Indoor air pollutants, possible effects on health and minimum ventilation rates. Verunreinigungen der Raumluft, mogliche gesundheitliche Auswirkungen und minimale Luftungsraten.

Notes increasing concern with the quality of indoor air, allied with the desire to conserve energy by minimising ventilation rates. Examines on the basis of a literature search the sources of indoor air pollution and the characteristics of the pollutants. Pays particular attention to tobacco smoke and its deleterious effects on health. Discusses minimum ventilation rates for rooms in which people smoke. Points out that ventilation alone cannot ensure that the strictest criteria for room air quality are met with smoking. Rooms where people smoke require three to four times the fresh air rate of other rooms. Concludes by summarising the commonest indoor air pollutants and the health risks they pose. Notes in particular the dangers of passive smoking.