Fact Sheets

Abstract

Since Australians spend 80 to 90% of their time indoors, a significant proportion of the population's exposure to air pollutants occurs indoors. We present the results of a systematic study of indoor air in 40 typical Australian homes located in the south-eastern suburbs of Melbourne. The dwellings were chosen by age, materials and structure to be representative of the stock of Australian dwellings. Measurements both inside and outside homes, conducted for seven days during Winter/Spring 2008 and repeated in Summer/Autumn 2009, included particles as PM2.5 and PM10, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, formaldehyde, other carbonyls, benzene, toluene, ethyl-benzene, xylenes, total volatile organic compounds, nitrogen dioxide, ozone, nicotine, fungi and bacteria, temperature, relative humidity and pressure. The concentrations of indoor air pollutants observed in this study are generally either comparable with or lower than the concentrations of these compounds observed in previous studies in Australia. The results are very much a reflection of the way Australians live -- how they cook and warm the home, the cleaning agents they use, building materials and finishes in the home, and the proximity to roadways. The results from this work could assist in improving future house design and ventilation and provide a benchmark against which future measurements of indoor air quality can be assessed. The absence of specific guidelines for indoor air quality in Australia prevents an objective assessment of the quality of the observed indoor air. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]