People can be exposed to polluted air inside their homes, even if outdoor air quality is good, reveals a new study.
Researchers from the University of Birmingham used low-cost sensors and innovative techniques during a two-week analysis to compare particulate matter levels in three households. They found that pollution levels in each home were higher and more variable than outdoor levels.
Significant differences in particle levels were found among the three houses, with one home exceeding the 24-hour PM2.5 limit set by the World Health Organization (WHO) by nine times—highlighting the importance of monitoring indoor air quality.
The study was published in Scientific Reports and is the second research paper from the McCall MacBain Clean Air Fellows, a postgraduate program focused on air pollution issues.
„The study demonstrated the need for indoor air pollution monitoring, as people can have unhealthy air at home even if outdoor air quality is good”, said co-author and clean air fellow Katherine Rathbone.
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Researchers identified five different factors contributing to indoor PM particles—two related to household activities, such as increased movement of residents, and three associated with external factors, such as ventilation from a nearby restaurant’s kitchen. They found that larger particles (PM10) tended to settle more quickly compared to smaller particles (PM1, PM2.5).
The University of Birmingham is at the forefront of research on the causes and effects of air pollution on human health in the UK and globally. The university has more than 100 researchers studying clean air across its five faculties.
Harmful Scented Candles
Introducing air fresheners, wax melts, floor cleaners, deodorants, and similar chemicals causes indoor air to quickly fill with nanoparticles small enough to penetrate deep into the lungs, as revealed by multiple studies. Wax and other scented products release terpenes, chemical compounds responsible for fragrance. Since these products contain a higher concentration of fragrance oils than many candles, they emit more terpenes into indoor air.
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