Determination of Hazardous Compounds in Indoor Air: Field Studies

Abstract

Rooms comprise a considerable part of man’s environment; a large proportion of the population, after all, spends up to 90% of the day indoors. Until now, the attention of experts and the public has been chiefly directed towards those rooms in which professional work is performed. These rooms are monitored by work-protection legislation. Other indoor areas in public buildings such as hospitals, schools, kindergartens, swimming pools, administration buildings, vehicles and the home have so far attracted little attention as elements of the environment. However, the air in these spheres of life is frequently more severely affected by materials hazardous to health than outdoor air. Under certain conditions, so-called risk groups react much mor sensitively to air pollutants indoors than outdoors.