Pollutions à l'intérieur des espaces clos : sources, niveaux et impact sanitaire. Volet 2 : polluants chimiques

Indoor air quality has become a matter of growing interest, which is justified by the time spent inside by individuals and their potential exposure to a wide range of air contaminants. The exposure of the population to these pollutants including sensitive individuals such as children, the elderly, immunocompromised patients can be substantial and still little known. The indoor air quality whether for biological or chemical contamination depends on the sources of indoor and outdoor pollution and on ventilation conditions with the air exchange rate. Chemical pollutants are numerous in indoor environment: volatile organic compounds, aldehydes, nitrogen dioxide, carbon monoxide, radon, metals. This article aims to present some of these pollutants, their sources, levels, health effects and measurements. Although knowledge about indoor air pollution in buildings is becoming more significant, in large part due the work conducted by the national Observatory of indoor air quality (OQAI), this review highlights the multiplicity and complexity of chemical pollution as well as the health effects associated with exposure. More research is needed to improve knowledge about exposure levels, determinants and health effects.