Indoor air pollution — a silent killer

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Indoor air pollution — a silent killer

* Poor ventilation main cause of indoor pollution

* Women more exposed to danger

* EPD to launch a project against indoor air pollution

Daily Times - Lahore,Pakistan*

By Abdul Manan

http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2008%5C05%5C16%

5Cstory_16-5-2008_pg13_8

LAHORE: Diseases found in about 60 percent of Pakistani women are

caused by poor ventilation, and the Environment Protection

Department (EPD) has yet to launch any project or awareness

programme to combat indoor air pollution.

Environmentalists say that indoor smoke, heating, ventilating, and

air conditioning (HVAC) systems (climate control), mould (fungus),

pesticides, radon gases and stagnant water are the major sources of

indoor air pollution.

" Lack of adequate ventilation in houses gives birth to various

diseases, and people have been experiencing the problem for

centuries, " said Dr Muhammad Nawaz Chaudhry, an environmentalist at

the Punjab University. He said that smoke (from tobacco and fuels)

was the most common and hazardous indoor air pollutant, adding that

cooking and heating with solid fuels resulted in high levels of

indoor air pollution. He said that fungus released toxic spores,

which on inhaling over a period of time could cause chronic

inflammation and the scarring of lungs. He said that air pollution

could also cause infections, asthma, and lung cancer, besides

headaches, dry-eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue.

Women first: Pakistan Medical Association Chairman Dr Masood Sheikh

told Daily Times that women and children were mostly affected by

indoor air pollution.

He said that women were comparatively more vulnerable to diseases

caused by indoor pollutants, as they spent most of their time in

kitchens where there was poor ventilation. He said that respiratory

problems and allergies in about 60 percent of female patients were

caused by indoor air pollution.

He said that the residences of MM Alam Road were full of dust mites –

also indoor pollutants – and cockroaches because of the restaurants

on that road. He said that dead dust mites and their excrement could

cause allergic reactions and asthma in people.

Dr Nawaz said that radon was thought to be the second most common

cause of respiratory diseases, and the gas, at times, seeped up

naturally from soil and rocks below buildings. " Due to modern houses

having poor ventilation, the gas is confined inside the house,

causing harm to the dwellers, " he added.

He said that pesticides applied deliberately or inadvertently in

buildings to control ants, flies, fleas, moths and rodents were

toxic to people as well. He said that pesticides could contaminate

buildings with carcinogenic chemicals. He said that HAVC systems

also contributed to indoor air pollution if filters and equipment

were not maintained properly.

He said that gas and oil furnaces released carbon monoxide and

nitrogen dioxide, while furniture and carpets often contained toxic

chemicals like formaldehyde and organic solvents. He said that

coffee machines, fax machines, computers and printers also released

dangerous gases like ozone (O3), which were highly oxidising.

Dr Nawaz said that a variety of household cleaning agents, personal

care products, paints and solvents might be sources of hundreds of

potentially harmful chemicals. He said that such components could

cause dizziness, nausea, allergic reactions, and cancer.

Looking forward: EPD Secretary Major ® Shahnawaz Bader told Daily

Times that the issue of indoor air pollution in homes was a new

thing for the department. He said that the EPD had previously worked

on indoor pollution of industries, but no attention had been given

to houses. He said that the EPD would soon launch a project

regarding indoor air pollution.

He said that an awareness campaign to combat indoor air pollution

would also be launched after the project.