Air ion and pollution index variation for indoor and outdoor atmosphere at rural station Ramanandnagar (17°4'N, 74°25'E) India

Abstract

In the present study, the observation of indoor air ion concentration at a rural site has been carried out for the first time. These indoor observations are compared with outdoor air ion concentration. Net charge can be introduced into the atmosphere by processes such as combustion, rainfall and ultraviolet radiation. As compared to indoors, average air ions of both the polarities at outdoors are higher. Moreover, the air ion concentrations, experience large fluctuations during daytime, as compared to nighttime values. Positive and negative air ion concentrations are lower and uniform throughout the night both for indoor and outdoor conditions. Pollution index is more or less unity for outdoors in all-the-time period, which is good for human health. Due to limited sources of air ions indoors, it is observed that pollution index decreases from 00:00-02:00 hours and minimum is reached during 12:00-14:00 hours for indoors. During 00:00-02:00 hours, the indoor pollution index is 1.55, which is very harmful to human health. © Indian Academy of Sciences.