Air Pollutants in Domestic Environments in Western Australia
Indoor environment, which refers enclosed microenvironments, is important to human health when addressing risks from air pollution. The study aims to investigate levels of air pollutants and dust allergens in domestic environments in Western Australia (WA). Eighty-nine children were selected randomly from Year one and Pre-primary students in four primary schools. The houses of these 89 children were measured for air pollutants during the winter of 2002. In the following summer, houses of 81 children were measured again for the same pollutants. In domestic environments, smoking at home can significantly increase the levels of particulate matter with a diameter less than or equal to 10 microns (PM10). Parents actively smoking outdoors can reduce the exposure of children to PM10. Gas heaters are still the main source of nitrogen dioxide in winter. Common sources of formaldehyde (HCHO) and volatile organic compounds (VOCs), such as smoking at home, gas heaters and gas stoves could not explain the variations of HCHO and VOCs in domestic environments. Levels of air pollutants were higher during winter when compared with summer and HCHO levels in the childrens bedrooms were higher relative to the living rooms, possibly because of low ventilation in bedrooms. A childs bedroom with new carpets and new furniture had a higher level of HCHO than the NHMRC indoor goal (120μg/m3). In conclusion, there are significant air pollutants in domestic environments in WA.
Guicheng ZHANG Jeffery SPICKETT Andy H LEE Krassi RUMCHEV Stephen STICK
School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U 1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia; School of Public Health, Curtin University of Technology, GPO Box U 1987, Perth, WA 6845, Australia Department of Respiratory Medicine, Princess Margaret Hospital for Children, Roberts Road, Subiaco,
国际会议
2007环境科学与技术国际会议(The 2007 International Symposium on Environmental Science and Technology)
北京
英文
2007-11-13（万方平台首次上网日期，不代表论文的发表时间）