White Paper

3. Causes of indoor air
pollution
Homes, offices, schools, gyms and other buildings where human
congregate for work, rest or play all suffer from some degree of
airborne pollution, which should not come as a surprise considering
indoor air may contain over 900 chemicals, particles and biological
materials with potential health effects.
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Obviously some groups, such as children, pregnant women and the
sick or elderly, are more at risk than other, but the reality is that just
about everyone may be harmed by the release of particles or gases
into the air they are breathing. The modern emphasis on increased
insulation technologies to promote energy efficiency also serves
to reduce ventilation, which can lead to a steady accumulation of
airborne pollutants in rooms and buildings.
Indoor air pollution can stem from many different sources, inside and
outdoors. Traffic and industrial pollutants are obvious sources of par-
ticles but the other causes come from such items as bacteria, mold,
dust mites, pollen, household cleaning and personal care products,
paint strippers, pesticides, burning oil, gas, wood or coal, smoking
and even furnishing and building materials.
The European Commission has said the combined effects of various
indoor air pollutants (chemical substances, allergens and microbes)
may well combine to cause more (or less) harmful effects than
the sum of the effects caused by each chemical separately. An
EC study
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noted how many of the most common products in our
homes are prime sources of volatile organic compounds (VOCs):
“Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted by many consumer
products and decomposing materials. Three of the most worrisome
are formaldehyde, benzene, and naphthalene. Some volatile organic
compounds may react with ozone to produce secondary pollutants,
including fine and ultrafine particles. Some of these secondary pol-
lutants cause irritation and poor perceived air quality at concentra-
tions that can be found in indoor air.”
An estimated 300 million people worldwide suffer from asthma. In France alone, 1 in 4
people suffers from respiratory allergy, immune response related to inhaled allergens such
as pollen, dust mites and animal dander.
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http://www.eargenda.com/tag/respiratory-allergies
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http://ec.europa.eu/health/ph_risk/committees/04_scher/docs/scher_o_055.pdf
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http://ec.europa.eu/health/opinions/en/indoor-air-pollution/l-2/6-harmful-chemicals.htm#0