Indoor Air Pollution: Diagnosing the Causatives and Effects
Indoor air pollution is the presence of physical, chemical and biological contaminants in the indoor air that are never present in the quality and environmental friendly atmosphere. These contaminants can be particulates, gases, moulds or radon which is the main causes of the pollution. The human immune system protects the entire body against the negative effects of these contaminants. The contaminants impair the immune system after prolonged exposure. A survey published on the metropolitan area of Toronto revealed that almost 2 percents of the annual deaths were caused by indoor air pollution (Tom, 1996). In this essay, we have focused on the causatives and effects, both long term and short term, of indoor air pollution on the immune system.
The indoor air is usually laden with various kinds of pollutants. These could include fungi, fumes and moulds; gases produced by the reaction of soap and detergents and perfumes. Pollutants can be caused by paints, building constructions and furnishings used in the home. It is observed that elevated levels of radon inside the building are associated with health effects. The dangers of these pollutants are immense and range from acute ill health conditions to death (Kim et al., 2013; United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012).
According to Wolkoff (2013), in 2004, almost 2 million deaths were recorded which were caused solely by air pollution. As a result of this, indoor air pollution was rated as the second most dangerous environmental factor just like sanitation and water. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has also revealed that the indoor air is about 3 to 4 times more polluted than the outdoor air (WHO, 2014). About 2.7% epidemics in the world are caused by indoor air pollution. VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) are often emitted from sprays that we use frequently in homes. The immunity of the body is decreased by the pollutants. Resultantly, the pulmonary system is greatly affected. VOCs find their way to the lungs and cause colossal health damages such as bronchitis, asthma and other lungs diseases (Wolkoff, 2013).
Different researches conducted revealed the relationship between the inflammation and mortality of the respiratory and cardiovascular system in the context of immunity system. The immune system of house dust asthmatics can be greatly affected when exposed to house dust with DEHP. Moreover, on low DEHP level, a noticeable increase in eosinophils has been observed on the asthmatics. For higher concentration of DEHP, lower concentrations of IL-6 and G-CSF were observed. The study, therefore, proved that the immune system of house dust asthmatics is affected by short term exposure to house dust with DEHP (Wolkoff, 2013).
Jones, (1999) found that exposure to ETS usually results to the irritation of the throat, eye and nose. His research on moulds and fungi revealed that, in situations involving exposure to spores, allergic reactions might be the most important factor in the development of respiratory symptoms. Many fungi naturally produce toxic compounds known as mycotoxins. Evidences have proved that these toxic compounds pass through the membrane of the respiratory tract and affect the immune system.
Carbon dioxide, an inert asphyxiant gas, has been witnessed to exhibit bio-regulatory properties by altering neutrophil activity and behavior. With the activation of neutrophil, the level of several cytokines increases and it results to the migration of leukocytes. With constant migration of leukocytes such as lymphocytes, the appearance of macrophages may be stimulated which affects the immunity system (Kim et al., 2013).
Although buildings contribute in transmitting diseases, but in most cases, they only provide a breeding environment for the diseases. Most bacterial and viral infections disseminated in a building are only transferred from one person to another. The human hosts are solely responsible for the spread of the diseases in these buildings. Toxic materials can find the entrance into the building through flooring, paint, varnishes, plywood, carpeting, insulation and many other house/building products. These substances are released into the air, and they can continue to affect us for years. The process of releasing these toxic matters into the air is known as off gassing. After some activities like paint stripping, the quality of indoor air tends to decline greatly as the number of pollutants in it may increase to 1000 times as compared to the standard outdoor level (Kim et al., 2013; United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2012).
The problem can be solved to some extent by preventing the causatives of indoor pollution. We can reduce the effects by reducing the usage of smoke producing fuels and by improving the hygienic conditions inside the buildings. Prope's ventilation and eco- friendly devices inside the building can provide incredible results.
Indoor air is primarily polluted by the burning of improper fuels, growth of moulds and fungi inside the homes. The smoke generates various pollutants that cause health issues in humans. Moulds and fungi generate allergic reactions that are the most important factors in the development of respiratory symptoms and disorder of the immune system. Adequate ventilation is, therefore, required to reduce the dangers associated with poor indoor pollution. As a matter of fact, the habit of using clean energy and environment friendly substances should be encouraged.
References
Jones, A.P. (1999). Indoor air quality and health, Atmospheric Environment, 33 4535-4564
Kim, K., Kabir, E. & Jahan S.A. (2013). A review on human health perspective of air pollution with respect to allergies and asthma, Environment International, 59, 41-52.
Tom, S. (May 04,1996). Bad Air is Killing Canadians. The Gazette [Montreal, Que], pp.A.13.
World Health Organization. (2014). Health impacts of indoor air pollution. Retrieved from http://www.who.int/indoorair/health_impacts/en/
Wolkoff, P. (2013). Indoor air pollutants in office environments: Assessment of comfort, health, and performance. International Journal of Hygiene and Environmental Health, 216,371-284.
United States Environmental Protection Agency (October 04, 2012). Indoor Air Quality in Your Home. Retrieved from: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidestory.html#IAQHome
