INDOOR AIR POLLUTION AS PART OF OVERALL

AIR POLLUTION IN ASIAN CITIES

Lidia Morawska

Queensland University of Technology

Links between humans, buildings and environment

ENVIRONMENT

BUILDING

HUMAN

This presentation

Will explore: Indoor generated pollution in Asia (and

worldwide) The effect of outdoor pollution on

indoor exposures The impact of indoor emissions on

outdoor pollution

Airborne pollutants

Particles

Inorganic gases (CO, CO2, NOx, SO2)

Volatile and semi-volatile organic compounds (VOC)

Inorganic trace elements (Pb, V, Br, etc)

Biological agents

Ozone

Radon (Rn)

INDOOR GENERATED POLLUTION IN ASIA

Two ends of the spectrum

Indoor generated pollution in Asia

Highest indoor concentration levels of particles resulting from open fire burning and cooking:

China 3000 g m-3

India 6800 g m-3

Nepal 8200 g m-3

Guidelines for Air Quality. WHO, 2000

Comparison with outdoor standards or objectives

TSP

g/m3

PM10

g/m3

PM2.5

g/m3

Annual 24 h Annual 24 h Annual 24 h

US 50 150 15 65Australia 50 8 25Hong Kong 80 260 55 180

Indoor generated pollution in Asia and worldwide

Indoor source number 1: SMOKING

Emissions of particulate matter from one cigarette:Up to 3 mg/minUp to 22 mg/cigarette

    

Indoor generated pollution in Asia and worldwide

Indoor source number 2: COOKING 

Emissions from cooking:Of the order of 4 mg/min

Indoor generated pollution in Asia and worldwide

0

0.5

1

1.5

2

2.5

3

3.5

4

4.5

Roja

s-B

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Abt, S

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Koutr

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Monn e

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Monn, et al.,

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Monn, et al.,

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Lee, G

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Roja

s-B

racho e

t al.,

2000

Monn, et al.,

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Lee, G

uo, Li,

& C

han,

2002

Roord

a-K

nape e

t al.,

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Reference

PM

10

In

do

or/

Ou

tdo

or

Ra

tio

PM10 Indoor/Outdoor Ratio

Indoor generated pollution in Asia

 Progress in improving indoor air quality: dissemination of knowledge 

     

New book appearing now:

Title: Residential Decoration: Beware of killers of Human Health

Publisher: China Building and Architecture Press

Author: Guoqiang Zhang & Likui Yu

OUTDOOR POLLUTION: ITS IMPACT ON INDOOR AIR

Outdoor pollution and its impact on indoor air

In urban air

Motor vehicle emissions constitute the most significant source of

pollutants

Over 4000 pollutants emitted by vehicles!

Outdoor pollution and its impact on indoor air

0

0.2

0.4

0.6

0.8

1

1.2

Lillquis

t et al.,

1998

Lillquis

t et al.,

1998

Li 1

994

Lee, G

uo, Li,

& C

han,

2002

Li a

nd H

su, 1993

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t al.,

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i 1994

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t al.,

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Li 1

994

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t et al.,

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999

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uo, Li,

& C

han,

2002

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t. a

l., 1

994

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t al.,

1995

Lee, G

uo, Li,

& C

han,

2002

Reference

PM

10

In

do

or/

Ou

tdo

or

Ra

tio

PM10 I/O Ratio

No indoor sources

INDOOR EMISSIONS: IMPACT ON OUTDOOR AIR

Contribution to pollution

in the urban air shed

Micro scale pollution

Greenhouse emissions related to building sector - CO2 - some facts

• 25-30% of total energy-related emissions• 10-12% of the increase in net radiative forcing, which is inducing global warming

• between 1980 and 1990, emissions from buildings have grown by 1.7% per year with rates 4 times greater in developing countries

• building emissions predicted to grow by 2.6% a year to the year 2020

Urban dust dome and heat island

(Botkin and Keller 1997)

WHERE TO FROM HERE?

Education and information

Efficiently using the available knowledge

Based on the above, developing approaches most suited to local and regional needs

Asia faces old and new challenges

…some solutions available, some needed.

… its quality is central to human health.

Indoor environment is a part of a system

SUMMARY