Indoor air pollution can be defined as the contamination of indoor air by sources like cooking fuel, construction material etc. Indoor Air pollutants Sources of Indoor Air Pollution Combustion of biomass cooking fuels like cow dung and wood Tobacco smoking Airborne particles produced from microbial, viral, fungal matter Microbes from organic materials, humidifiers, vaporizers, heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems (HVAC) Resins, waxes, polishing materials and paints, cosmetics, binders, incense, dhoop and mosquito coils Infectious agents produced in stagnant water, mattresses, carpets, and humidifiers too pollute indoor air Tips to minimise indoor pollutuion 1. Minimise pollution by mitigating or reducing from sources Avoid/Minimise Cooking with solid fuels like firewood, cow dungs, coal and kerosene etc. Heating purposes during colder or winter days from solid fossil fuels Lighting purposes from kerosene lamps etc. Smoke from mosquito coils or incense sticks during poor air quality days Smoking of cigarettes, bidis, traditional hookah etc. Outside pollution sources - nearby construction sites, and materials like paints, and composite vi. wood products; vehicular exhausts in houses nearby the roads Burning of wastes, crop residues, plastics, bottles and food wrappers etc. 2. Adoption of better practices while cooking in Kitchen or at homes Use of cleaner fuels (LPG, electronic based) To ventilate air adequately to reduce smoke properly during cooking (opening windows or doors; use of exhausts fan) Avoid to burn fossil fuels and if to do, use open spaces or small pieces of wood To minimise cooking hours by prior soaking of foods if possible During poor air quality level, to avoid cooking causing smoke or to shift timing if possible To take breaks for clean air while cooking if possible To cover pots and bottom cleansed for faster cooking and efficiency Women to make elderly, children stay away from polluting sources 3. Considerations in other household areas and vicinity during polluted air levels To use energy efficient measures like LED bulbs or other electronic devices at homes To ventilate properly by opening doors/ windows wherever possible; restrict if air quality is poor Avoid burning fossil fuels having smoke inside houses for heating and lighting purposes Restrict sweeping causing dust particles in air, timings may change to afternoon Use damp sweeping/ clothes for cleaning floors and surfaces Avoid havan indoor when air quality level is poor Reduce air fresheners, sprays and mosquito coils and sprays if poor air quality Do not burn crop residue or wastes causing smoke Discourage visitors/ family members from smoking tobacco/ hookah indoor or vicinity Sources Training Manual for children - National Centre for Disease Control” Ministry of Health & Family Welfare, Government of India Health Advisorv on Air Pollution - Ministry of Health and Family Welfare, Government of India