IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jijerp/v17y2020i23p8972-d455096.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Indoor Exposure to Selected Air Pollutants in the Home Environment: A Systematic Review

Author

Listed:
  • Sotiris Vardoulakis

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK
    National Centre for Epidemiology and Population Health, Research School of Population Health, Australian National University, ACT 2601 Canberra, Australia)

  • Evanthia Giagloglou

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK)

  • Susanne Steinle

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK)

  • Alice Davis

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK)

  • Anne Sleeuwenhoek

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK)

  • Karen S. Galea

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK)

  • Ken Dixon

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK)

  • Joanne O. Crawford

    (Institute of Occupational Medicine (IOM), Edinburgh EH14 4AP, UK
    Faculty of Health, Victoria University of Wellington, 6410 Wellington, New Zealand)

Abstract

(1) Background: There is increasing awareness that the quality of the indoor environment affects our health and well-being. Indoor air quality (IAQ) in particular has an impact on multiple health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular illness, allergic symptoms, cancers, and premature mortality. (2) Methods: We carried out a global systematic literature review on indoor exposure to selected air pollutants associated with adverse health effects, and related household characteristics, seasonal influences and occupancy patterns. We screened records from six bibliographic databases: ABI/INFORM, Environment Abstracts, Pollution Abstracts, PubMed, ProQuest Biological and Health Professional, and Scopus. (3) Results: Information on indoor exposure levels and determinants, emission sources, and associated health effects was extracted from 141 studies from 29 countries. The most-studied pollutants were particulate matter (PM 2.5 and PM 10 ); nitrogen dioxide (NO 2 ); volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene, toluene, xylenes and formaldehyde; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including naphthalene. Identified indoor PM 2.5 sources include smoking, cooking, heating, use of incense, candles, and insecticides, while cleaning, housework, presence of pets and movement of people were the main sources of coarse particles. Outdoor air is a major PM 2.5 source in rooms with natural ventilation in roadside households. Major sources of NO 2 indoors are unvented gas heaters and cookers. Predictors of indoor NO 2 are ventilation, season, and outdoor NO 2 levels. VOCs are emitted from a wide range of indoor and outdoor sources, including smoking, solvent use, renovations, and household products. Formaldehyde levels are higher in newer houses and in the presence of new furniture, while PAH levels are higher in smoking households. High indoor particulate matter, NO 2 and VOC levels were typically associated with respiratory symptoms, particularly asthma symptoms in children. (4) Conclusions: Household characteristics and occupant activities play a large role in indoor exposure, particularly cigarette smoking for PM 2.5 , gas appliances for NO 2 , and household products for VOCs and PAHs. Home location near high-traffic-density roads, redecoration, and small house size contribute to high indoor air pollution. In most studies, air exchange rates are negatively associated with indoor air pollution. These findings can inform interventions aiming to improve IAQ in residential properties in a variety of settings.

Suggested Citation

  • Sotiris Vardoulakis & Evanthia Giagloglou & Susanne Steinle & Alice Davis & Anne Sleeuwenhoek & Karen S. Galea & Ken Dixon & Joanne O. Crawford, 2020. "Indoor Exposure to Selected Air Pollutants in the Home Environment: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(23), pages 1-24, December.
  • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8972-:d:455096
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/8972/pdf
    Download Restriction: no

