde resins, cigarette bronchitis, and possible carcinogen
smoke, paints, varnishes, floor finishes

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC) Cigarette smoke, recently dry cleaned Asthma, bronchial hyper-reactivity
cloths, room deodorizers, paints,
carpets

Plastic Compounds Polyvinyl chloride for flooring, plastic Bronchial obstruction, asthma, wheeze,
wall material cough, and phlegm
4. Carcinogens

Contaminants Sources Possible

consequences
Radon Natural decay Lung cancer,
of uranium leukaemia

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HryzrFjU4fQ
 Contaminants Sources Possible
consequences
5. Particulate Matter
Ultra-fine Cooking, combustion Serious impact
particles activities on heart and
lungs
What is the main route of
exposure to indoor air
pollutants?

What are you exposed to in

your home?
 Types of Symptoms and Complaints from Poor
IAQ
• The effects of IAQ problems are often nonspecific symptoms rather than clearly defined illnesses.
• Symptoms commonly attributed to IAQ problems include:
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Shortness of breath
• Sinus
• Congestion
• Cough
• Sneezing
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Skin irritation
• Dizziness
• Nausea
• All of these symptoms, however, may also be caused by other factors, and are not necessarily due to air quality
deficiencies.
Cont…
• “Health” and “comfort” are used to describe a spectrum of physical sensations.

• E.g: air in a room is slightly too warm that the person experience mild discomfort. If
the temperature rises, discomfort increases and symptoms such as fatigue, stuffiness,
and headaches can appear.

• Some complaints by building occupants

are clearly related to the discomfort.

• Improper lighting, noise, vibration, overcrowding, ergonomic stressors, and job stress
can produce symptoms that are similar to those associated with poor air quality.
SICK • SBS - to describe cases occupants experience acute health
and comfort effects due to the time spend in the building, no
specific illness or cause can be identified.
BUILDIN • The complaints - localized in a particular room or zone or
throughout the building.

G • Many different symptoms have been associated with SBS.

• Analysis of air samples often fails to detect high
SYNDRO concentrations of specific contaminants.
• The problem may be caused by :

ME • the combined effects of multiple pollutants at low

concentrations

SYMPTO • other environmental stressors (e.g., overheating, poor

lighting, noise)
• ergonomic stressors
MS • job-related psychosocial stressors (e.g., overcrowding,
labor-management problems)
• unknown factors
BUILDING
RELATED
ILLNESS
• Building-related illness (BRI) is a
term referring to illness brought
on by exposure to the building
air, where symptoms of
diagnosable illness are identified.
• E.g:
• Certain allergies or infections
• Legionnaire’s disease
• Hypersensitivity pneumonitis
SO, HOW CAN WE PROTECT OURSELVES
FROM POOR IAQ?
STRATEGIES TO
IMPROVE IAQ

• Indoor levels of pollutants

may be two to five times,
sometimes more than 100
times, higher than outdoor
levels. 
• 3 basic strategies to improve
indoor air quality.
• Source Control
• Proper Ventilation
• Purifying the Indoor Air
1. Contaminant Source Control
• Managing IAQ through an integrated approach requires reducing contaminants at the
source.
• Coercive measures through codes, laws, and regulations reduce contaminants at the
source.
• building codes dispositions regarding wall, foundation, and floor insulation
• installation of a bathroom exhaust fan
• kitchen range hood
• Several countries have adopted legislation regarding various aspects of building
construction and IAQ issues.
• construction materials and interior decoration products to be labelled with a
standardized label presenting information on the emission of VOC (e.g.,
formaldehyde) to provide clear and complete information about the products
Cont..
• Certifications can help
construction professionals,
designers, contractors, and
suppliers, consumers, to make
enlightened choices with regard to
the products they select and install
(e.g., no-VOC paints)
• international standards indoor
air (ISO 16000) addresses
mold, asbestos, and VOCs.
Cont…
• Numerous contaminants are generated by the occupants’ activities and behaviors.

