This document discusses 10 major indoor air pollutants: 1) Radon gas which is naturally occurring and can cause lung cancer. High levels have been found in some areas of Saudi Arabia. 2) Biological contaminants like mold, bacteria and viruses which can cause allergies and respiratory illnesses. 3) Carbon monoxide produced from fuel combustion which is odorless and can cause flu-like symptoms or death in high amounts. 4) Nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide and particulates which are also produced from fuel combustion and can damage lungs. 5) Tobacco smoke which causes various cancers and heart disease. 6) Asbestos formerly used in construction that causes lung diseases and cancer.

1. In Door Air Quality
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2. Types of pollution
‫الهواء‬ ‫تلوث‬
Air
pollution
‫الماء‬ ‫تلوث‬
Waterpoll
ution
‫التربة‬ ‫تلوث‬
Soil
pollution
‫ووووووووووووووووووث‬‫و‬‫التل‬
‫الضوضائي‬
Noise
pollution
‫التلوث‬
‫االشعاعي‬
Radioactive
pollution
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3. Classification of pollutants according to their sources
‫من‬ ‫الملوثات‬
‫مصادر‬
‫طبيعية‬
Radon
Gas
‫الرادون‬ ‫غاز‬
‫الملوثات‬
‫من‬
‫حرق‬
‫الوقود‬
-
‫ااااااا‬‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫او‬ ‫ااااااااز‬‫ا‬‫غ‬
‫الكربون‬
CO-
-
‫اااا‬‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫اااااو‬‫ا‬‫ا‬ ‫اااااز‬‫ا‬‫غ‬
‫ه‬ ‫تروج‬ ‫الى‬
NOX-
-
‫اااا‬‫ا‬ ‫ا‬ ‫اااااو‬‫ا‬‫ا‬ ‫اااااز‬‫ا‬‫غ‬
‫الكبريج‬
SO2-
-
‫عالقت‬ ‫ماث‬ ‫ج‬
Sp-
‫الملوثات‬
‫مصادر‬ ‫من‬
‫بشرية‬
‫توس‬ ‫االسب‬
Asbestos
‫ااااااااويت‬ ‫ال‬ ‫باااااااااث‬ ‫المر‬
‫المتطايرة‬
VOC-
‫اااااااااااااااااااااااااااااااا‬‫ا‬ ‫ه‬ ‫الفورمال‬
Formaldehyde
‫الرصاص‬
Lead-
.
‫بيولوجية‬ ‫الملوثات‬
‫ريا‬ ‫بكت‬
-
Bacteria
‫اااااااااااااااااااااااث‬‫ا‬‫روس‬ ‫ف‬
-
Viruses
‫اااااااااااااااااااااااااث‬‫ا‬ ‫ل‬ ‫طف‬
-
parasites
‫فطرياث‬
- Molds
Indoor Air pollutants
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4. 1. Radon Gas
• Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas.
• Colorless – tasteless – odorless gas.
• Radon is produced from the natural radioactive decay
of uranium or radium.
• Radon can also be found in Bedrocks and Groundwater.
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5. Nnatural radioactive decay of
Uranium or Radium → 𝑅𝑎𝑑𝑜𝑛
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6. • Arabian Shield in west regions
Sedimentary Rocks
in middle and East regions
Phosphate rocks in Hail.
Saudi Arabia has around 5% of the
world's uranium reserves:
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7. Major Sources in the Home
• Earth and rocks under buildings.
• Construction materials such as Granite and
Marble.
• Groundwater.
• The safer limits of 11 Bq/l in Groundwater
according to EPA regulations .
• WHO: establishing a national Annual Average
Concentration level of 200 Bq/m3.
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8. Possible Health Impacts
 Radon is the First cause of lung cancer after smoking.
 Lung cancer Ceases estimated 20,000 lung-cancer
deaths yearly.
 Smokers are estimated to be 25 times more at risk
from radon than non-smokers.
 The risk of lung cancer increases by 16% per 100 Bq/m3
increase in long time average radon concentration.
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9. Case Study
• It has been conducted in Jeddah, Al Kharj and al Jouf;
• Most dwellings have radon level from 50 to 150 Bq/m3
which less than the lower recommended reference
radon level of 200 Bq/m3 but still higher the worldwide
average of 39 Bqm3.
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10. Radon levels in existing homes can be
reduced by:
 Improving the ventilation of the house.
 Avoiding construction material such as granite and
marble.
 Increasing under-floor ventilation.
 Avoiding sites have Uranium in the underlying rocks
and soils.
Radon Measurement Meters
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11. 2. Biological Contaminants
• Mildews and Fungi, Bacteria,
• Viruses, Dust, Mites.
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12. Major Sources in the Home
• House dust
• Infected humans or animals
• Bedding
• Poorly maintained air conditioners
• Wet or moist surfaces
• Carpets and home furnishings.
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13. Possible Health Impacts
• Allergies and Asthma
• Headaches.
• Irritation in Eye, Nose and throat Colds, flu,
and pneumonia.
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14. 3. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Colorless, odorless gas produced by
• incomplete combustion of all carbon fuels.
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15. Major Sources in the Home
• Heating equipment (furnaces, water heaters)–
natural gas, kerosene.
• Wood or coal stoves.
• Fireplaces
• Charcoal grills.
• Engines (gasoline, diesel)
• Tobacco smoke.
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16. Possible Health Impacts
• Headaches, drowsiness, dizziness
• Impairment of human respiration,
• Nausea, Mental confusion.
• Symptoms often mistaken for the flu.
• Very high levels can cause death.
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17. Case Study
• The findings showed that 68 out of 894 autopsy cases were
diagnosed as acute CO toxicity.
• The study was based on autopsy samples sent to the Forensic
Chemistry Laboratory in Dammam during the study period
2004–2013.
• The highest rate was in the winter months (50%), and highest
age group was between 40 and 50 years, followed by 31–40.
• The average carbon monoxide percentage was 49%.
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18. .
4. Nitrogen Oxides and Sulfur Dioxide
• Gases formed by incomplete combustion
of all carbon fuels too.
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19. • Same as for carbon monoxide
Major Sources in the Home
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20. Possible Health Impacts
• Damage to respiratory tract and lungs
(Nitrogen dioxide)
• Irritation of eyes, nose and respiratory (sulfur
dioxide)
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21. 5. Suspended Particulates (SP) size < 100
microns in diameter
• Particles small enough to inhale (< 2.5 microns) that
come in a variety of sizes, shapes, and levels of toxicity.
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22. Possible Health Impacts
• Eye, nose, and throat irritation
• Infections in Bronchitis.
• Emphysema
• Lung cancer
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23. 6. Tobacco Smoke
• Smokers.
• Secondhand smokers.
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24. Major Sources in the Home
• Cigarettes
• Cigars
• Pipes
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25. Possible Health Impacts
• Eye, nose and throat irritation
• Respiratory irritation (wheezing, coughing)
• Bronchitis and pneumonia (particularly in children)
• Increased risk of emphysema.
• Lung cancer.
• Heart disease.
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26. 7. Asbestos
• A natural mineral fiber has poor heat conduction, and relative
resistance to chemical attack.
• Asbestos is used in various building materials.
• All homes more than about 20 years old are likely to have some
asbestos.
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27. Major Sources in the Home
• Damaged or deteriorating ceiling.
• Wall, and pipe insulation
• Vinyl-asbestos floor material
• Fire blankets in heat shields,
• Wood stoves, and furnaces
• Thermal insulation
• Clutches and brake linings, for automobiles.
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brake linings

