Indoor NO2 pollution and personal exposure to NO2 in two areas with different outdoor NO 2 pollution

Indoor NO2 concentrations were measured in the kitchen, the living room and bedroom of 612 houses in two different areas in the Netherlands. In a group of housewives living in these homes, personal exposure to NO2 was measured. NO2 concentrations indoors were dependent on the presence or absence of (un)vented gas appliances. Personal NO2 exposure was only different between the two areas in the group with the lowest indoor concentrations. In this study, it was determined that gas appliances inside the house are the most important factor with respect to NO2 exposure and that outside NO2 concentration played a secondary role, except in situations where gas appliances were absent.