Indoor air poses greater health risks, say experts

Leading experts and environmental organizations throughout the world echo the grave concerns of toxic air quality in households and its toll on health of people. Indoor air pollution is one of the most serious environmental threats to health, mainly to elderly, children and people staying indoors.

National Research Council (NRC) reports that since people spend more time indoors, they are exposed to toxins generated within the indoor environments, as well as those from the outdoor, thereby they become vulnerable to serious respiratory health problems like rhinitis, asthma, decreased resistance to respiratory infections, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD).

The World Health Organization (WHO) report shows that indoor air pollution accounts for nearly 3 per cent of global burden of disease. Around 4.3 million people, mainly women and children, die prematurely each year due to exposure to household air pollution.

The international Agency for Research on Cancer and the World Health Organization have found that environmental factors rather than genetic factors account for 80 per cent of all cancers including exposure to carcinogenic chemical, many of which are seen in household cleaning. Dr VV Ramana Prasad,Consultant Pulmonologist, KIMS Hyderabad.

Says “ Burning of incense sticks and dhoop could increase the concentration of particulate matter (PM) by about 15 times more than the permitted levels. Studies indicate that the smoke emitted by these, releases harmful pollutants. Along with this, smoke from the tobacco and cooking and dust from carpets, furniture and curtains etc further add to the indoor air pollution, which is extremely harmful for the lungs. .”

A recent survey done by Artemis Hospital supported by Blueair brought the less talked issue to fore and revealed that nearly 34 per cent staying indoors have shown one or the other air way diseases and 47 per cent people found to have with symptoms suggesting respiratory disease”
Since people stay indoors more often, researchers are investigating the exposure to indoor pollutants as contributing factor in rising incidence of allergies and toxin load.

Another study published in Pneumologia i Alergologia Polska in 2015 revealed that industry plays an important role in increasing the concentration of indoor suspended particulate matter and occurrence of asthma in children in developing countries like India.

The survey held by Artemis Hospital supported by Blueair also found the substantial correlation between indoor air quality and lung health of the people. Survey found that places having unhealthy air quality had 36 per cent people with symptoms suggesting respiratory diseases, while on the other hand, about 61 per cent people found to have one or the other symptoms in places where the air quality was very unhealthy or hazardous.

“Indoor air pollution is one such health hazard which silently entering our body and incapacitating us from inside. It’s quality is equally or more dangerous than outdoor air pollution. Since we spend more time indoors, naturally the risk associated with indoor air is more” said Dr VV Ramana Prasad .

More surveys like CLAIM Indoor Air Quality Survey supported by Blueair and more regional and national level studies should be conducted in order to draw much needed attention to the danger of indoor air pollution and create awareness in all quarters.