Civil Engineering Reference
In-Depth Information
Table 2 Indoor pollutants covered in the chapter, WHO guideline values and acute and long-term effects on human health (ATSDR
2013a
; IARC
2013
;
WHO
2009
and
2010
)
Indoor pollutant
Guideline value (WHO)
Acute effect
Long-term effect
IARC
group
Asbestos
-
-
Lung cancer, larynx cancer, ovary cancer
mesothelioma, asbestosis
1
Biological
pollutants
-
Sneezing, watery eyes, coughing,
shortness of breath, dizziness,
lethargy, fever, digestive
problems
Allergic reactions, asthma
-
UR
1
of leukaemia per 1 lg/m
3
:69 10
-6
.
ELR
2
: 17, 1.7 and 0.17 lg/m
3
(1/10.000,
1/100.000 and 1/1.000.000 respectively)
Benzene
Mildly irritation of the skin, eyes
and respiratory tract.
Depression of the central
nervous system and
arrhythmias
Anaemia, alterations to the immune
system, myeloid leukaemia,
genotoxicity
1
100 mg/m
3
(15 min), 35 mg/m
3
Carbon monoxide
(1 h),
Reduction of exercise tolerance.
Increase in symptoms of
ischaemic heart attack
Cardiovascular diseases
-
10 mg/m
3
(8 h) and 7 mg/m
3
(24 h)
0.01 mg/m
3
Formaldehyde
(30 min)
Irritation of the skin, eyes and
respiratory tract
Nasopharyngeal cancer, leukaemia
1
0.01 mg/m
3
Naphthalene
(annual average)
Respiratory tract lesions leading
to inflammation and
malignancy (animal studies)
No reliable human data for long-term
inhalation toxicity
2B
200 g/m
3
(1 h), 40 g/m
3
Nitrogen dioxide
(annual average)
Inflammation of the airways
Bronchitis in asthmatic children and
reduction of the lung function
-
PM
2.5
:10lg/m
3
(annual average) and
25 lg/m
3
(24 h), PM
10
:20lg/m
3
(annual average) and 50 lg/m
3
Particulate matter
Reduced lung function, chronic
bronchitis
Development of respiratory diseases
(asthma, bronchitis and infections),
cardiovascular diseases (heart attacks
and arrhythmias) and lung cancer
-
(24-
hours)
(continued)
