Chapter 25: Indoor Air Pollution

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Chapter 25 Indoor Air Pollution
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Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

• Secondhand smoke
• Most hazardous common indoor air pollutant
• Legionella pneumophila
• Bacterium that causes a type of pneumonia called
  Legionnaires disease when inhaled.
• Some molds (fungal growths) in buildings release
  toxic spores.
• Cause chronic inflammation and scarring of lungs

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Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

• Radon gas
• seeps up naturally from soils and rocks below
  buildings
• Thought to be the second most common cause of
  lung cancer.
• Pesticides
• Deliberately or inadvertently applied in
  buildings to control pest
• Are toxic to people as well

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Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

• Some varieties of asbestos
• Known to cause a particular type of lung cancer
• Formaldehyde
• A VOC, used in many materials found in homes and
  offices.
• Emit formaldehyde as a gas into buildings.
• Dust mites and pollen
• irritate the respiratory system, nose, eyes, and
  skin of people who are sensitive to them.

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Dust mite
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Pollen grains
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Sources of Indoor Air Pollution

• Common indoor air pollutants are often highly
  concentrated compared with outdoor levels.
• Why?
• There are so many potential indoor sources of
  pollutants. (Furniture, beds, carpet, plastics)
• The effectiveness of the steps we have taken to
  conserve energy in buildings (ie, weather
  stripping) has led to the trapping of pollutants
  inside.

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Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning Systems

• Systems are designed to provide a comfortable
  indoor environment for people.
• Design depends on a number of variables
• Including the activity of people in the building,
  air temperature and humidity, and air quality.
• Done correctly it will
• Provide thermal comfort for people inhabiting the
  building.
• Provide the necessary ventilation (utilizing
  outdoor air)
• Remove common air pollutants via exhaust fans and
  filters

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Pathways, Processes, and Driving Forces

• Many air pollutants originate within buildings
  and may be concentrated there because of lack of
  proper ventilation.
• Other air pollutants may enter by infiltration,
• Through cracks and other openings in the
  foundations and walls (Radon, VOCs)
• Or by way of ventilation systems. (proximity to
  roads)

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Pathways, Processes, and Driving Forces

• A chimney effect (or stack effect)
• Occurs when there is a temperature differential
  between the indoor and outdoor environments.
• Warmer air rises in the building to the upper
  levels, it is replaced in the lower portion of
  the building by outdoor air.
• Secondhand smoke, may also be drawn into a
  building by the chimney effect.

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Building Occupants

• People living or working in particular indoor
  environments react to pollutants in different
  ways
• Some groups of people are particularly
  susceptible to indoor air pollution problems.
• The symptoms reported by people in a particular
  environment vary.
• In some cases, the symptoms reported result from
  factors other than air pollution.

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Particularly Susceptible People

• A persons susceptibility to a particular air
  pollutant also depends on genetic factors,
  lifestyle, and age.
• Sometimes a matter of concentration rather than
  susceptibility.
• Older people and children are generally more
  sensitive.
• People suffering from chronic lung or respiratory
  diseases are more susceptible.
• Individuals who have suppressed immune systems.
• Some people, when exposed to chemicals, develop
  multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS).

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Symptoms of Indoor Air Pollution

• A great variety of symptoms can result from
  exposure to indoor air pollutants.
• Nosebleeds, chronic sinus infections, headaches,
  and irritation of the skin or eyes, nose, and
  throat.
• More serious problems include loss of balance and
  memory, chronic fatigue, difficulty in speaking,
  and allergic reactions, including asthma.
• Other pollutants cause dizziness or nausea.
• Radon, asbestos, and chemicals such as benzene,
  may have long-term chronic health effects
  (cancer).

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Sick Buildings

• There are two types of sick buildings
• Buildings w/ identifiable problems
• Occurrences of toxic molds or bacteria known to
  cause disease.
• Diseases are known as building-related illnesses
  (BRI).
• Buildings w/ sick building syndrome (SBS)
• Symptoms people report cannot be traced to any
  one known cause.

