Health Risks from Indoor Air Pollutants: Public Alarm and Toxicological Reality

Abstract

The air, particularly the indoor air, contains a considerable burden of unwanted pollution. Overall there may be thousands of pollutants. They are brought in with the outside air or are generated from or within buildings. Most will be present in minute amounts but several will be present in measurable quantities. The reaction of people to the components of this pollution has little to do with toxicological assessment but is more concerned with political responses and media scares. The health effects from exposure to the very low levels commonly found in the indoor environment of materials such as combustion products, whether from coal, petrol or tobacco or to lead or asbestos fibres, are probably negligible but we worry about them. On the other hand, gases such as carbon monoxide or nitrogen dioxide which are not infrequently present in dangerous concentrations, many solvents and dust-generating DIY projects cause little concern. The distinction between concern and indifference is made without reference to any toxicological knowledge. Although it is certainly prudent, through source control, design and ventilation of buildings, to reduce all pollutants to the lowest level, concentrating on media favourites rather than more important dangers, including disease transmission, may well be a poor use of our resources.

Allergotoxicology: Research of Pollutant Influence on the Development of Allergic Reactions

“…Odgovor organizma može biti neimunosno i imunosno posredovan. S obzirom na izvor iz kojeg nastaju mogu biti biološkog i nebiološkog podrijtela (26).…”

“…Generator onečišćivača zraka unutarnjih prostora je suvremeni način stanovanja i života koji karakterizira način gradnje modernih zgrada, uređenje stanova i radnih prostora, emisije iz građevnog materijala i pokućstva, aktivna i pasivna izloženost duhanskom dimu, produkti izgaranja goriva za grijanje i kuhanje, različite kemikalije koje se sve više rabe u kućnim i radnim prostorima. Najvažniji onečišćivači zraka unutarnjih prostora su duhanski dim, dušični oksidi (NOx), ugljični dioksid (CO 2 ), ugljični monoksid (CO), organske hlapljive supstancije, ponajprije formaldehid i bioaerosoli (13,14,(26)(27)(28)38). Većina navedenih onečišćivača poznati su nadražljivci dišnog sustava i kože, a formaldehid može djelovati i kao alergen.…”

“…Zbog toga se smatra da je izloženost endotoksinu rizični čimbenik za težinu kliničke slike astme (44). Osim toga u unutarnjim prostorima ljudi su izloženi višim koncentracijama nekih alergena nego u vanjskim prostorima, osobito od grinja, plijesni i životinja koje žive u tim prostorima (7,26,45).…”

Exposure to High Levels of Volatile Organic Compounds and Other Pollutants in a Printing Facility in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil

“…Samples to measure formaldehyde and acetaldehyde were collected on C 18 Sep-Pak cartridges impregnated with an acid solution of 2,4-dinitrophenylhydrazine. Aldehyde samples were analysed by an isocratic HPLC (Waters 600E, Milford, Mass., USA) fitted with a variable wavelength ultraviolet detector adjusted to 360 nm (Hewlett-Packard Vis/UV Series 1100).…”

Determination of Selected Pollutants and Measurement of Physical Parameters for the Evaluation of Indoor Air Quality in School Buildings in Athens, Greece

“…Formaldehyde is emitted from a variety of sources, including particleboard, ply wood, glues, and resins in furniture, carpets and panelling, various treated fabrics, tobacco smoking and other combustion processes. It is a strong respiratory irritant and adverse health effects have been reported in healthy children at concentrations as low as 60 ÌgWm -3 [7].…”