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/23/8972/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Sotiris Vardoulakis & Rachel Kettle & Paul Cosford & Paul Lincoln & Stephen Holgate & Jonathan Grigg & Frank Kelly & David Pencheon, 2018. "Local action on outdoor air pollution to improve public health," International Journal of Public Health, Springer;Swiss School of Public Health (SSPH+), vol. 63(5), pages 557-565, June.
    2. Jinhua Hu & Nianping Li & Yang Lv & Jing Liu & Jingchao Xie & Huibo Zhang, 2017. "Investigation on Indoor Air Pollution and Childhood Allergies in Households in Six Chinese Cities by Subjective Survey and Field Measurements," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(9), pages 1-21, August.
    3. Chunrong Jia & Stuart Batterman, 2010. "A Critical Review of Naphthalene Sources and Exposures Relevant to Indoor and Outdoor Air," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(7), pages 1-37, July.
    4. Marie-Eve Héroux & Nina Clark & Keith Van Ryswyk & Ranjeeta Mallick & Nicolas L. Gilbert & Ian Harrison & Kathleen Rispler & Daniel Wang & Angelos Anastassopoulos & Mireille Guay & Morgan MacNeill & A, 2010. "Predictors of Indoor Air Concentrations in Smoking and Non-Smoking Residences," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 7(8), pages 1-20, August.
    5. Anna Ruth Pickett & Michelle L. Bell, 2011. "Assessment of Indoor Air Pollution in Homes with Infants," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 8(12), pages 1-19, December.
    6. Miao-Ching Chi & Su-Er Guo & Su-Lun Hwang & Chiang-Ting Chou & Chieh-Mo Lin & Yu-Ching Lin, 2016. "Exposure to Indoor Particulate Matter Worsens the Symptoms and Acute Exacerbations in Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease Patients of Southwestern Taiwan: A Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-11, December.
    7. Dorina Gabriela Karottki & Michal Spilak & Marie Frederiksen & Zorana Jovanovic Andersen & Anne Mette Madsen & Matthias Ketzel & Andreas Massling & Lars Gunnarsen & Peter Møller & Steffen Loft, 2015. "Indoor and Outdoor Exposure to Ultrafine, Fine and Microbiologically Derived Particulate Matter Related to Cardiovascular and Respiratory Effects in a Panel of Elderly Urban Citizens," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(2), pages 1-20, February.
    8. Laura Rosen & David Zucker & Melbourne Hovell & Nili Brown & Amit Ram & Vicki Myers, 2015. "Feasibility of Measuring Tobacco Smoke Air Pollution in Homes: Report from a Pilot Study," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 12(12), pages 1-14, November.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Mengting Liao & Yi Xiao & Shenxin Li & Juan Su & Ji Li & Bin Zou & Xiang Chen & Minxue Shen, 2022. "Synergistic Effects between Ambient Air Pollution and Second-Hand Smoke on Inflammatory Skin Diseases in Chinese Adolescents," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(16), pages 1-12, August.
    2. Maria Chiara Pietrogrande & Lucia Casari & Giorgia Demaria & Mara Russo, 2021. "Indoor Air Quality in Domestic Environments during Periods Close to Italian COVID-19 Lockdown," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(8), pages 1-12, April.
    3. Amy Dymond & Stuart Mealing & Jessica McMaster & Hayden Holmes & Lesley Owen, 2021. "Indoor Air Quality at Home—An Economic Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(4), pages 1-13, February.
    4. Giovanna Cilluffo & Giuliana Ferrante & Nicola Murgia & Rosanna Mancini & Simona Pichini & Giuseppe Cuffari & Vittoria Giudice & Nicolò Tirone & Velia Malizia & Laura Montalbano & Salvatore Fasola & R, 2022. "Effects of Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons on Lung Function in Children with Asthma: A Mediation Analysis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-14, February.
    5. Tun Z. Maung & Jack E. Bishop & Eleanor Holt & Alice M. Turner & Christian Pfrang, 2022. "Indoor Air Pollution and the Health of Vulnerable Groups: A Systematic Review Focused on Particulate Matter (PM), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) and Their Effects on Children and People with Pre-Ex," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-24, July.
    6. Le Zhang & Qinyi Gu & Chen Li & Yi Huang, 2022. "Characteristics and Spatial–Temporal Differences of Urban “Production, Living and Ecological” Environmental Quality in China," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(22), pages 1-22, November.
    7. Pierre Lemire & Sofia Temam & Sarah Lyon-Caen & Catherine Quinot & Etienne Sévin & Sophie Remacle & Karine Supernant & Rémy Slama & Orianne Dumas & Valérie Siroux & Nicole Le Moual & the SEPAGES Study, 2021. "Comparison of a Barcode-Based Smartphone Application to a Questionnaire to Assess the Use of Cleaning Products at Home and Their Association with Asthma Symptoms," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(7), pages 1-13, March.
    8. Melania Maria Serafini & Ambra Maddalon & Martina Iulini & Valentina Galbiati, 2022. "Air Pollution: Possible Interaction between the Immune and Nervous System?," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(23), pages 1-24, November.
    9. Annette M. Krais & Julie Y. Essig & Louise Gren & Carolina Vogs & Eva Assarsson & Katrin Dierschke & Jörn Nielsen & Bo Strandberg & Joakim Pagels & Karin Broberg & Christian H. Lindh & Anders Gudmunds, 2021. "Biomarkers after Controlled Inhalation Exposure to Exhaust from Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(12), pages 1-15, June.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Silvia Vilčeková & Ilija Zoran Apostoloski & Ľudmila Mečiarová & Eva Krídlová Burdová & Jozef Kiseľák, 2017. "Investigation of Indoor Air Quality in Houses of Macedonia," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 14(1), pages 1-12, January.
