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SDGs and linkages with pollution in india

Goal SDG Linkage
Goal 1 End poverty in all its forms everywhere 50% PM2.5 emissions from biomass based cooking
Goal 2 End hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition and promote sustainable agriculture 36% loss of grains due to Ozone pollution
Goal 3 Ensure healthy lives and promote well-being for all at all ages ~million die annually due to IAP
Goal 7 Ensure access to affordable, reliable, sustainable and modern energy for all Coal and biomass based energy
Goal 13 Take urgent action to combat climate change and its impacts Black carbon, Ozone contributors to warming

What is IAQ

The quality of air inside buildings as represented by concentrations of pollutants and thermal (Temperature and Relative Humidity) conditions that affect the health, comfort, and performance of occupants

IAQ - an area of concern

  • While ambient air quality is slowly attracting attention, Indoor air quality is still ignored.
  • US EPA: indoor air pollution poses a greater risk than outdoor air pollution - people spend 80-90% of their time indoors (Yu and Browers, 2013)
  • IAQ is directly linked to health of the occupants of a building
  • IAQ is an important concern – both rural and urban
  • VOCs indoors could be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoors
  • IAP is a global issue due to adverse effects on human health (Tsakas, Siskos and Siskos, 2011)
  • IAP ranked among the top five environmental health risks to the public by EPA.

Pollutants & Sources

Location Sources Pollutant
Offices, government buildings HVAC systems, carpets, painting & polishing , household cleaners, aerosols, insecticides, pesticides and personal care products Primary: PM, VOCs Additional : CO, NOx, SO2
Parking areas Vehicular movement Primary : PM, CO, NOx, HC Additional : SO2, PAHs,
Public places such as restaurants, hotels, libraries, shopping malls (misc. sources HVAC systems, carpets, painting & polishing , insecticides, pesticides, smoking, constriction activities Primary: PM, VOCs, Nicotine Additional : CO, NOx, SO2
Rural households using biomass Biomass burning for cooking, heating, waste burning. Kerosene burning for lighting Primary: PM, CO, BC Additional : VOCs

Other problems of IAQ

Enclosed space inhabited by humans produce the following effects

  • Increase in temperature and humidity
  • Increase in bio-aerosol and odor
  • Accumulation of air pollutants

IAP and health

Pollutant Health effects
NO2 Type: Immediate: Causes: irritation to the skin, eyes and throat, cough etc
CO Type: : Immediate; Causes: headache, shortness of breath, higher conc. May cause sudden deaths.
VOCs Type: : Immediate; Causes: Liver, kidney disorders, irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, skin rashes and respiratory problems.
RSPM Type: : Cumulative, Causes: Respiratory Illness (upper and lower), Acute (Asthma) and chronic (COPD), Lung cancer,
Pesticides Type: : Immediate; Causes: Skin diseases
SO2 Type: : Immediate; Causes: lung disorders and shortness of breath
Asbestos Type: : Cumulative; Causes: Lung cancer
O3 Type: : Immediate; Causes: eyes itch, burn, respiratory disorders, lowers our resistance to colds and pneumonia.

Sick building syndrome(SBS)

Building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects which is linked to time spent in the building, but no specific illness or cause identified. Not a clinically diagnosable disease.
Causes of SBS

Effect of temperature, RH and CO2

Temperature Relative humidity CO2
  • direct impact on perceived comfort and, concentration and productivity
  • As per ASHRAE Standard 55, recommended temperature ranges termed "comfortable" are 22.8 to 26.1°C in the summer and 20.0 to 23.6°C in the winter.
  • Too high RH can contribute to the growth and spread of biological contaminants
  • RH below 25% - increased discomfort and drying of skin and mucous membrane
  • As per ASHRAE Standard 55, indoor humidity levels to be maintained between 30 -65 percent for optimum comfort.
  • Provides good indication of ventilation rates
  • Generated in indoor primarily through human metabolism
  • CO2 build up in indoor is attributed to inefficient or nonfunctioning of ventilation system
  • As per ASHRAE, above 1000ppm CO2 – requires adjustment of building’s ventilation system
  • Building shows SBS symptoms if CO2 concentration > 1000 ppm

IAQ Standards and guidelines

  • Canada
  • Singapore
  • UK
  • Germany
  • USA
  • China
  • India??

Source Management

  • Lot of indoor air pollutants directly linked to items of daily use
    • Cleaning items (low VOC products)
    • Fuels and cook-stoves (Clean fuels)
    • Building materials and furnishings (low VOC products)
  • Building occupants may be the source of pollutants - perfumes or colognes, cigarette smoke (OSHA, 2011)

Administrative Controls

Work schedules Education and Awareness Housekeeping
  • Eliminate or reduce the amount of time a worker is exposed to a pollutant
  • Reduce the amount of chemicals being used by or near workers
  • Control the location of chemical use
  • Inform about the sources and effects of pollutants
  • Inform about proper operation of ventilation system
  • Awareness about clean alternatives, mitigation solutions
  • Prevent dirt from entering the environment
  • Dispose garbage timely
  • Store food properly
  • Choose cleaning products, methods that minimize introduction of pollutants into the building

Engineering Controls

  • HVAC (heating, ventilation, and air conditioning systems) control and management
  • IAQ improving plants
  • Air purifiers

Interventions Required

  • National standards and/or guidelines on indoor air quality
  • Verifying claims of products – certifications
  • Evaluation of important existing buildings
  • GRIHA Rating evaluation to be included in building projects
  • Improving outdoor air quality will help in improving IAQ also and vice versa.