posted on 2023-12-27, 19:39authored byGiobertti Morantes, Benjamin Jones, Constanza Molina, Max H. Sherman
This study presents a health-centered approach to quantify
and
compare the chronic harm caused by indoor air contaminants using disability-adjusted
life-year (DALY). The aim is to understand the chronic harm caused
by airborne contaminants in dwellings and identify the most harmful.
Epidemiological and toxicological evidence of population morbidity
and mortality is used to determine harm intensities, a metric of chronic
harm per unit of contaminant concentration. Uncertainty is evaluated
in the concentrations of 45 indoor air contaminants commonly found
in dwellings. Chronic harm is estimated from the harm intensities
and the concentrations. The most harmful contaminants in dwellings
are PM2.5, PM10–2.5, NO2,
formaldehyde, radon, and O3, accounting for over 99% of
total median harm of 2200 DALYs/105 person/year. The chronic
harm caused by all airborne contaminants in dwellings accounts for
7% of the total global burden from all diseases.