Category:Indoor Air Pollutants

Overview

The Indoor Air Pollutants category serves as the scientific baseline of the EDIAQI knowledge base, addressing the fundamental question of the EDIAQI Decision Tree: "Why do we need to monitor and improve IAQ?" In modern society, individuals spend up to 90% of their time indoors, where pollutants originate from internal emissions, occupant activities, building materials, and the infiltration of contaminated outdoor air.

Under Pillar 1 of the Horizon Europe EDIAQI project (Grant Agreement No. 101057497) and Work Package 3 (Task 3.1 & Task 3.3), this section characterizes the physical, chemical, and biological determinants of indoor air. It moves beyond standard regulatory fractions to investigate both conventional and emerging pollutants across European residential, educational, and working environments.

Key Pollutant Groups in this Category

• Particulate Matter (PM): Regulated coarse fractions (PM10, PM2.5) and highly penetrating fine/ultrafine fractions (PM1, ultrafine particles, and black carbon).
• Gaseous Compounds: Combustion by-products (CO, NO2), tropospheric O3, and occupancy indicators (CO2).
• Chemical Determinants: Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), benzene, and particle-bound Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAHs).
• Biological and Emerging Threats: Indoor bioaerosols (microbiome, fungal spores, mold, allergens), radon gas, and airborne microplastics.