Indoor pollution from heating

The concentrations of indoor pollutants generated from types of heaters were measured in a model room of 20m2 in area and 45m3 in capacity. We used six different heaters: three kerosene heaters of different types, town and propane gas heaters, and an electric heater. Three ventilation conditions were introduced into each experiment: non-ventilation, fan-on ventilation with closed door and fan-off ventilation with half-opened door. The results obtained by heating under non-ventilation condition were as follows: The concentrations of NO2 and CO2 were comparatively high and the values obtained from all the heaters except the electric heater exceeded the 1-hr Environmental Quality Standards, Japan (EQS NO2: 0.04-0.06 ppm) and the Building Sanitation Management Standards, Japan (BSMS CO2: 1,000 ppm), respectively. The CO concentration emitted from reflection kerosene and town gas heaters slightly exceeded the BSMS (10 ppm). The concentrations of suspended particulate matter and polynuclear aromatic hydrocarbons showed an increasing tendency during the use of kerosene-fueled heaters. Under two ventilating conditions, NOx concentration decreased to less than a third in comparison with non-ventilating condition.