---
title: "Health impacts of indoor air pollutants"
subject: "Energy Environment and Society"
chapter: 4
key: "semester_7/energy_environment_and_society:indoor-air-pollutants-health"
source: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/indoor-air-pollutants-health
site: BCT Engineering
---

# Health impacts of indoor air pollutants

Energy Environment and Society · Chapter 4: Environmental Impact of Energy sources

- Asked in: year not given
- Video: [Indoor Air contaminants & its impact to human health](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RuGyp3DK8jg) — KC CHANG
- Answer checked by Claude Opus 5.5 (high effort) on 2026-10-14
- Page: https://www.bctengineer.com/q/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/indoor-air-pollutants-health
- Whole chapter: https://www.bctengineer.com/md/semester_7/energy_environment_and_society/chapter-4

## Question

What are the health impacts of common indoor air pollutants?

## Short answer

Indoor particulate matter from biomass cooking causes acute respiratory infections in children and chronic bronchitis in women. Carbon monoxide causes headaches, dizziness and death; radon, tobacco smoke, asbestos, and VOCs increase cancer and heart disease risk. Mold and dust mites trigger allergies and asthma.

## Answer

Indoor air pollution is especially serious in developing countries like Nepal where about half of households still cook with firewood, dung or residue on traditional stoves in poorly ventilated kitchens. The World Health Organization estimates millions of deaths per year worldwide from household air pollution.

| Pollutant | Source | Health impact |
|---|---|---|
| **Particulate matter (PM2.5/PM10)** | Biomass and coal smoke, tobacco, incense | Acute respiratory infection (children), COPD, lung cancer, heart disease, low birth weight |
| **Carbon monoxide (CO)** | Incomplete combustion in stoves, heaters | Headache, dizziness, nausea; at high levels unconsciousness and death |
| **Nitrogen dioxide (NO₂)** | Gas stoves, heaters | Respiratory irritation, reduced lung function, asthma |
| **Sulphur dioxide (SO₂)** | Coal and kerosene | Irritation of eyes and airways, asthma |
| **Volatile organic compounds, formaldehyde** | Paint, furniture, cleaning products, glue | Eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, some are carcinogens |
| **Radon** | Soil and building materials | Second leading cause of lung cancer |
| **Tobacco smoke** | Smoking | Cancer, heart and lung disease, passive smoking harm |
| **Biological (mould, dust mites, bacteria, pollen)** | Damp rooms, poor cleaning | Allergy, asthma, infections |
| **Asbestos and lead** | Old building materials, paint | Lung disease (asbestos); brain damage (lead) |

Women and children, who spend the most time near the kitchen, are the most affected: pneumonia in children, chronic bronchitis in women, cataract, and tuberculosis risk. Eyes get irritated by smoke. Sick-building syndrome (headache and fatigue) occurs in poorly ventilated buildings.

## Check yourself

The answer's key points as multiple-choice questions, with the correct option and why.

1. Who is most affected by indoor air pollution from cooking in Nepal?
   A. Men working outdoors
   B. Only the elderly
   C. Women and children who spend the most time near the kitchen
   D. Only tourists
   Answer: C. Women get chronic bronchitis and children get pneumonia. (Key point: Who is most affected)

2. What is the health impact of radon?
   A. It causes brain damage in children
   B. It causes carbon monoxide poisoning
   C. It causes only eye irritation
   D. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer
   Answer: D. Radon enters from soil and building materials. (Key point: Radon)

3. What is a symptom of carbon monoxide exposure?
   A. Headache, dizziness and, at high levels, unconsciousness and death
   B. Only cataract
   C. Asthma from mould
   D. Skin cancer
   Answer: A. CO arises from incomplete combustion in stoves and heaters. (Key point: CO)

4. Which source gives allergy and asthma from biological pollutants?
   A. Gas stoves
   B. Damp rooms with mould and dust mites
   C. Radon in soil
   D. Lead paint
   Answer: B. Mould, dust mites and pollen come from damp rooms and poor cleaning. (Key point: Biological)

## Related in Energy Environment and Society

- [Reducing indoor air pollutants](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aindoor-air-pollutant-reduction) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 4
- [Emission hazards and health impact](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenergy_environment_and_society%3Aemission-hazard-health-impact) — Energy Environment and Society, chapter 4, asked 2×

## Related in other subjects

- [Indoor air pollutants and their sources](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Fenvironment_and_pollution_control%3Aindoor-air-pollutants-sources) — Environment and Pollution Control, chapter 3
- [Indoor air pollution and Kathmandu air problems](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aindoor-air-kathmandu-health) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 5
- [Classification of air pollutants; sources, effects](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_2%2Fengineering_chemistry%3Aair-pollutants-classified) — Engineering Chemistry, chapter 3
- [Indoor air pollution in Nepal and counter measures](https://www.bctengineer.com/question.md?key=semester_7%2Ftechnology_environment_and_society%3Aindoor-air-pollution-nepal) — Technology, Environment and Society, chapter 5