Indoor air quality and Purification

Syllabus: GS3/Air Pollution

Context

• In most of North India, PM2.5 levels exceed the World Health Organization’s safe limits almost year-round, making indoor air quality management essential.

Indoor Air Pollution

• Indoor air pollution refers to the presence of harmful substances or pollutants in the air inside buildings and homes, which can pose health risks to the people.
• These pollutants can accumulate to harmful levels if proper ventilation or air filtration systems are not in place.

Common Sources of Indoor Air Pollution:

• Household Products: Cleaning agents, paints, and air fresheners can release chemicals like volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air.
• Tobacco Smoke: Cigarette smoke is a significant indoor air pollutant.
• Cooking: Stoves, particularly gas stoves, release nitrogen dioxide and particulate matter.
• Dust and Pollen: Accumulated dust and outdoor pollen can worsen respiratory conditions and allergies.

Impacts  :

• Indoor air pollution is a big problem in developing countries, where people often burn wood, coal, dung, or other solid fuels indoors for cooking and heating.
  • Burning these materials releases harmful pollutants into the air, including fine particulate matter, carbon monoxide, and various other toxins.
• It leads to noncommunicable diseases including stroke, ischaemic heart disease, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and lung cancer.
• Women and children, typically responsible for household chores such as cooking and collecting firewood, bear the greatest health burden from the use of polluting fuels and technologies in homes.
• Around 4.2 million people die prematurely due to indoor air pollution, according to the World Health Organization.

Measures 

• Improving indoor air quality starts with managing exposure to PM2.5, the primary pollutant of concern which is linked to respiratory diseases, cardiovascular conditions, and neurological disorders.
• The first step is to limit the entry of outdoor pollutants.
  • Keeping windows and doors closed prevents polluted air from seeping inside, while sealing gaps around windows, doors, and vents reduces air leaks.
• Indoor Plants: Indoor plants help purify the air by absorbing contaminants and releasing oxygen.
• Using an air purifier, especially in spaces like bedrooms where significant time is spent, is key to reducing exposure. 
• Limiting the volume of air the purifier needs to clean — by closing doors to other rooms — further enhances efficiency.

Importance of Air Purifiers

• An air purifier is essentially a fan paired with a HEPA (High Efficiency Particulate Air) filter, designed to trap fine particulate matter like PM2.5. 
• Many modern purifiers come with sensors that automatically adjust fan speed based on air quality, improving efficiency.

Limitations of Air Purifiers:

• Effectiveness : Outdoor air purifiers (smog towers) are ineffective due to the vast volume of outdoor air.
  • Indoor purifiers are less effective in homes with poor sealing where outdoor pollutants easily infiltrate.
• Ethical Issues :  Air purifiers are inequitable solutions, benefiting only those who can afford them.
  • These individual measures address symptoms, not root causes, and risk exacerbating existing inequalities.
  • Long-term solutions require improving outdoor air quality, not just individual mitigation efforts.

Conclusion 

• As technology continues to evolve, new and more effective solutions for controlling indoor air pollution are emerging. 
• Additionally, compact and more efficient air quality sensors can now be installed in homes to continuously monitor pollutant levels and provide alerts when air quality deteriorates.
• Nanotechnology is another promising area for future innovation. 

Source: IE