**9. Conclusion**

**8.6. Sanitation and housing quality**

8.6. Sanitation and housing quality

field studies (Zock et al., 2006).

560 Current Air Quality Issues

respiratory illness.

reduced incidence of respiratory illness.

**8.7. Indoor air meteorological conditions**

8.7. Indoor air meteorological conditions

membrane of the respiratory tract.

Source: Ana et al, 2013

**8.8. Inhalable particulate matter burden**

8.8. Inhalable particulate matter burden

with pre-existing health conditions [55].

Figure 9. Indoor relative humidity for houses among cases and controls

**Figure 4.** Indoor relative humidity for houses among cases and controls

Key: Low = <30%, Comfort = 30 – 60%, High = >60%

[15] found that children with respiratory illness come from houses with poorer sanitation than controls, while in developed countries promotion of hand washing has been associated with

Cardoso et al., (2004) found that children with respiratory illness come from houses with poorer sanitation than controls, while in developed countries promotion of hand washing has been associated with reduced incidence of

activity, including feeding and maturation is more rapid at higher rates of relative humidity, which was confirmed in

Cockroaches are implicated as a major cause of asthma among inner city children in the U.S., resulting in increased hospital admissions, school absenteeism, and unscheduled medical visits for asthma (Rosenstreich et al., 1997).

A case-control study carried out in Ibadan among houses of children under the age of 5 revealed that a higher proportion of houses visited among cases and controls recorded indoor relative humidity (RH) values above the comfort level (30%–60%)(Fig. 4). The high RH (above comfort level) observed among a large proportion of houses among cases could be as a result of high moisture content. The mean indoor and outdoor air RH among cases (69.6 ± 4.7; 67.2 ± 5.0) was found to be higher than among controls (63.1 ± 6.5; 66.1 ± 7.1) [7]. With such high relative humidity levels, microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria can survive on non-living materials including dusts (Choa *et al.,* 2002). High relative humidity above 70% also tends to

A case-control study carried out in Ibadan among houses of children under the age of 5 revealed that a higher proportion of houses visited among cases and controls recorded indoor relative humidity (RH) values above the comfort level (30%–60%)(Fig. 4). The high RH (above comfort level) observed among a large proportion of houses among cases could be as a result of high moisture content. The mean indoor and outdoor air RH among cases (69.6 ± 4.7; 67.2 ± 5.0) was found to be higher than among controls (63.1 ± 6.5; 66.1 ± 7.1) (Ana et al., 2013). With such high relative humidity levels, microorganisms such as fungi and bacteria can survive on non-living materials including dusts (Choa et al., 2002). High relative humidity above 70% also tends to favour the survival of viruses that infect the

Particulate matter (PM) has been recognized in recent years as the most dangerous and widely spread air pollutant [43] affecting more people than any other pollutant and contributing to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer. PM10 is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in many cities worldwide and the risk is greatly pronounced among susceptible populations, including the elderly, children and people

Low Comfort High

Case 0 18.2 81.8 Control 0 48.5 51.5

Particulate matter (PM) has been recognized in recent years as the most dangerous and widely spread air pollutant (Manandhar et al., 2010) affecting more people than any other pollutant and contributing to the risk of developing cardiovascular and respiratory diseases, as well as lung cancer. PM10 is associated with increased mortality and morbidity in many cities worldwide and the risk is greatly pronounced among susceptible populations, including the

favour the survival of viruses that infect the membrane of the respiratory tract.

elderly, children and people with pre-existing health conditions (Pudpong et al., 2011).

Everyone has the right to a good standard of living, adequate for the health and well-being of his family. Over the years, man has built houses to protect himself from environmental hazards. Buildings do not always protect their occupants from pollution. The quality of housing conditions plays a decisive role in the health status of the residents. The bioaerosols, dust and gaseous pollutants trapped or growing on the inside may well exceed those outdoors and therefore exacerbate health problems.

A polluted indoor air is a risk factor for human health globally. The magnitude of the health risks and risks factors associated with exposure to poor indoor air quality especially among children under the age of 5 are evident in Nigeria. Overcrowding, the use of generators and biomass fuel have been identified as the critical environmental problems which increases the likelihood of respiratory symptoms and/or obstruction in those exposed on a regular basis in Nigeria.

Health policy changes regarding construction of homes with better ventilated kitchens and use of environmentally friendly, low-emission and energy-efficient cooking stoves, aimed at mitigating the deleterious effects of exposure to indoor air pollutants in mothers and children will significantly improve indoor air quality and reduce the risk of respiratory symptoms.

Indoor Air Quality will continue to be an essential field in environmental health studies and interventions because exposure to varied indoor substances will likely increase in the coming years. Research on the molecular characterisation of indoor bioaerosols, genetic susceptibility to indoor pollutants and their carcinogenic effect are required.