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Sick Buildings

• When the cause is not detected. A number of
  things may be happening
• The complaints result from the combined effects
  of a number of contaminants present in the
  building.
• Environmental stress from another source is
  responsible.
• Employment-related stress may be leading to the
  symptoms reported.
• Pollutants or toxins may be present but not
  identified.

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Environmental Tobacco Smoke

• Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS)
• Secondhand smoke
• Comes from two sources
• smoke exhaled by smokers
• smoke emitted from burning tobacco in cigarettes,
  cigars, or pipes.
• People who are exposed to ETS are referred to as
  passive smokers.

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Environmental Tobacco Smoke

• It is hazardous for the following reasons
• Tobacco smoke contains several thousand
  chemicals, many of which are irritants.
• Studies of nonsmoking workers exposed to ETS
  found that they have reduced airway functions,
  suffer more illnesses, and lose more work time
  than those not exposed to ETS.
• In the US, about 3,000 deaths from lung cancer
  and 40,000 deaths from heart disease a year are
  thought to be associated with ETS.

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Radon Gas

• Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas
  that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.
• Radioactive decay chain from radiogenic uranium
  to stable lead
• Radon-222 has a half-life of 3.8 days, is the
  product of radioactive decay of radium-226.
• Radon decays with emission of an alpha particle
  to polonium-218, which has a half-life of 3
  minutes

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Geology and Radon Gas

• The concentration of radon gas that reaches the
  surface of the Earth and thus can enter our
  dwellings is
• Related to the concentration of radon in the
  rocks (generally granitic rock) and soil.
• Some regions in the United States contain bedrock
  with an above-average natural concentration of
  uranium.

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How Does Radon Gas Enter Building?

• Radon gas enters homes and other buildings in
  three main ways
• 1. It migrates up from soil and rock into
  basements and lower floors.
• 2. Dissolved in groundwater, it is pumped into
  wells and then into homes.
• 3. Radon-contaminated materials, such as building
  blocks that are used in construction.

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Radon Resistant Techniques for Homes and Other
Building

• Protection is straightforward and relatively
  inexpensive.
• Techniques are variable depending on the type of
  foundation a particular home has,
• The basic strategy is to prevent radon from
  entering
• And to safely ensure that radon is removed from
  the home site.

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• A. Gas Permeable Layer
• Allow the soil gas to move freely underneath the
  house.
• B. Plastic Sheeting
• Help prevent the soil gas from entering the home.
  
• C. Sealing and Caulking
• Openings in the concrete foundation floor are
  sealed to reduce soil gas entry into the home.

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• D. Vent Pipe
• A PVC pipe runs from the gas-permeable layer
  through the house to the roof to safely vent
  radon above the house.
• E. Junction Box
• An electrical junction box is installed if an
  electric venting fan is needed.

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Indoor Air Pollution and Green Buildings

• Building green.
• The processes involves using building designs
  that result in less pollution and better use of
  resources.
• Providing for a good indoor environmental quality
  is a significant part.
• Designing, constructing, and maintaining
  buildings that minimize indoor air pollutants.
• Ensuring that fresh air is supplied and
  circulated, and managing moisture content to
  remove the threat of moisture-related problems
  such as mold.

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Control of Indoor Air Pollution

• There are strong financial incentives to provide
  workers w/ a clean air environment.
• A good starting point would be passing
  environmental legislation requiring minimum
  indoor air quality standards.
• Including increases in the inflow of fresh air
  through ventilation. This concept is at odds
  with the principles of Energy Efficiency.

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Control of Indoor Air Pollution

• One of the principal means for controlling
  quality is by dilution
• Fresh outdoor air mixed via a ventilating
  air-conditioning system and windows that can be
  opened.
• Various types of air-cleaning systems reduce
  potential pollutants
• Such as particles, vapors, and gases.
• Can be installed as part of the heating,
  ventilation, and AC system or as stand-alone
  appliances.

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Control of Indoor Air Pollution

• Education also plays an important role
• May involve deciding not to install unvented or
  poorly vented appliances.
• Educated people are more aware of their legal
  rights with respect to product liability and
  safety.
• Education provides people with the information
  necessary to make decisions concerning exposure
  and strategies to avoid potentially hazardous
  conditions in the home and workplace.