TY - CHAP
T1 - Bioaerosols and their health effects
AU - Kallawicha, Kraiwuth
AU - Chao, H. Jasmine
AU - Wongsasuluk, Pokkate
AU - Thanvisitthpon, Nawhath
N1 - Publisher Copyright:
© 2024 Elsevier Inc. All rights are reserved.
PY - 2024/1/1
Y1 - 2024/1/1
N2 - Bioaerosols are crucial indoor air pollutants often neglected by occupants unless serious contamination exists. They originate from living organisms, including microorganisms (i.e., fungi, bacteria, and viruses), arthropods (i.e., dust mites, cockroaches), house pets, and humans. Fungi and bacteria are common bioaerosols observed in the indoor environment. Bioaerosols may cause adverse health outcomes to occupants that range from simple allergic symptoms in the respiratory tract, eyes, or skin to serious respiratory infections. Serious infection in the indoor environment has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents living in the same house as a patient have a high risk of being infected by the virus which can be suspended in the air for a long period. Children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are vulnerable to infection by indoor bioaerosols. This chapter summarizes the common sources of indoor bioaerosols in households and other environments. Common health hazards arising from bioaerosol exposure were also discussed with evidence from various scientific literature. In addition, simple household management practices and behavioral changes to minimize the risk of bioaerosols exposure are also suggested.
AB - Bioaerosols are crucial indoor air pollutants often neglected by occupants unless serious contamination exists. They originate from living organisms, including microorganisms (i.e., fungi, bacteria, and viruses), arthropods (i.e., dust mites, cockroaches), house pets, and humans. Fungi and bacteria are common bioaerosols observed in the indoor environment. Bioaerosols may cause adverse health outcomes to occupants that range from simple allergic symptoms in the respiratory tract, eyes, or skin to serious respiratory infections. Serious infection in the indoor environment has been demonstrated during the COVID-19 pandemic. Residents living in the same house as a patient have a high risk of being infected by the virus which can be suspended in the air for a long period. Children, the elderly, and immunocompromised individuals are vulnerable to infection by indoor bioaerosols. This chapter summarizes the common sources of indoor bioaerosols in households and other environments. Common health hazards arising from bioaerosol exposure were also discussed with evidence from various scientific literature. In addition, simple household management practices and behavioral changes to minimize the risk of bioaerosols exposure are also suggested.
KW - Bioaerosols
KW - exposure
KW - hazard
KW - health effect
KW - indoor air quality
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85199026338&partnerID=8YFLogxK
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/citedby.url?scp=85199026338&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1016/B978-0-443-16090-5.00009-X
DO - 10.1016/B978-0-443-16090-5.00009-X
M3 - Chapter
AN - SCOPUS:85199026338
SN - 9780443160912
VL - 2
SP - 79
EP - 100
BT - Health Effects of Indoor Air Pollution
PB - Elsevier
ER -