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Air Pollution Indoors Can Be Higher Than Outside - as part of the news series by GeoBeats. A University of Sheffield study has revealed that there is more harmful air pollution in some kitchens than in many busy streets and city centers. The study focused on air borne chemicals known to have a negative health impact such as carbon monoxide, and nitrogen dioxide, which are harmful particularly on the elderly and people with respiratory problems. Researchers tested air quality inside and outside of several residential buildings in a variety of rural and urban settings, finding air pollution levels to be as much as three times higher in the kitchen of the city center building than they were outside. Using a gas range and having insulation, which keeps the gases trapped inside, are some of the main contributing causes for the high concentration of harmful gases. Head of the study said, "Concerns about air quality tend to focus on what we breathe in outdoors, but as we spend most of our time indoors, we need to understand more about air pollution in our homes. There is very little data on emission rates from different appliances or acceptable standards on indoor pollutants."