Indoor Air Quality in Dwellings Located in an Industrial Zone and Its Effects on the Health of the Population

In recent decades there has been a significant increase in atmospheric concentrations of hazardous substances, resulting from urban and industrial activities. The good quality of the air we breathe is considered a basic requirement for human health and well-being. The possible effects on human health, derived from these emissions from large industrial sources, have been a long-standing concern, especially when these activities are located in the vicinity of urban areas, where housing is present. This study aimed to evaluate the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) in the homes of individuals residing near the industrial zone of Alpiarça, as well as analyzing individual’s perceptions of AQ and the prevalence of symptoms/diseases. The sample consisted of 8 dwellings and the 14 occupants who lived in them. Data collection consisted of two investigation moments: evaluation of environmental parameters (CO, CO2, PM0,5, PM1,0, PM2,5, PM5,0, PM10, PMTotals and ultrafine particles) and meteorological variables (temperature and relative humidity); application of a questionnaire to the inhabitants of the evaluated residences. It can be concluded that it’s necessary to take measures to improve the AQ in some of the evaluated dwellings as improve air renewal systems in order to make this renewal more efficient and effective, opting whenever possible for natural ventilation.