Indoor air

Challenges in air quality

Updated on 20/09/2016

Keywords : Outdoor air (ambient), Indoor air

Air, whether outdoors or in confined environments, is likely to be polluted by chemicals, bio-contaminants or particles and fibres that can have an adverse effect on health. These pollutants can be of natural origin (pollens, volcanic emissions, etc.), or be linked to human activity (particles from industrial activities, agriculture or road transport, volatile organic compounds emitted by building materials, etc.). For indoor air, the nature of the pollutants depends mainly on the characteristics of the building, as well as the inhabitants’ activities and behaviour (smoking, DIY, painting, etc.). For outdoor air, pollutant-emitting activities such as industry, transportation, heating buildings and agriculture also influence the chemical make-up of emissions. Air quality has been a subject of concern for many years and has now become a major public health issue. ANSES works on both indoor and outdoor air to assess the risks related to pollutants found in these environments.

The article has been added to your library

Go to your library

Carbon dioxide (CO2) in indoor air

Updated on 20/09/2016

Keywords : IAGVs (Indoor air guideline values), Indoor air, Carbon dioxide (CO2)

To support the updating of regulations on the ventilation of buildings, the Agency has issued a status report on concentration levels for CO2 in indoor air and its health effects, both intrinsic to CO2 and those induced by closed spaces, for which CO2 is an effective indicator.

Glycol ethers

Updated on 03/08/2016

Keywords : Glycol ethers, Volatile organic compounds (VOC), Indoor air

Glycol ethers belong to a very common group of chemical substances known as volatile organic compounds (VOCs). In October 2003, the Agency received a formal request from the Directorate General for Health and the Directorate for economic studies and environmental evaluation to implement certain provisions in the inter-ministerial action plan regarding glycol ethers, over a period of several years. The activities of the Agency within the framework of this action plan are presented below.