Anthropogenic Sources - Indoor Basic

Reading Guide

A complete introduction to indoor air quality is available at the US EPA site. In particular, the main indoor air pollutants are:

• Asbestos
• Biological Pollutants
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Formaldehyde/Pressed Wood Products
• Lead (Pb)
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
• Pesticides
• Radon (Rn). Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water and gets into the air you breathe.
• Indoor Particulate Matter
• Secondhand Smoke/ Environmental Tobacco Smoke
• Stoves and Heaters
• Fireplaces and Chimneys
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

Other important sites on indoor air are:

• Clean Air at Home from the American Lung Association
• The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality from U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission
• Indoor Environmental Air from the US National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health
• Indoor air pollution takes heavy toll on health, an article from the World Health Organization
• Indoor Air Pollutants and Toxic Materials from the US Center for Disease Control and Prevention
• Indoor Air Quality from the European Environment Agency
• Residential indoor air quality guidelines from the Government of Canada

Guide prepared by P. Zannetti (5/2021). For corrections or expansions please contact us.