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Air quality

WHO indoor air quality guidelines

(Photo: iStockphoto)

As people spend a considerable amount of time indoors, either at work or at home, indoor air quality plays a significant part in their general state of health. This is particularly true for children, elderly people and other vulnerable groups.

The WHO guidelines for indoor air quality, developed under the coordination of WHO/Europe, address three groups of issues that are most relevant for public health:

  • biological indoor air pollutants (dampness and mould)
  • pollutant-specific guidelines (chemical pollution)
  • pollutants from indoor combustion of fuels.