What is IAQ – Common Indoor Air Pollutants

Common Indoor Air Pollutants

Icon of Carbon dioxide

Carbon dioxide

Read More

Sources

  • Breathing
  • Tobacco smoke
  • Combustion sources

Potential Health Effects

  • Cause sleepiness and even headaches; dizziness and nausea at high levels.

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Ensure sufficient ventilation and fresh air supply
Icon of Carbon monoxide

Carbon monoxide

Read More

Sources

  • Combustion sources, e.g. cooking stoves with open flame
  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Tobacco smoke

Potential Health Effects

  • Cause headaches, nausea, fatigue, rapid breathing, chest pain; even be fatal at high levels

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Avoid combustion in indoor environments
  • Provide local exhaust when cooking
  • Switch off engines when idling
  • Maintain sufficient ventilation
Icon of Respirable suspended particulates

Respirable suspended
particulates

Read More

Sources

  • Combustion sources, e.g. cooking stoves with open flame
  • Office equipment, e.g. photocopiers and laser printers
  • Tobacco smoke

Potential Health Effects

  • Cause irritation to the eyes, skin and respiratory system; sometimes trigger allergic reactions

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Clean and vacuum frequently
  • Avoid combustion in indoor environments
  • Provide local exhaust for polluting sources
  • Maintain sufficient ventilation
  • Use portable air purifiers
Icon of Nitrogen dioxide

Nitrogen dioxide

Read More

Sources

  • Vehicle exhaust
  • Combustion sources, e.g. cooking stoves with open flame
  • Tobacco smoke

Potential Health Effects

  • Cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory system

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Avoid combustion in indoor environments
  • Provide local exhaust when cooking
  • Switch off engines when idling
  • Maintain sufficient ventilation
Icon of Ozone

Ozone

Read More

Sources

  • Office equipment, e.g. photocopiers, laser printers and fax machines
  • Air purifiers with high-voltage discharge components

Potential Health Effects

  • Cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory system;  impair the lungs at high levels

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Isolate any ozone-emitting equipment with a local exhaust system
Icon of Formaldehyde

Formaldehyde

Read More

Sources

  • Composite wood products, e.g. furniture
  • Paints and adhesives
  • Building materials such as urea-formaldehyde foam insulation
  • Tobacco smoke
  • Incense burning

Potential Health Effects

  • Cause irritation to the eyes and respiratory system; impair the lungs at high levels

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Select wooden furniture with low-formaldehyde emission
  • Use paints and adhesives with low emission
  • Air out new furniture
  • Maintain sufficient ventilation
  • Avoid incense burning indoors
Icon of Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile Organic
Compounds (VOCs)

Read More

Sources

  • New furniture
  • Renovation materials, e.g. paints and solvents
  • Consumer and aerosol products, e.g. cleaning agents, disinfectants, pesticides, cosmetics and fragrance products
  • Dry-cleaned clothes
  • Tobacco smoke

Potential Health Effects

  • Cause irritation to the eyes, nose and throat
  • Cause headaches, dizziness, and visual disorders
  • Some VOCs are carcinogens

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Use no- or low-emission furniture and renovation materials
  • Reduce use of VOC-containing consumer products and aerosol products
  • Air out new furniture
  • Maintain sufficient ventilation
  • Avoid smoking indoors
Icon of Radon

Radon

Read More

Sources

  • Concrete building materials containing granite

Potential Health Effects

  • Increases the risk of lung cancer

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Use sealant or wallpaper to cover up concrete materials
  • Maintain sufficient ventilation
Icon of Biological contaminants

Biological contaminants

Read More

Sources

  • Dirty filters and ducting in air-conditioners and ventilation systems
  • Growth is accelerated by inadequate ventilation and damp and dusty environments

Potential Health Effects

  • Cause sneezing, watery eyes, coughing, shortness of breath, dizziness, lethargy, fever, and digestive problems; trigger allergic or asthmatic reactions

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Clean ventilation system and replace filters regularly
  • Keep premises clean and dry (relative humidity <70%)
  • Maintain good hygiene and ventilation
  • Vacuum regularly
Icon of Mould

Mould

Read More

Sources

  • Grow rapidly on organic matters under wet and warm conditions

Potential Health Effects

  • Trigger allergic reactions, e.g. headaches, sneezing, runny nose, red eyes and skin rashes

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Keep premises clean and dry (relative humidity <70%)
  • Fix water leakage/seepage problems
  • Clean up mould patches promptly
  • Clean ventilation system and replace filters regularly
  • Vacuum regularly
Icon of Environmental tobacco smoke

Environmental
tobacco smoke

Read More

Sources

  • Smoking

Potential Health Effects

  • Cause respiratory irritation and adverse effects on the cardiovascular system
  • Increase the risk of lung cancer

Measures to Improve IAQ

  • Avoid smoking indoors





Back