Managing Indoor Air Quality in the Child Breathing Zone: Risk Analysis and Mitigation

Abstract

Human health can be affected adversely by a number of conditions in built environments, from materials and techniques used in the construction process, from activities within those spaces, and from connections to the external environment. Some groups, including children, pregnant women, and limited-resource households, are at a higher risk than others for experiencing negative health impacts from indoor pollutant exposures. Limited-resource households, in particular, do not have the resources necessary to test for the presence of indoor air pollutants and to mitigate them. This paper (1) provides a review of exposure by vulnerable populations, especially children, to indoor air pollutants; (2) demonstrates the feasibility of an inexpensive smart phone app and attached hardware that can detect indoor air pollutants; and (3) illustrates a simple ventilation system for improving the quality of air that children breathe.