    2. Refiloe Masekela & Aneesa Vanker, 2020. "Lung Health in Children in Sub-Saharan Africa: Addressing the Need for Cleaner Air," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(17), pages 1-13, August.
    3. Yeganeh Ataei & Yuexia Sun & Wei Liu & Agnes S. Ellie & Hui Dong & Umme Marium Ahmad, 2022. "Health Effects of Exposure to Indoor Semi-Volatile Organic Compounds in Chinese Building Environment: A Systematic Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(1), pages 1-14, December.
    4. Paolo Lauriola & Helen Crabbe & Behrooz Behbod & Fuyuen Yip & Sylvia Medina & Jan C. Semenza & Sotiris Vardoulakis & Dan Kass & Ariana Zeka & Irma Khonelidze & Matthew Ashworth & Kees de Hoogh & Xiaom, 2020. "Advancing Global Health through Environmental and Public Health Tracking," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(6), pages 1-19, March.
    5. Bo Hong & Hongqiao Qin & Runsheng Jiang & Min Xu & Jiaqi Niu, 2018. "How Outdoor Trees Affect Indoor Particulate Matter Dispersion: CFD Simulations in a Naturally Ventilated Auditorium," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 15(12), pages 1-21, December.
    6. Raquel Rodrigues dos Santos & João Gregório & Liliana Castanheira & Ana S. Fernandes, 2020. "Exploring Volatile Organic Compound Exposure and Its Association with Wheezing in Children under 36 Months: A Cross-Sectional Study in South Lisbon, Portugal," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(18), pages 1-12, September.
    7. Tianhao Zhang & Zhongmin Zhu & Wei Gong & Hao Xiang & Ruimin Fang, 2016. "Characteristics of Fine Particles in an Urban Atmosphere—Relationships with Meteorological Parameters and Trace Gases," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-16, August.
    8. Markus Braun & Friedemann Koger & Doris Klingelhöfer & Ruth Müller & David A. Groneberg, 2019. "Particulate Matter Emissions of Four Different Cigarette Types of One Popular Brand: Influence of Tobacco Strength and Additives," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-11, January.
    9. Yoshiko Yoda & Kenji Tamura & Sho Adachi & Naruhito Otani & Shoji F. Nakayama & Masayuki Shima, 2020. "Effects of the Use of Air Purifier on Indoor Environment and Respiratory System among Healthy Adults," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(10), pages 1-11, May.
    10. Peiyue Tu & Ya Tian & Yujia Hong & Lu Yang & Jiayi Huang & Haoran Zhang & Xin Mei & Yanhua Zhuang & Xin Zou & Chao He, 2022. "Exposure and Inequality of PM 2.5 Pollution to Chinese Population: A Case Study of 31 Provincial Capital Cities from 2000 to 2016," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-20, September.
    11. Yang, Xiuleng & McCoy, Emma & Hough, Katherine & de Nazelle, Audrey, 2022. "Evaluation of low traffic neighbourhood (LTN) impacts on NO2 and traffic," LSE Research Online Documents on Economics 117441, London School of Economics and Political Science, LSE Library.
    12. Felica R. Davis & Hanan H. Ali & Jason A. Rosenzweig & Daniel Vrinceanu & Balaji Bhaskar Maruthi Sridhar, 2021. "Characterization of Chemical and Bacterial Concentrations in Floor Dust Samples in Southeast Texas Households," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(23), pages 1-17, November.
    13. Karina Camasmie Abe & Simone Georges El Khouri Miraglia, 2016. "Health Impact Assessment of Air Pollution in São Paulo, Brazil," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-10, July.
    14. Weixun Lv & Yan Wu & Jianbin Zang, 2021. "A Review on the Dispersion and Distribution Characteristics of Pollutants in Street Canyons and Improvement Measures," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(19), pages 1-21, September.
    15. Yufei Yuan & Barrak Alahmad & Choong-Min Kang & Fhaid Al-Marri & Venkateswarlu Kommula & Walid Bouhamra & Petros Koutrakis, 2020. "Dust Events and Indoor Air Quality in Residential Homes in Kuwait," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(7), pages 1-12, April.
    16. Ekpo Otu & Kirsti Ashworth & Emmanuel Tsekleves & Aniebietabasi Ackley, 2024. "Empowering London Primary School Communities to Know and Tackle Air Pollution Exposure," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(17), pages 1-29, August.
    17. Amber M. Yeoman & Marvin Shaw & Martyn Ward & Lyndsay Ives & Stephen J. Andrews & Alastair C. Lewis, 2023. "Gas Phase Emissions of Volatile Organic Compounds Arising from the Application of Sunscreens," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 20(11), pages 1-17, May.
    18. Stanisław Majer & Alicja Sołowczuk, 2023. "Traffic Circle—An Example of Sustainable Home Zone Design," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(24), pages 1-27, December.
    19. Samuel Domínguez-Amarillo & Jesica Fernández-Agüera & Sonia Cesteros-García & Roberto Alonso González-Lezcano, 2020. "Bad Air Can Also Kill: Residential Indoor Air Quality and Pollutant Exposure Risk during the COVID-19 Crisis," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 17(19), pages 1-33, September.
    20. Aayush Khadka & David Canning, 2021. "Understanding the Pathways from Prenatal and Post-Birth PM 2.5 Exposure to Infant Death: An Observational Analysis Using US Vital Records (2011–2013)," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(1), pages 1-26, December.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:17:y:2020:i:23:p:8972-:d:455096. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.