Exposures in Indoor Air Affecting Health
Maria Hartiala1, Varpu Elenius1, Alicia Aguado Pesquera2
1Department of Pediatrics and Adolescent Medicine, Turku University Hospital and University of Turku, Turku, Finland.
Allergy
|December 4, 2025
Summary
Indoor air quality (IAQ) impacts health through various pollutants. The IDEAL projects investigate these determinants and develop solutions to improve indoor environments, especially for vulnerable populations.
Area of Science:
- Environmental Health
- Public Health
- Toxicology
Background:
- Indoor air quality (IAQ) is affected by diverse agents, impacting physical, immunological, and mental health.
- Health effects are contingent on pollutant type, concentration, exposure duration, and individual susceptibility.
- Limited data and standardized methods exist for IAQ health impact assessment.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review key indoor air determinants affecting human health.
- To present the IDEAL cluster of seven EU-funded projects focused on IAQ and health.
- To synthesize knowledge on IAQ pollutants and health impacts.
Main Methods:
- Review of scientific literature and EU-funded projects (IDEAL cluster).
- Analysis of exposure data for chemical and microbiological indoor air pollutants.
- Evaluation of low-cost sensors, advanced analytical techniques, and intervention strategies.
Main Results:
- Generation of knowledge on a broad spectrum of indoor air pollutants.
- Advancement in low-cost/real-time IAQ monitoring and sophisticated analyses.
- Assessment of interventions aimed at improving IAQ, with a focus on vulnerable groups.
Conclusions:
- Improving IAQ is crucial for public health, particularly in urban settings.
- Increased public awareness and targeted interventions are essential to reduce pollutant exposure.
- The IDEAL projects provide a comprehensive approach to understanding and mitigating IAQ risks.
Related Concept Videos
01:29Asthma-I: Introduction
3.3K
Asthma is a chronic respiratory ailment that requires careful management due to its varying symptoms and influencing factors. It is characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyperresponsiveness, and reversible airflow obstruction, leading to symptoms like wheezing, shortness of breath, chest tightness, and coughing. The symptom frequency and intensity may vary considerably over time. It is also linked to immune system responses to allergens and irritants, highlighting the complex...
3.3K
01:36Types of Toxins
3.1K
Humans continually engage with an environment rich in potentially harmful chemicals. These are introduced to our bodies through inhalation, ingestion, or skin contact. These chemicals exist in various forms, such as air and environmental pollutants, agricultural chemicals, organic solvents, and heavy metals.
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
Air pollutants, primarily gases, pose significant threats to respiratory health, leading to conditions like hypoxia, lung cancer, and in extreme cases, death.
Environmental pollutants like...
3.1K
01:25Transmission-based Precautions II: Airborne and Protective Environment
1.8K
Transmission-based precautions are for patients infected or suspected to be infected (or colonized) with organisms posing a significant risk to others. The transmission precautions include airborne and protective environment precautions.
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
Airborne precautions:
Use airborne precautions when treating patients known or suspected to have diseases that spread through the air—for example, tuberculosis or measles. These organisms are present in smaller droplets expelled by an infected person and...
1.8K
02:59Biological Effects of Radiation
17.6K
All radioactive nuclides emit high-energy particles or electromagnetic waves. When this radiation encounters living cells, it can cause heating, break chemical bonds, or ionize molecules. The most serious biological damage results when these radioactive emissions fragment or ionize molecules. For example, α and β particles emitted from nuclear decay reactions possess much higher energies than ordinary chemical bond energies. When these particles strike and penetrate matter, they...
17.6K
01:19Factors Affecting Pulmonary Ventilation
2.8K
Besides the pressure difference between the external environment and the lungs, the airflow rate and ease of pulmonary ventilation are also influenced by three other factors: surface tension of the fluid in the alveoli, compliance of the lungs, and airway resistance.
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
Alveolar Surface Tension
The alveolar fluid lines the luminal surface of the alveoli and exerts a force called surface tension. This force is caused by the polar water molecules in the liquid being more strongly attracted to each...
2.8K
01:17Other Pulmonary Disorders
1.5K
Respiratory disorders encompass a range of conditions with varying levels of severity. Asthma, marked by chronic airway inflammation and hypersensitivity, is one such condition. It can lead to airway obstruction due to factors like bronchial spasms, mucosal edema, increased mucus secretion, or epithelial damage. Asthma triggers are diverse, ranging from allergens to emotional upset, and treatment focuses on both immediate relief through bronchodilators and long-term inflammation suppression.
1.5K