Part of the book: Integrated Waste Management
Indoor air pollution is an international health concern because people spend a majority of their time indoors. Children are at a higher risk of health problems from pollutant exposure, especially because air in the child breathing zone is more polluted than it is in the adult breathing zone. Pollutants of concern include biological contaminants, combustion pollutants, volatile organic compounds, and radon and other soil gases. Humans have a history with lead and asbestos that goes back thousands of years to the ancient Romans and Egyptians. These two pollutants are still problems in older homes and apartments. All of these toxicants can be minimized or abated. Awareness of these issues is a critical first step in improving air quality in places where people live.
Part of the book: Indoor Environmental Quality