Household Air Pollution in Three Urban Function Areas and Related Respiratory Health Effects

The health impact of atmospheric pollution is one of the hot topics in current environmental research. Herein, we examined the impacts of indoor and outdoor air pollution on respiratory health across three distinct communities in Xi’an, China. By employing a mixed-methods approach, this research quantitatively assessed particulate matter concentrations alongside gases such as CO, CO₂, NO, and NO₂, contrasting indoor and outdoor environments. The indoor and outdoor pollutants of urban communities presented higher emission levels, the disparities in indoor pollutant concentrations across the communities were primarily attributed to domestic activities including cooking, incense burning, and smoking. Notably, CO and CO₂ levels were elevated indoors, underscoring the influence of human activities and inadequate ventilation on indoor air quality. The higher indoor/outdoor (I/O) pollutant ratios of CO and NO pointed to predominant indoor sources of these pollutants; additionally, the suburban community showed higher I/O ratio. Through lung function assessments, a negative correlation between air pollutant concentrations and respiratory health outcomes among residents was established, demonstrating the detrimental effects of air pollution on pulmonary health. The findings underscored the critical public health implications of air pollution, advocating for comprehensive interventions to enhance air quality and mitigate the adverse health impacts of pollution in residential settings.