Biomaterial Database

Nitrogen dioxide in Australian homes: levels and sources. 1999

M H Garrett, and M A Hooper, and B M Hooper

School of Applied Sciences, Monash University, Victoria, Australia.

Indoor nitrogen dioxide exposure has been associated with respiratory symptoms in children in many studies, but in Australia, levels and sources of nitrogen dioxide in homes have not been well-characterized. Therefore, as part of a larger indoor environmental study, conducted in the Latrobe Valley, Victoria, nitrogen dioxide was monitored using passive samplers in 80 homes. Samples were collected on five occasions over one year. Mean indoor levels were higher than outdoor levels, and a seasonal variation was evident, with highest levels recorded in winter. The overall median level was 11.6 micrograms/m3 (6.0 ppb), ranging from < 0.7 to 246 micrograms/m3 (128 ppb). Major indoor nitrogen dioxide sources were: gas stoves, vented gas heaters, and smoking. Some 67% of variation in indoor nitrogen dioxide levels could be explained by presence of major sources, house age, and outdoor levels. Gas stoves were the main contributors.

UI	MeSH Term	Description	Entries
D009585	Nitrogen Dioxide	Nitrogen oxide (NO2). A highly poisonous gas. Exposure produces inflammation of lungs that may only cause slight pain or pass unnoticed, but resulting edema several days later may cause death. (From Merck, 11th ed) It is a major atmospheric pollutant that is able to absorb UV light that does not reach the earth's surface.	Nitrogen Peroxide,Dioxide, Nitrogen,Peroxide, Nitrogen
D010083	Oxidants, Photochemical	Compounds that accept electrons in an oxidation-reduction reaction. The reaction is induced by or accelerated by exposure to electromagnetic radiation in the spectrum of visible or ultraviolet light.	Photochemical Oxidants
D002648	Child	A person 6 to 12 years of age. An individual 2 to 5 years old is CHILD, PRESCHOOL.	Children
D006801	Humans	Members of the species Homo sapiens.	Homo sapiens,Man (Taxonomy),Human,Man, Modern,Modern Man
D000293	Adolescent	A person 13 to 18 years of age.	Adolescence,Youth,Adolescents,Adolescents, Female,Adolescents, Male,Teenagers,Teens,Adolescent, Female,Adolescent, Male,Female Adolescent,Female Adolescents,Male Adolescent,Male Adolescents,Teen,Teenager,Youths
D001315	Australia	The smallest continent and an independent country, comprising six states and two territories. Its capital is Canberra.	Canton and Enderbury Islands,Christmas Island,Christmas Island (Australia)
D012621	Seasons	Divisions of the year according to some regularly recurrent phenomena usually astronomical or climatic. (From McGraw-Hill Dictionary of Scientific and Technical Terms, 6th ed)	Seasonal Variation,Season,Seasonal Variations,Variation, Seasonal,Variations, Seasonal
D016902	Air Pollution, Indoor	The contamination of indoor air.	Air Quality, Indoor,Indoor Air Pollution,Indoor Air Quality,Pollution, Indoor Air