Indoor Air pollutions

Published on 05 Apr 2025

The term "indoor air pollution" refers to the deterioration of the air quality inside and around buildings. It causes about 3.8 million premature death each year.

Causes of Indoor Air Pollution

• Combustion of fossil fuels: Fossil fuels are burnt for heating, cooking etc. which releases high amount of carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, and particulate matter into indoor air.

• Example: Over 4mn people die every year all over the world due to high levels of indoor air pollution caused by the burning of fossil fuels and biomass, according to statistics from the WHO.

• Tobacco Smoke: Smoking tobacco indoors is a major source of indoor air pollution.

• Example: Tobacco smoke is a source of indoor air pollution that causes more than 41,000 non-smoking adults to die every year in the US, according to the Centres for Disease Control and Prevention.

• Household Products: Cleaning products, paints, solvents, and air fresheners often contain volatile organic compounds (VOCs) that result in indoor air pollution.

• Example: EWG study highlighted increased health risks for those working in the cleaning industry, including a 50% higher risk of developing asthma and a 43% higher risk of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

• Building Materials: Particularly in freshly built or renovated buildings, some carpets, furnishings, and construction materials release formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds (VOCs).

• Example: Four of the top 10 chemicals emitted from furnishings are considered "acute" hazards, or irritants.

• Biological Contaminants: Indoor air quality problems can be caused by mold, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander, particularly in wet or poorly ventilated areas.

Impacts of Indoor Air Pollution

• Impaired Cognitive Function: Poor indoor air quality can impair cognitive function, including concentration and memory, especially in areas with high amounts of specific contaminants. 

• Example: A Harvard study published in 2021 indicates that poor indoor air quality can significantly impair cognitive function, affecting an individual’s ability to think, learn, and work effectively

• Cardiovascular Effects: Long-term exposure to indoor air pollution has been linked to cardiovascular diseases, including heart attacks and strokes.

• Example: According to WHO, among 3.2mn deaths due to household pollution 32% are from ischaemic heart disease.

• Developmental Issues in Children: Indoor air pollution exposure can cause developmental problems in children, such as reduced lung function and cognitive development.

• Example: According to study led by University of Buffalo, Exposure to unclean cooking fuel and passive smoke during pregnancy and in early life are associated with developmental delays in children.

• Respiratory Issues: Respiratory issues like asthma, allergies, and other respiratory diseases can be brought on by exposure to indoor air pollution.

• Example: Household air pollution is a risk for acute lower respiratory infections in adults and contributes to 22% of all adult deaths due to pneumonia.

Government initiatives and policy measures

• Pradhan Mantri Ujjwala Yojana (PMUY): It aims to provide clean cooking fuel to poor households by distributing LPG connections which helps to reduce indoor air pollution.

• National Biogas and Manure Management Programme: It aims at setting up of family type biogas plants for providing biogas as clean cooking fuel and a source of lighting.

• GOBARdhan Scheme: The   objective   of   scientific management of organic/biodegradable waste while also providing resource and monetary benefits to rural households.

• Unnat Chulha Abhiyan: To develop and deploy improved biomass cook-stoves for providing cleaner cooking energy solutions in rural, semi-urban and urban areas using biomass as fuel for cooking.

International initiatives

• World Health Organization (WHO) Guidelines for Indoor Air Quality: Recommendations against the use of unprocessed coal as a household fuel, and against the use of kerosene as a household fuel, in the light of health and safety risks.

• Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves: It is a public-private partnership hosted by the UN Foundation to save lives, improve livelihoods, empower women, and protect the environment.

• Clean Household Energy Solutions Toolkit (CHEST): It provides tools that countries and programmes can use to develop policy action plans for expanding clean household energy access and use.

Way Forward

• Improving Ventilation: Improved ventilation will increase the flow of air between indoor and outdoor spaces, lowering the amount of pollutants present.

• Regular Cleaning: Regularly clean and maintain your home to prevent the accumulation of dust, mold, and other biological contaminants.

• Air Purifiers: Air purifiers equipped with HEPA can theoretically remove at least 99.97% of dust, pollen, molds, bacteria, and any airborne particles with a size of 0.3 microns (µm).

• Policy and Regulations: Limit indoor air pollution by enforcing and implementing rules, particularly in public areas and workplaces.

Tags:
Environment

Keywords:
Air pollution Pollution Indoor

Syllabus:
General Studies Paper 3

Topics:
Environment and Climate Change