Cited by 561Indoor Air Quality and Microbial ExposureAir Quality and Health ImpactsEnergy and Environment Impacts

Indoor Exposure to Selected Air Pollutants in the Home Environment: A Systematic Review

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Vardoulakis, Sotiris, Giagloglou, Evanthia, Steinle, Susanne, Davis, Alice, Sleeuwenhoek, Anne, Galea, Karen S., Dixon, Ken, Crawford, Joanne O.·2020·International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health

Abstract

(1) Background: There is increasing awareness that the quality of the indoor environment affects our health and well-being. Indoor air quality (IAQ) in particular has an impact on multiple health outcomes, including respiratory and cardiovascular illness, allergic symptoms, cancers, and premature mortality. (2) Methods: We carried out a global systematic literature review on indoor exposure to selected air pollutants associated with adverse health effects, and related household characteristics, seasonal influences and occupancy patterns. We screened records from six bibliographic databases: ABI/INFORM, Environment Abstracts, Pollution Abstracts, PubMed, ProQuest Biological and Health Professional, and Scopus. (3) Results: Information on indoor exposure levels and determinants, emission sources, and associated health effects was extracted from 141 studies from 29 countries. The most-studied pollutants were particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10); nitrogen dioxide (NO2); volatile organic compounds (VOCs) including benzene, toluene, xylenes and formaldehyde; and polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAHs) including naphthalene. Identified indoor PM2.5 sources include smoking, cooking, heating, use of incense, candles, and insecticides, while cleaning, housework, presence of pets and movement of people were the main sources of coarse particles. Outdoor air is a major PM2.5 source in rooms with natural ventilation in roadside households. Major sources of NO2 indoors are unvented gas heaters and cookers. Predictors of indoor NO2 are ventilation, season, and outdoor NO2 levels. VOCs are emitted from a wide range of indoor and outdoor sources, including smoking, solvent use, renovations, and household products. Formaldehyde levels are higher in newer houses and in the presence of new furniture, while PAH levels are higher in smoking households. High indoor particulate matter, NO2 and VOC levels were typically associated with respiratory symptoms, particularly asthma symptoms in children. (4) Conclusions: Household characteristics and occupant activities play a large role in indoor exposure, particularly cigarette smoking for PM2.5, gas appliances for NO2, and household products for VOCs and PAHs. Home location near high-traffic-density roads, redecoration, and small house size contribute to high indoor air pollution. In most studies, air exchange rates are negatively associated with indoor air pollution. These findings can inform interventions aiming to improve IAQ in residential properties in a variety of settings.

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Crossref · 10.3390/ijerph17238972

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  • Improving indoor air quality through household ventilation would result in a reduction in multiple adverse health outcomes, including respiratory illness, allergic symptoms, cancers, and premature mortality.

    “Improving indoor air quality through household ventilation would result in a reduction in multiple adverse health outcomes, including respiratory illness (33), allergic symptoms, cancers, and premature mortality (168).”

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  1. [169]Vardoulakis S. Crawford J. Davis A. Steinle S. Sleeuwenhoek A. Galea K. Dixon K. Indoor Exposure to Selected Air Pollutants and Associated Health Effects–a Global Review IOM Technical Report Institute of Occupational Medicine Edinburgh, UK 2019

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Authors
Vardoulakis, S., Giagloglou, E., Steinle, S., Davis, A., Sleeuwenhoek, A., Galea, K. S., Dixon, K., & Crawford, J. O.
Affiliations
  • Australian National University (AU)
  • Institute of Occupational Medicine (GB)
  • Victoria University of Wellington (NZ)
Corresponding author
Vardoulakis, Sotiris
Venue
International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health
Publisher
MDPI AG
Published
2020-12-02
Volume
17
Issue
23
Pages
8972
ISSN
1660-4601 (ISSN-L)
OpenAlex
W3109809477
Cited by
545
References
164
Citations by year
2026: 96 · 2025: 121 · 2024: 120 · 2023: 99 · 2022: 76 · 2021: 32
FWCI
4.48
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
Locations
  • International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed Central (publishedVersion, cc-by)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • Strathprints: The University of Strathclyde institutional repository (University of Strathclyde) (acceptedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
  • DOAJ (DOAJ: Directory of Open Access Journals) (submittedVersion)
Funders
Dyson Technology Ltd. (N/A)
Topics
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Indoor Air Quality and Microbial Exposure
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Health, Toxicology and Mutagenesis › Air Quality and Health Impacts
  • Physical Sciences › Environmental Science › Pollution › Energy and Environment Impacts
Keywords
indoor air quality, indoor air pollution, particulate matter, nitrogen dioxide, volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, cigarette smoking, ventilation, air exchange rate, seasonal variation, respiratory health, asthma, children, housing renovation, traffic exposure, gas heaters
MeSH terms
Air Pollutants, Child, Humans, Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, Air Pollution, Indoor, Particulate Matter, Volatile Organic Compounds

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