Abstract
This article summarizes the health effects of indoor air pollutants and the modalities available to control them. The pollutants discussed include active and passive exposure to tobacco smoke; combustion products of carbon monoxide; nitrogen dioxide; products of biofuels, including wood and coal; biologic agents leading to immune responses, such as house dust mites, cockroaches, fungi, animal dander, and urine; biologic agents associated with infection such as Legionella and tuberculosis; formaldehyde; and volatile organic compounds. An approach to assessing building-related illness and "tight building" syndrome is presented. Finally, the article reviews recent data on hospital-related asthma and exposures to potential respiratory hazards such as antineoplastic agents, anesthetic gases, and ethylene oxide.
MeSH terms
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Air Pollutants / adverse effects
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Air Pollutants / analysis
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Air Pollution, Indoor / adverse effects*
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Air Pollution, Indoor / analysis*
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Air Pollution, Indoor / prevention & control
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Allergens / analysis
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Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / chemically induced
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Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / diagnosis
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Asthma / chemically induced
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Asthma / diagnosis
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Carbon Monoxide / adverse effects
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Carbon Monoxide / analysis
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Formaldehyde / adverse effects
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Hospitals
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Humans
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Legionnaires' Disease / etiology
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Legionnaires' Disease / prevention & control
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Legionnaires' Disease / transmission
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Nitrogen Dioxide / adverse effects
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Nitrogen Dioxide / analysis
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Occupational Diseases / chemically induced
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Occupational Diseases / diagnosis
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Occupational Diseases / prevention & control
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Tobacco Smoke Pollution / adverse effects
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Tobacco Smoke Pollution / analysis
Substances
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Air Pollutants
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Allergens
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Tobacco Smoke Pollution
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Formaldehyde
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Carbon Monoxide
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Nitrogen Dioxide