The Indoor Air We Breathe: A Public Health Problem of the '90s

INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED as a potential public health problem since the outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in Philadelphia in 1976, polluted indoor air has been associated with health problems that include asthma, sick building syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and hypersensitivity pneumon...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Public health reports (1974) 1998-10, Vol.113 (5), p.398-409
Main Authors: Oliver, L C, Shackleto, B W
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Asthma
Buildings
Environment
Environmental aspects
Environmental health
Health conditions
Heating ventilation and cooling
Indoor air pollution
Indoor air quality
Lung diseases
Multiple chemical sensitivity
Office buildings
Public health
Residential buildings
sick building syndrome
Symptoms
United States
Wood buildings
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Summary:INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED as a potential public health problem since the outbreak of Legionnaire's disease in Philadelphia in 1976, polluted indoor air has been associated with health problems that include asthma, sick building syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Symptoms are often nonspecific and include headache, eye and throat irritation, chest tightness and shortness of breath, and fatigue. Airborne contaminants include commonly used chemicals, vehicular exhaust, microbial organisms, fibrous glass particles, and dust. Identified causes include defective building design and construction, aging of buildings and their ventilation systems, poor climate control, inattention to building maintenance. A major contributory factor is the explosion in the use of chemicals in building construction and furnishing materials over the past four decades. Organizational issues and psychological variables often contribute to the problem and hinder its resolution. This article describes the health problems related to poor indoor air quality and offers solutions.
ISSN:0033-3549
1468-2877