• Reducing the contaminants at the source begins by changing individual behaviors or

habits.
• refraining from smoking indoors
• correctly using and storing potentially toxic household products
• correctly using pest control products (e.g., insecticides and  fungicides)
• correctly using fuel-fired equipment
• and reducing activities that generate excessive humidity
• Gas stoves can be adjusted to decrease the amount of emissions

• Exterior exhaust fans and hoods (e.g., in the kitchen and bathroom)
• Using a portable dehumidifier to reduce relative humidity
• Regular maintenance and inspection, renovation of buildings
2. Proper Ventilation

• Ventilation helps to remove or dilute indoor airborne

pollutants coming from indoor sources.
• Helps to reduce the level of contaminants and
improves the IAQ.
• Increase the amount of outdoor air coming
indoors.
• Ventilation help control indoor temperatures.
• Outdoor sources of pollutants such as smoke or
refuse nearby can enter the building from ventilation.
Cont…
• Air may enter a home in several different ways, including:

• natural ventilation---windows and doors

• mechanical ventilation---HVAC system
• Infiltration---openings, joints and cracks in walls, floors and ceilings, and
around windows and doors

• During events of high atmospheric pollution, such as forest fires or smog

episodes, doors, windows, and exhaust fans should be kept closed-HVAC
system to be considered. The more airtight the building is, the more effective
this measure will be.
 3. Purifying
the Indoor Air
• Persistence of contaminants from uncontrollable
pollution sources (e.g., highways, mines, and
factories).
• Some people are more vulnerable to indoor air
contaminants-asthma or allergies may react to low
levels of contaminants.
• Indoor air cleaning device is a complementary
measure to improve IAQ in certain rooms (e.g.,
bedroom or living room).
• 1. Centralized ventilation system equipped with an
external air filtration device can prevent the
introduction of outdoor pollutants
• high efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters -
very efficient (filtering 99.97% of particles
less than 0.3 μm)
• 2. Portable treatment devices installed at specific
locations, usually in the vicinity of contaminant
sources or near the vulnerable individuals.
IAQ STANDARDS AND ASSESSMENT
METHODS
• Several international organizations worldwide have set guidelines and threshold
values to maintain an optimal IAQ.
• Apart from the WHO, the most recognized organizations involved in IAQ
regulations include the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-
Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), US EPA, National Health and Medical
Research Council in Australia, Health Canada, State Environment Protection
Agency in China, Hong Kong Indoor Air Quality Objectives, Danish Society of
Indoor Climate, Finnish Society of Indoor Air Quality and Climate, and Singapore
Indoor Air Quality Guidelines, ICOP Malaysia.
Industry Code Of P
ractice On Indoor A
ir Quality 2010,
Malaysia
To better understand the factors affecting overall IAQ, the assessments of IAQ should be based
on different types of buildings. Therefore, it is essential to understand the relation between IAQ
and different residential and commercial buildings because building codes and regulations vary
based on the type and end purpose of the building.
IAQ
MONITORING
EQUIPMENT
GUIDANCE NOTE ON VENTILATION AND IAQ FOR
RESIDENTIAL SETTING DURING COVID-19 PANDEMIC

• COVID-19 is a respiratory illness caused by the SARS-CoV-2 virus. It spreads

from a person who is infected to others through respiratory droplets and
aerosols created when an infected person breathes, coughs, sneezes, sings
or talks. It can also be spread through virus aerosols in the air under
certain settings, such as poorly ventilated enclosed environment. Hence, it
is important to reduce this risk by improving ventilation and air quality in
indoor environments.
2 Types of Residential Settings
• Houses (landed properties): comprising all types of houses (detached,
semi- detached, terraced houses, houses built in a row, etc.)
• Other residential settings - comprising of all residential settings other
than landed properties (low/high rise apartments, condominiums
etc.)
• Both residential settings can be divided into two (2) types of
ventilation as follows:
a) Enclosed air conditioned residential settings without mechanical ventilation
provision
b) Naturally ventilated residential settings
General Guidance Applicable To All Homes
(Landed Properties, Low/High Rise Apartments)

• Notes:
• When air-conditioners are not in use,
open as many windows and doors as
possible,
• where practical, as possible to ventilate
your dwellings; especially in the
morning and evening when the outdoor
air is relatively cooler.
• Small opening in windows is
recommended to allow ventilation,
provided the opening in windows do
not cause excessive infiltration of air.
• Consider installing additional available
air cleaning technologies in the market
that are capable of deactivating viruses
in suitable air conditioning system.
• Avoid using the balcony in an
apartment unit which is in close
proximity with a neighbouring unit.
REFERENCES
• Marie-Eve Levasseur, Patrick Poulin, [...], and Jean-Marc Leclerc,
2017. Integrated Management of Residential Indoor Air Quality: A
Call for Stakeholders in a Changing Climate. International Journal of
Environmental Research and Public Health
https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC5750874/
• https://www.who.int/data/gho/data/themes/air-pollution/who-house
hold-energy-db
• https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/introduction-indoor-air-q
uality#health
THANK YOU
 QUIZ
https://www.liveworksheets.com/4-bj534434iz

Please WhatsApp your mark to me.

+60132740156