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Title: An inside look at air pollution

Abstract

On particularly smoggy days, small children and people with respiratory illness are encouraged to stay indoors to avoid health risks from air pollution. While this may be good advice if the goal is to reduce exposures to, let's say, ozone, there is substantial evidence that concentrations of many airborne pollutants are often higher inside buildings and vehicles than outside. It is becoming increasingly apparent that being indoors, as, for example, in a residence, office, or automobile, can offer protection from exposure to some airborne agents, while at the same time increasing exposure to others. The specter of potential public health risks from contaminated indoor air presented decision makers with a dilemma. Is the problem serious enough to warrant intervention, and, if so, what preventive or remedial actions are most appropriate The significance of indoor air exposures for acute and chronic health effects remains uncertain in most cases. Nevertheless, there is ample reason for concern and caution. Findings from several studies suggest that indoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and respirable particles can exceed the National Ambient (Outdoor) Air Quality Standards set by EPA to protect public health. And results from many studies show that a plethora of volatile organicmore » chemicals and pesticides known to be toxic and/or carcinogenic can occur indoors at concentrations significantly higher than levels that create concerns in outdoor air.« less

Authors:
OSTI Identifier:
7286882
Resource Type:
Journal Article
Journal Name:
EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Journal; (United States)
Additional Journal Information:
Journal Volume: 19:4; Journal ID: ISSN 0145-1189
Country of Publication:
United States
Language:
English
Subject:
54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES; 32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION; 63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.; CARBON MONOXIDE; HEALTH HAZARDS; INDOOR AIR POLLUTION; NITROGEN OXIDES; ORGANIC COMPOUNDS; PARTICULATES; POLLUTION SOURCES; AIR POLLUTION; CARBON COMPOUNDS; CARBON OXIDES; CHALCOGENIDES; HAZARDS; NITROGEN COMPOUNDS; OXIDES; OXYGEN COMPOUNDS; PARTICLES; POLLUTION; 540120* - Environment, Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-); 320107 - Energy Conservation, Consumption, & Utilization- Building Systems- (1987-); 560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology

Citation Formats

Sexton, K. An inside look at air pollution. United States: N. p., Web.
Sexton, K. An inside look at air pollution. United States.
Sexton, K. . "An inside look at air pollution". United States.
@article{osti_7286882,
title = {An inside look at air pollution},
author = {Sexton, K},
abstractNote = {On particularly smoggy days, small children and people with respiratory illness are encouraged to stay indoors to avoid health risks from air pollution. While this may be good advice if the goal is to reduce exposures to, let's say, ozone, there is substantial evidence that concentrations of many airborne pollutants are often higher inside buildings and vehicles than outside. It is becoming increasingly apparent that being indoors, as, for example, in a residence, office, or automobile, can offer protection from exposure to some airborne agents, while at the same time increasing exposure to others. The specter of potential public health risks from contaminated indoor air presented decision makers with a dilemma. Is the problem serious enough to warrant intervention, and, if so, what preventive or remedial actions are most appropriate The significance of indoor air exposures for acute and chronic health effects remains uncertain in most cases. Nevertheless, there is ample reason for concern and caution. Findings from several studies suggest that indoor concentrations of nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and respirable particles can exceed the National Ambient (Outdoor) Air Quality Standards set by EPA to protect public health. And results from many studies show that a plethora of volatile organic chemicals and pesticides known to be toxic and/or carcinogenic can occur indoors at concentrations significantly higher than levels that create concerns in outdoor air.},
doi = {},
url = {https://www.osti.gov/biblio/7286882}, journal = {EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Journal; (United States)},
issn = {0145-1189},
number = ,
volume = 19:4,
place = {United States},
year = {},
month = {}
}