Air Pollutants in Buildings:
What is in the air we breathe? Should we care? What we don’t see can hurt us…
A broad range of contaminants and pollutants can be found in buildings depending on many factors: human presence and activities, human habits (e.g. cleaning, opening windows, hobbies, etc.), local climate, location of the building, type of construction and finishes, building maintenance, presence of pets, equipment, etc.
Humans as polluters and receivers of the indoor air:
Our level of exposure to indoor air pollutants and the effects on our health depends on: 1) the type of pollutants (allergenic, toxic, endocrine disruptive), 2) their source strength and concentration at any given time, 3) the time of exposure, and 4) our own vulnerability to such pollutants.
However, humans are also indoor air polluters due to our own presence and our activities. Humans are primary sources or certain bacteria and viruses (reservoirs, amplifiers, and disseminators). Human sneezing is a main disseminator of human bacteria & viruses… as well as coughing & talking… We also shed skin and other particles, including flakes and oils, and produce metabolic chemicals (VOCs) in our breathing.
Our daily activities are also likely sources of pollutants, such as: cooking, cleaning, eating, drinking, vacuuming, printing, copying, etc. not to mention our hobbies like painting etc. So, wherever we are present, we are likely polluting the air in some way. Furthermore, our habits and behaviors also affect the air quality indirectly, such as: not opening windows, not using cooking fans when cooking, or bathroom fans when taking showers, and not venting polluting activities (e.g. cleaning or painting) or hobbies.
Microbes in buildings typically originate and grow 1) in humans, and 2) in the building itself., or 3) outdoors. However, microbes that originate and grow in buildings are typically produced due to a combination of human activities that produce moisture that is not vented properly, often coupled with poor building systems and constructions. So, in summary, from all perspectives, humans have a big influence in the quality of the indoor air. Particularly at home, our culture, attitudes and behavior as homeowners/residents is the single most important factor in determining the indoor air quality.