Indoor Air Quality in Elderly Centers: Pollutants Emission and Health Effects

• Type: Another Publication in an International Scientific Journal
• Date: 2022

Authors

Teresa M. Mata (Author) Other; Felgueiras, F (Author) Other; António A. Martins (Author) FEUP; Monteiro, H (Author) Other; Ferraz, MP (Author) FEUP; Oliveira, GM (Author) Other; Gabriel, MF (Author) Other; Silva, GV (Author) Other

Journal

The Journal is awaiting validation by the Administrative Services.

Title: ENVIRONMENTS

Vol. 9

Final page: 86

ISSN: 2076-3298

Indexing

ISI Web of Knowledge - 22 Citations

Scopus - 32 Citations

Other information

Authenticus ID: P-00W-TW9

DOI: 10.3390/environments9070086

Abstract (EN): The world population is ageing, in particular in the developed world, with a significant increase in the percentage of people above 60 years old. They represent a segment of the population that is more vulnerable to adverse environmental conditions. Among them, indoor air quality is one of the most relevant, as elders spend comparatively more time indoors than younger generations. Furthermore, the recent COVID-19 pandemic contributed immensely to raising awareness of the importance of breathing air quality for human health and of the fact that indoor air is a vector for airborne infections and poisoning. Hence, this work reviews the state of the art regarding indoor air quality in elderly centers, considering the type of pollutants involved, their emission sources, and their health effects. Moreover, the influence of ventilation on air quality is also addressed. Notwithstanding the potential health problems with the corresponding costs and morbidity effects, only a few studies have considered explicitly indoor air quality and its impacts on elderly health. More studies are, therefore, necessary to objectively identify what are the impacts on the health of elderly people due to the quality of indoor air and how it can be improved, either by reducing the pollutants emission sources or by more adequate ventilation and thermal comfort strategies.

Language: English

Type (Professor's evaluation): Scientific

No. of pages: 25