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Indoor Air Quality in Buildings: A Comprehensive Review on the Factors Influencing Air Pollution in Residential and Commercial Structure

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  • Mehzabeen Mannan

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar)

  • Sami G. Al-Ghamdi

    (Division of Sustainable Development, College of Science and Engineering, Hamad Bin Khalifa University, Qatar Foundation, Doha, Qatar)

Abstract

Worldwide people tend to spend approximately 90% of their time in different indoor environments. Along with the penetration of outside air pollutants, contaminants are produced in indoor environments due to different activities such as heating, cooling, cooking, and emissions from building products and the materials used. As people spend most of their lives in indoor environments, this has a significant influence on human health and productivity. Despite the two decades of indoor air quality (IAQ) research from different perspectives, there is still a lack of comprehensive evaluation of peer-reviewed IAQ studies that specifically covers the relationship between the internal characteristics of different types of building environments with IAQ to help understand the progress and limitations of IAQ research worldwide. Therefore, this review of scientific studies presents a broad spectrum of pollutants identified in both residential and commercial indoor environments, highlighting the trends and gaps in IAQ research. Moreover, analysis of literature data enabled us to assess the different IAQs in buildings located in different countries/regions, thus reflecting the current global scientific understanding of IAQ. This review has the potential to benefit building professionals by establishing indoor air regulations that account for all indoor contaminant sources to create healthy and sustainable building environments.

Suggested Citation

  • Mehzabeen Mannan & Sami G. Al-Ghamdi, 2021. "Indoor Air Quality in Buildings: A Comprehensive Review on the Factors Influencing Air Pollution in Residential and Commercial Structure," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 18(6), pages 1-25, March.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jijerp:v:18:y:2021:i:6:p:3276-:d:521880
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Gall, E.T. & Carter, E.M. & Earnest, C.M. & Stephens, B., 2013. "Indoor air pollution in developing countries: Research and implementation needs for improvements in global public health," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 103(4), pages 67-72.
    2. 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.
    3. Jaakkola, J.J.K. & Verkasalo, P.K. & Jaakkola, N., 2000. "Plastic wall materials in the home and respiratory health in young children," American Journal of Public Health, American Public Health Association, vol. 90(5), pages 797-799.
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    2. Mei Wu & Guangwei Zhang & Liping Wang & Xiaoping Liu & Zhengwei Wu, 2022. "Influencing Factors on Airflow and Pollutant Dispersion around Buildings under the Combined Effect of Wind and Buoyancy—A Review," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(19), pages 1-19, October.
    3. Ana Ferreira & Nelson Barros, 2022. "COVID-19 and Lockdown: The Potential Impact of Residential Indoor Air Quality on the Health of Teleworkers," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(10), pages 1-23, May.
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    7. Sujeong Heo & Wooram Kim & Youngmin Jo & Adedeji Adebukola Adelodun, 2024. "Fabrication of Bamboo-Based Activated Carbon for Low-Level CO 2 Adsorption toward Sustainable Indoor Air," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(4), pages 1-18, February.
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    9. Fupeng Zhang & Lei Shi & Simian Liu & Jiaqi Shi & Mengfei Cheng, 2022. "Indoor Air Quality in Tujia Dwellings in Hunan, China: Field Tests, Numerical Simulations, and Mitigation Strategies," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(14), pages 1-27, July.
    10. Susanne Jochner-Oette & Johanna Jetschni & Petra Liedl & Annette Menzel, 2022. "Indoor Pollen Concentrations of Mountain Cedar ( Juniperus ashei ) during Rainy Episodes in Austin, Texas," IJERPH, MDPI, vol. 19(3), pages 1-11, January.
    11. Balali, Amirhossein & Yunusa-Kaltungo, Akilu & Edwards, Rodger, 2023. "A systematic review of passive energy consumption optimisation strategy selection for buildings through multiple criteria decision-making techniques," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 171(C).
    12. 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.

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