28. Possible Health Impacts
• 100,000 people worldwide die every year from asbestos-
related diseases.
• Lung cancer
• Larynx ‫الحنجرة‬cancer
• Mesothelioma (a cancer of the pleural linings).
• Asbestosis (fibrosis of the lungs).
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29. Elimination of Asbestos-related diseases:
• The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is one of Arab countries
that prohibit the use of Asbestos. The second one is
Egypt.
• Replacing asbestos with safer substitutes.
• Taking measures to prevent exposure to asbestos in
place and during asbestos removal.
• Improving early diagnosis, treatment of asbestos-
related diseases.
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30. The lack of published data about Asbestos in
Middle East.
Although the asbestos ban in Saudi Arabia is believed to be holding,
the Egyptian ban is under constant pressure.
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Egypt 1,996,000

31. 8. V o l a t i l e O r g a n i c Chemicals
(VOCs)
• Airborne chemicals contained in many
household products.
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32. Major Sources in the Home
• Air fresheners, Hair sprays, perfumes.
• Solvents, Glues, Cleaning agents, Fabric softeners.
• Paints.
• Deodorizers.
• Dry-cleaned clothing.
• Moth balls.
Moth balls 32

33. Possible Health Impacts
 Eye, nose, throat irritation
 Headaches
 Confusion
 Damage to Liver, Kidneys, and Brain.
 Various types of cancer.
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34. 9. Formaldehyde
• Formaldehyde is a colorless gas, flammable
and highly reactive at room temperature.
• Formaldehyde can also be obtained
commercially as aqueous solution, known as
formalin.
formalin
OR
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35. • Pressed wood products (plywood, paneling, particle
board)
• Urea-formaldhyde foam wall insulation.
• Carpets, draperies, furniture, fabrics.
• Paper products, glues, adhesives.
• Tobacco smoke.
Major Sources in the Home
Urea-formaldhyde foam
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36. Possible Health Impacts
• Allergic reactions.
• Eye, nose and throat irritation.
• Headaches.
• Nausea, dizziness, coughing.
• Cancer a possibility.
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37. Measurements
• Formaldehyde is generally trapped on a sorbent.
• Analyze by high-performance liquid chromatography – HpLC-
and UV at wave length 350 nm.
• WHO established a guideline for exposure to formaldehyde of
0.08 ppm for all 30 min.
HpLC
UV
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38. Indoor Gases Measurement
Devices
Asbestos Measurement Meter
Formaldehyde Measurement Meter
Meter to measure all gases
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39. 10. Lead
• Natural element once used as a component in
gasoline, house paint, solder and water pipes.
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40. Major Sources in the Home
• Household dust from lead paint.
• Lead-based paint
• lead water pipes or lead-soldered.
• Soil near highways.
• Lead industries.
• Lead-glazed ceramic or pottery wares.
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41. Possible Health Impacts
• Damage to brain, kidneys, and nervous system.
• Learning problems, Children’s IQ .
• Slowed growth.
• Anemia.
• Hearing loss.
• Large doses can be fatal.
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42. Case Study in KSA in Riyadh
• School girls: 538 girls aged 6 to 12 years who attended
primary public schools in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia. Blood
lead levels were measured. The Centers for Disease
Control measured lead level in blood; around 24.4% had
blood lead levels ≥10 μg/dL.
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43. Measurement
• Atomic absorption spectrometry (AAS)
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44. THANK
YOU
FOR
YOUR
ATTENTION
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45. References
-- Indoor Air Quality and Your Home. New York State
Energy Research and Development Authority, Albany, NY.
-- Home Indoor Air Quality Assessment. Michael P. Vogel,
Ed.D., Extension Housing Specialist, Montana State
University Extension Service.
-- Quick IAQ Facts for the Community Educator. Joseph T.
Ponessa, Ph.D., Associate Professor/Housing & Energy
Specialist, Rutgers Cooperative Extension Service, New
Jersey.
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