Abstract
INTRODUCTION: Because Americans spend approximately 87% of their time indoors, indoor air quality is a critical determinant of childhood asthma outcomes. Indoor environmental pollutants are heterogenous and dynamic, reflecting variations in household behaviors, building characteristics, and outdoor air quality and environmental exposures that penetrate the home envelope. The purpose of this state-of-the-art review is to provide an overview of current knowledge on common indoorpollutants.
METHODS: PubMed was queried for studies published on indoor air pollutants between 2020 and 2025. Key pollutants identified are mold, particulate matter ≤ 2.5 µm (PM2.5), nitrogen dioxide (NO₂), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), and radon.
RESULTS: These studies highlight significant associations between pollutants and asthma prevalence, increased asthma symptoms, and reduced lung function. Some associations exist despite exposures levels below thresholds set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the World Health Organization (WHO).
CONCLUSION: Further research is needed to expand our understanding of mixture effects and develop evidence-based practices for decreasing exposure to improve asthma outcomes.