Air quality beyond AQI: The case for measuring indoor pollutants, Pg14.

Key Highlights:

• Researchers at BITS Pilani Hyderabad have developed India's first customised Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) scale to measure indoor pollutants.
• The IAQ scale aims to provide a simple metric, similar to the outdoor Air Quality Index (AQI), for assessing indoor air health risks in homes.
• The study identified pollutants like PM2.5, PM10, carbon monoxide, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), with benzene being the most dangerous.
• The scale assigns weights to pollution concentration (59.5%), exposure time (25.9%), ventilation efficiency (9.8%), and enclosure size (4.4%).

Detailed Insights:

• Indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than outdoor air due to trapped pollutants from construction and household activities.
• Poor IAQ is linked to sick building syndrome, triggering headaches, fatigue, irritation, asthma, bronchial allergies, COPD, reduced immunity, cardiovascular disease, and cancer.
• The IAQ scale is based on a pan-Indian survey considering age groups, income categories, and geography, refined using a learning model.
• Benzene exposure is associated with adverse health effects and diseases like cancer, stemming from petroleum products like motor fuels and solvents.
• Incomplete burning of incense sticks in poorly ventilated spaces produces carbon monoxide, while decaying organic waste releases methane, a potent greenhouse gas.
• Simple steps to reduce indoor pollution include improving ventilation, using exhaust fans during cooking, reducing incense burning, and segregating organic waste.

Key Concepts Involved:

• PM2.5 and PM10: Fine particulate matter that can be inhaled and cause respiratory problems.
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs): Gases emitted from household products like paints and cleaners.
• Sick Building Syndrome: A condition causing headaches, fatigue, and irritation due to poor indoor air quality.