Indoor Nanoparticles: Sources, dynamics, and control

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Canadians are indoor creatures who spend 90% of their time inside buildings and almost 70% of their time in their homes. Consequently, most exposure to air pollution, and associated health impacts, originates indoors. Particulate matter generally has been identified as one of the most serious indoor contaminants. Nanoparticles (broadly defined here as particles less then 50 nm in diameter) are of particular scientific and practical importance because of the relative lack of exploration of their concentrations and dynamics in indoor environments, as well as because of their serious health impacts including asthma and other respiratory diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and lung cancer. Statistically, over 95% of airborne particles are nanoparticles, but they have not commonly been studied indoors. Indoor nanoparticles are generated by a broad range of sources such as heated surfaces, cooking, combustion, chemistry, as well as emissions from manufactured nanomaterials. Therefore, identification of indoor airborne nanoparticles and control technologies is critical for the protection of Canadian public health.