title: The health effects of non-industrial indoor air pollution.
abstract: BACKGROUND
  There is growing public awareness regarding the risk associated with poor indoor air quality in the home and workplace. Because Americans spend approximately 22 hours every day indoors, susceptible individuals are at much greater risk of adverse health effects from chronic low levels of exposure to indoor air pollutants over time. Along with particulate matter, gases such as ozone, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, and sulfur dioxide; microbial and chemical volatile organic compounds; passive smoke; and outdoor ambient air are the most common types of air pollutants encountered indoors.
  
  
  OBJECTIVE
  To provide the allergists with necessary information that will assist them in making useful recommendations to patients seeking advice regarding indoor environmental triggers beyond traditional perennial allergens.
  
  
  METHODS
  Review of the literature pertaining to indoor exposure and health effects of gaseous and particular matter.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Indoor pollutants act as respiratory irritants, toxicants, and adjuvants or carriers of allergens.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The allergist should be prepared to evaluate patient exposure to allergic and nonallergic triggers and understand how outdoor air pollution is affecting indoor environments. This requires being familiar with methodologies for monitoring and interpreting indoor air quality and interpreting results in the context of the patients exposure history and advising patients about rational environmental control interventions.
authors.affiliation: Department of Internal Medicine, Allergy Section, Division of Immunology, University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati, OH 45267-0563, USA. Jonathan.Bernstein@uc.edu
authors.forename: Jonathan A
authors.initials: JA
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Neil
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Alexis
authors.forename: Hyacinth
authors.initials: H
authors.lastname: Bacchus
authors.forename: I Leonard
authors.initials: IL
authors.lastname: Bernstein
authors.forename: Pat
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Fritz
authors.forename: Elliot
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Horner
authors.forename: Ning
authors.initials: N
authors.lastname: Li
authors.forename: Stephany
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Mason
authors.forename: Andre
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Nel
authors.forename: John
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Oullette
authors.forename: Kari
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Reijula
authors.forename: Tina
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Reponen
authors.forename: James
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Seltzer
authors.forename: Alisa
authors.initials: A
authors.lastname: Smith
authors.forename: Susan M
authors.initials: SM
authors.lastname: Tarlo
mesh_terms: D000393:Air Pollutants / Q000009:adverse effects* / Q000032:analysis*; D016902:Air Pollution, Indoor / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004781:Environmental Exposure / Q000009:adverse effects*; D004784:Environmental Monitoring / Q000379:methods; D006801:Humans; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution / Q000009:adverse effects / Q000032:analysis
chemical_list: D000393:Air Pollutants; D014028:Tobacco Smoke Pollution