Is Pollution Indoors a Visible Menace in Developing Countries?

Abstract Description: Pollution is regarded as one of the great existential challenges of the Anthropocene epoch causing the largest category of welfare damage. Nine out of 10 people in the world breathe polluted air, causing more than 7 million premature deaths every. The study of Indoor air quality can be henceforth regarded as a dome in lieu of merely a discipline as the researcher’s approach initially begins with addressing the concern-related questions latterly followed by identification of suitable tools/techniques needed for solving the related ‘purpose’. The effects of indoor air pollutants range from short-term effects including eye and throat irritation to respiratory diseases and cancer abiding in the fullness of time.

In this presentation, a selection of datasets of studies done on indoor air quality in the North Central part of India (Agra) region in homes located in different microenvironments during the last few years is presented. Sampling was undertaken to monitor PM concentration with its diurnal, seasonal, and annual trends, which were assessed with the identification of spatial-temporal trends in different microenvironments. Size-segregated chemical composition of PM including metals and ions was identified. The bioavailability index further calculated showed the importance of smaller size particles in a simulated lung environment that further varied with element and size elucidating the increase in aerosol enrichment to the finest particle. The work also includes the emerging issue with and future scenarios of the current pollution status in Indian and other developing countries context. It concludes with various remediation strategies and policy abatement by different governmental and other agencies in pollution control methods and technologies.