title: Indoor air pollution.
abstract: This article summarizes the health effects of indoor air pollutants and the modalities available to control them. The pollutants discussed include active and passive exposure to tobacco smoke; combustion products of carbon monoxide; nitrogen dioxide; products of biofuels, including wood and coal; biologic agents leading to immune responses, such as house dust mites, cockroaches, fungi, animal dander, and urine; biologic agents associated with infection such as Legionella and tuberculosis; formaldehyde; and volatile organic compounds. An approach to assessing building-related illness and "tight building" syndrome is presented. Finally, the article reviews recent data on hospital-related asthma and exposures to potential respiratory hazards such as antineoplastic agents, anesthetic gases, and ethylene oxide.
authors.affiliation: Channing Laboratory, Brigham and Women's Hospital, Boston, Massachusetts.
authors.forename: D R
authors.initials: DR
authors.lastname: Gold
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis* / Q000517:prevention & control; D000485:Allergens / Q000032:analysis; D000542:Alveolitis, Extrinsic Allergic / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D001249:Asthma / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis; D002248:Carbon Monoxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D005557:Formaldehyde / Q000009:adverse effects; D006761:Hospitals; D006801:Humans; D007877:Legionnaires' Disease / Q000209:etiology / Q000517:prevention & control / Q000635:transmission; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis; D009784:Occupational Diseases / Q000139:chemically induced / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000517:prevention & control; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D000485:Allergens; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution; D005557:Formaldehyde; D002248:Carbon Monoxide; D009585:Nitrogen Dioxide