In recent decades, there has been extensive focus on the health consequences resulting from exposure to airborne pollutants. Extensive research has been conducted to examine the impact of ambient or outdoor air pollutants on mortality and hospital admissions related to respiratory and cardiovascular diseases. Nevertheless, certain studies have failed to establish a significant correlation between mortality rates for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases and ambient pollutants. Most people dedicate majority of their time within enclosed spaces, preventing exposure to ambient air pollutants. And thus, it is pertinent to look at the impacts of indoor air pollution and how unknowingly we are affecting ourselves and our families.
Effects of indoor air pollution
The indoor air quality (IAQ) can have a significant impact on human health, making it a crucial factor in our daily lives. The well-documented sick building syndromes (SBS) are a clear indication that the IAQ plays a vital role in human well-being, not just in occupational settings.
Extensive research has been conducted on the SBS, which have been linked to insufficient ventilation, chemical pollutants from both indoor and outdoor sources, as well as biological contaminants.
Despite thorough investigations, it can still be challenging to pinpoint the exact causes of complaints related to the IAQ. The consumption of cigarettes on a daily basis is also an important indoor air pollutant source.
The majority of studies on indoor air pollution have been carried out in North America and Northern Europe. Consequently, the focus of these investigations has primarily been on indoor air pollutants emitted from natural gas combustion, building materials and cigarette smoke, as well as insufficient ventilation and maintenance.
It is important to highlight that a notable increase in lung cancer cases among Chinese women was noted in the 1980s. The main contributing factor to lung cancer is smoking, which raises the risk for smokers by around 2.2 times.
Incense sticks and indoor air pollution
Incense or agarbattis have been utilised for centuries to create a pleasing aroma or to conceal unpleasant smells. Moreover, burning incense sticks is a prevalent practice in various religious rituals and acts of worship.
It is believed by many that incense sticks holds spiritual, cleansing, therapeutic, aphrodisiac or mood-boosting qualities. Presently, incense sticks are commonly lit at homes as well as in certain public establishments such as shops and temples.
Incense sticks are crafted from a variety of ingredients such as resins, aromatic wood, barks and herbs. The primary chemical composition of incense consists of carbon (54.6%), hydrogen (4.1%), nitrogen (0.7%), and oxygen (30.3%). Additionally, certain metallic elements have been detected in its raw materials, including Ca (calcium), K (potassium), Ba (barium), Fe (iron), Mn (manganese), Sr (strontium), Sn (tin), Zn (zinc), Rb (rubidium), Al (aluminum), Ti (titanium), Cu (copper), Y (Yttrium), Ni (nickel), Cd (cadmium) and Pb (lead).
Consequently, the compounds released during the burning of incense are anticipated to be highly intricate and potentially detrimental to human health.
Candles and indoor air pollution
Candles are commonly used alongside incense sticks in various cultures for daily worship. As a result, candle burning has become a significant source of indoor air pollution and has garnered increasing attention.
Typically, candles are made from paraffin or beeswax, both of which contain heavy straight-chain hydrocarbons. When lit, candles release gaseous pollutants such as CO (carbon monoxide), NO (nitric oxide), NO2 (nitrogen dioxide), NOx (nitrogen oxide), CH4 (methane) and NMHC (Non-methane hydrocarbon).
However, the changes in the concentration of these pollutants in the testing environment were too minimal to accurately determine their emission rates. The highest concentration observed was NO2 (45.7 ppb), which closely approached the ambient annual average standard.
Room fresheners, cleaning agents and their ill effects
The utilization of cleaning agents and air or room fresheners can lead to the exposure of volatile components present in these products, as well as potential exposure to secondary pollutants formed due to the reaction between these compounds and oxidative substances. The release of cleaning agents and air fresheners differs depending on the constituents present in these products.
Mosquito coils and contribution to indoor pollution
Mosquito coils are widely used in subtropical and tropical areas as an effective mosquito repellent. These coils contain pyrethrin, which is the main active ingredient. When the coils burn, pyrethrin is released into the air along with smoke from the incomplete combustion. While there is no confirmed evidence of pyrethrins being carcinogenic or mutagenic, prolonged exposure to the smoke from mosquito coils can lead to respiratory issues in children such as asthma, persistent wheezing, and chronic sputum production.
Additionally, the burning of mosquito coils indoors can significantly increase the levels of air pollutants. The emission rates of carbon monoxide (CO), nitrogen oxide (NO), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), methane (CH4), and non-methane hydrocarbons (NMHC) are 183.3, 0.54, 0.04, 6.44, and 7.64 mg per hour, respectively.
The previously mentioned sources of indoor air pollution, such as incense sticks, candles, mosquito coils and air fresheners are considered unusual. More so, since these practices have been a part of human society for a long time, but only recently have they started to receive more attention.
Despite epidemiological and toxicological studies conducted several decades ago that highlighted their potential health risks, it is only now that people are becoming more aware of them. The complexity and difficulty in characterizing the emissions from these sources contribute to this phenomenon.
Nowadays, it has been proven that these sources release many harmful pollutants, along with their emission rates. However, applying these findings to accurately simulate or describe real-world scenarios is challenging. Therefore, further studies, particularly field measurements, are necessary to safeguard public health.
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