Indoor Air Pollution in the Romanian Homes

Abstract

Environmental pollution is one of the most important issues in the world today. Environmental pollution includes outdoor pollution and indoor pollution. For many decades the scientists have been studied outdoor pollution. This area of interest includes the pollution of ambient air, the pollution of water, soil, housing, the effects of ionizing and non-ionizing radiation, wastes. The indoor environment has several aspects that are of importance. One aspect is linked to the chemical pollution of the indoor air. Other aspects can be linked to the biological contamination of air and surfaces, or to radiation pollution of indoor air linked especially to the presence of radon and radon daughter. Health can be negatively affected by all types of environmental pollution. The outdoor and the indoor environments are linked. The two elements cannot be separated. Man spends around 85% -90% of a day indoor. There are category of population like infants and young children, elderly people, sick people and convalescent which spend 100% of a day time indoor. Vulnerable groups are represented by children, pregnant women, elderly persons over 65 years of age, persons suffering of asthma or other respiratory diseases, persons suffering from cardiovascular diseases. Immunodeficiency may render people more vulnerable especially for biologic pollutants (SCHER, 2007). In the indoor environment are various sources of pollutants like: heating and cooking appliances, open fires, building and insulation materials, furniture, fabrics and furnishings, glue, cleaning products and other consumer products (P.T.C. Harrison, 2002). A lot of diseases can originate in the indoor environment. Environmental immunologic diseases are both allergic and non-allergic (Ledford K Dennis, 2002). Diseases categorized under the generic name of “building related illnesses” were identified, as well as another group of health problems that can be linked to the buildings. This category includes the so called “sick-building syndrome” or “tight-building syndrome”. The group of diseases in the “building related illnesses” category includes diseases like humidifier fever, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, some infectious diseases like Legionnaire’s disease, Pontiac fever, tuberculosis, viral illnesses like flu, diseases of the childhood like measles, chicken pox, etc (Burge H.A. , 1995, Berglund at all,1992). The contamination of indoor air can induce allergic problems like rhinitis and asthma that can be related to indoor allergens such as dust mite, cockroaches, animals and mold. Some molds can release disease-causing toxins. These toxins can damage a variety of organs and tissues in the body, including the liver, central nervous system, digestive tract, and immune system. In the case