The quality of the air in open environments is often monitored but little is done and little is known about indoor pollution.

We often hear about air pollution in our cities, in densely trafficked areas or in the vicinity of industrial settlements.

Citizens know the fine dust detection units that urban centers are equipped with, to regulate the days of closure to private traffic, when the values of pollutants exceed a certain threshold.

The careful phase of monitoring the quality of the air we breathe outdoors, in addition to alarming public opinion and imposing restrictions on private circulation, serves little if, for years, no drastic action has been taken with a policy of rethinking the use of fossil fuels.

But the situation of polluted air inside offices, homes, public gathering places, hospitals, cinemas, schools, sports halls, does not arouse particular attention, thinking that the external air control is sufficient.

In reality it is not, for a series of reasons concerning the low recycling of the air we breathe in a closed environment, the pollutants that are generated by living there as heating, breathing, possible emissions from furniture, building materials and for many other reasons.

If outside, the air can be harmful to health at certain times of the year, we must consider that, fortunately, the pollutants are diluted in volumes of important air, that if we compared them in a closed and poorly ventilated environment, they would be extremely dangerous.

The air we breathe should consist of:

• 78% nitrogen

• 5% carbon dioxide

• 13% oxygen

• 1% argon

In fact, in closed rooms, we can find other concentrations of pollutants, let's see some of them.

Particulate matter, PM10 and PM2.5, does not derive only from vehicular traffic or emissions from heating systems into the atmosphere, but can be developed at home through the combustion of wood, coal or other fossil sources.

The Oxide and Nitrogen Dioxide, NOx and NO2, can be found inside the houses due to the combustion processes during the cooking of food, the '' use of heating, with the likelihood of causing eye, nasal or throat irritation and cough, alterations in respiratory function especially in sensitive subjects, such as children, asthmatics or people suffering from chronic bronchitis.

Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons, PAHs, are a large group of organic compounds present in indoor air: the main sources are combustion sources, such as kerosene boilers , wood burning fireplaces and cigarette smoke.

Ozone can form when nitrogen oxides from the combustion of fossil fuels, such as coal or other heating products, interact with light. Long exposure to high ozone levels can cause breathing problems, including asthma and bronchitis.

Carbon Monoxide, CO, is mainly produced by the phenomenon of combustion, such as tobacco smoke, wood or gas stoves. It is colorless, odorless, tasteless but toxic. Depending on the amount breathed, it can cause headache, confusion and disorientation, but without adequate ventilation, at high concentrations, it can even be fatal.

Volatile Organic Compounds, VOCs, can be inhaled and can come from cosmetic products or deodorants, heating devices, cleaning products, work, such as printers and copiers, building and furniture materials.

Among the most dangerous VOCs we find the Formaldehyde that can be emitted by resins, used for insulation, for chipboard or plywood, as well as in upholstery, carpets and curtains, causing alterations to the nervous system and is potentially carcinogenic.

There are certainly other types of pollutants that we could talk about, but the ones we have listed fall within the chemical compounds that we could most likely and frequently find indoors.

How can we preventively detect the presence of substances dangerous to health?

There are on the market some equipment for detecting birds present in closed environments which, using ion mobility gas chromatography, can take a real and analytically precise picture of the situation air and provide the correct information to intervene promptly.

The equipment that detects pollutants is light and easily transportable, giving a precise analysis result, both on pollutants perceivable by the human nose and odorless ones.

Here are the characteristics of a detection instrument based on ion mobility gas chromatography:

• Separation / detection technique: Two-dimensional, separation by gas ion mobility chromatography

• Ionization source: 3H, <300 MBq, hereinafter referred to as EUROATOM limit acc. to 2013/59 EURATOM Directive

• Detection limit: Typically sub-ppb level

• Flow control: Electronic pressure control

• Sampling: 6-way valve (Cheminert®), integrated pump

• Display: 6.4 "TFT

• Data transfer: Modbus TCP, current loop, USB, Ethernet

• Automated output result: Modbus TCP, current loop

• Security features: Hardware watchdog, self-check of system parameters

• Dimensions (L x W x H): 449 x 435 x 287 mm

Automatic translation. We apologize for any inaccuracies. Original article in Italian.