INCHEM-Py: An open source Python box model for indoor air chemistry

Abstract

In developed countries people spend over 90% of their time indoors where they are exposed to airborne pollutants that are generated indoors or outdoors, some of which are harmful to human health. Occupant activities indoors such as cooking and cleaning can generate numerous chemical compounds and some of these can undergo further reactions to produce a large range of complex chemicals. Current instrumental techniques are unable to measure many of these compounds at present, so models provide the means to try and understand these processes and their impacts. The INdoor CHEMical model in Python (INCHEM-Py) is an open source and accessible box-model that has been re-factored from the indoor detailed chemical model developed by Carslaw (2007) to give researchers deeper insight into the chemical mechanisms behind indoor air chemistry.