Although it may come as a surprise, the air on a city street with moderate traffic can be cleaner than the air in our office or home. This is confirmed by the results of conducted air purity tests, which indicate that the concentration of harmful air pollutants may be higher in the rooms than outside the building, despite the use of mechanical ventilation systems.
In the past, topics related to indoor air pollution received far less attention than problems with outdoor air cleanliness, in particular pollution caused by industrial emissions and emissions generated by broadly understood transport. However, the risks associated with exposure to indoor air pollution have become more noticeable.
Just look at the freshly painted house, where new furniture has been installed … or the workplace where rises the smell of chemical cleaning agent … The air quality in our immediate surroundings or in public space varies significantly, depending on the material, from which was made, its equipment, as well as the means that were used for cleaning.
Indoor air quality is affected by many other elements, including cooking, using ovens, lighting candles, using furniture, maintenance products, e.g. waxes and glossing agents, other surface cleaning products, building materials, e.g. plywood containing formaldehyde, and many materials that contain flame retardants.
The purpose of the rooms, the way they are used and the room ventilation system also has an impact on pollution.
Poor indoor air quality can be very harmful to vulnerable groups such as children, the elderly and people with cardiovascular or chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma.
The most important indoor air pollutants include radon (radioactive gas formed in soil), tobacco smoke, gases and particles formed as a product of fuel combustion, chemicals and allergens. Compounds such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide, particles and volatile organic compounds are found both indoors and outdoors.