Indoor Air Pollution

Target:

Describe sources of air pollution and the effects of different pollutants in the air.

Why should we care about our indoor air?• Levels of 11 common pollutants can be 2-5

times higher inside homes and commercial buildings.

• EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.�

• People spend up to 90% of their time indoors.

What are the sources of indoor air pollution?

ChloroformPara-dichlorobenzene Tetrachloroethylene

FormaldehydeWood, carpet glue, Furniture, clothing

Benzo--pyrene

Styrene

Radon-222Methylene Chloride

Tobacco Smoke

Carbon Monoxide

Asbestos

Nitrogen Oxides

1, 1, 1-Trichloroethane

Sick-Building Syndrome

– Causes of Sick-Building Syndrome: poor ventilation, mold, chemicals in building materials, smoke, too much time inside

– Results of Sick-Building Syndrome: dizziness, headaches, coughing, sneezing, shortness of breath, nausea, burning eyes, chronic fatigue, irritability, skin dryness and irritation, and flu-like symptoms

– Newer buildings tend to be more sick – why is that?

Radon

• The common source of radon-222 is uranium-238 that is found in the soil or in the rock (especially shale and granite) on which the house is built.

• Radon gas is colorless and odorlessIt enters the house through cracks in concrete walls, floors and possibly well water.

Health Effect with Radon

• Lung cancer because radon-222 gas decays into polonium-210 and exposes lung tissue to radiation.

• The EPA estimates that radon causes 14,000 deaths in the United States a year

• Smokers are at a higher risk.

Outlet vents for furnaces and dryers

Slab joints

Wood stove

Cracks in floorClothesdryerFurnace

Radon-222 gasSlab

Soil

Uranium-238

Sumppump

Cracks in wallCracks in wall

Open windowOpen window

Openingsaroundpipes

Openingsaroundpipes

Radon

•Also known as ETS, second hand smoke, or passive smoking

•A mixture of over 4,000 compounds come from the burning end of a cigarette

•40 of these 4,000 are known to cause cancer in humans and animals

Environmental Tobacco Smoke

•The EPA suggests that ETS is responsible for 3,000 lung cancer deaths each year in non smoking adults

•Young children whose parents smoke in their presence are at a higher risk for respiratory infections such as pneumonia and bronchitis

Health Effects of ETS

•Biological contaminants are mold, mildew, bacteria, pet dander, dust mites, and pollen.

•Some sources are pollen from plants, and bacteria by people and animals

•Central air units if moist can produce molds and mildews that are then circulated through the house

Biological Contaminants

•Dust mites grow in damp warm environments

•Humidity level in the home plays an important role in controlling the environment

•A safe home humidity level is 30-50%

Health Effects of Biological Contaminants

•Can trigger allergic reactions and asthma attacks

•Molds and mildews can release disease causing toxins

•Symptoms include sneezing, coughing, dizziness, fever, and digestive problems

•Children and the elderly are particularly susceptible

Health Effects of Biological Contaminants

•Releases carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particles

•Carbon Monoxide- colorless, odorless gas

•Nitrogen Dioxide- colorless, odorless gas

•Particles- released when fuels are incompletely burned

Heaters, Stoves, Fireplaces, and Chimneys

•Carbon Monoxide at high levels can cause unconsciousness and death

•Carbon Monoxide at low levels can cause headaches, dizziness, disorientation, and nausea

•Nitrogen Dioxide increases the risk of respiratory infection

•Nitrogen Dioxide irritates the eyes, nose, and throat

•Particles can get into the lungs and damage lung tissue

Health Effects of “The Warmers”

•Organic chemicals in household products are released during use and possibly during storage

•Organic chemicals are found in paints, varnishes, cleaning supplies, and disinfectants

•Levels of a dozen common pollutants were found to be 2 to 5 times higher in homes then outside

Household Products

•Increased risk of cancer with high concentration of indoor organic chemicals

•Other symptoms include headaches, nausea, dizziness, or vertigo

Health Effects of Household Products

•Sources of formaldehyde in the home are: building materials, smoking, and household products

•Another big source of formaldehyde is compressed wood (plywood, and particle board)

•The rate at which formaldehyde is released from compressed wood can change

Formaldehyde

•Symptoms of exposure to formaldehyde includes watery eyes, burning sensation in the eyes and throat, and nausea

•High levels of exposure can trigger an asthma attack

•It also may cause cancer in humans

Health Effects of Formaldehyde

•75% of United States homes use at least one pesticide product indoors in a year

•Pesticides used in the home are usually for controlling pests such as insects, termites, or rodents

•Other sources include contaminated soil or dust that finds its way into the house

Pesticides

•Symptoms of pesticide exposure are headaches, dizziness, muscle spasms, weakness, and nausea

Health Effects of Pesticides

•Asbestos was commonly used in buildings as insulation

•Asbestos is now most commonly found in older homes and schools

•Sources of Asbestos are pipe and furnace insulation, asbestos shingles, millboard, textured paints, and floor tiles.

Asbestos

•Asbestos fibers are too small to be seen with the naked eye

•Asbestos particles are inhaled and accumulate in the lungs

•It can cause lung cancer, mesothelioma, and asbestosis

•Symptoms do not usually show up until years after exposure

Health Effects of Asbestos

•Sources of lead are lead-based paint, contaminated soil, dust, and drinking water

•Lead pipes are the source of lead in your drinking water

•Lead paint as well as paint chips pose a problem in older homes, buildings, and schools

Lead

•At low levels lead can effect the central nervous system, kidneys, and blood cells

•At high levels lead can cause convulsions, coma, or even death

•Lead exposure on fetuses and young children can be severe, causing delays in physical and mental development

Health Effects of Lead

•Organic gases, formaldehyde, and cigarette smoke are knows to cause cancer in pets. The pollutants can also cause a variety of lung aliments in the animals.

•The pets can ingest the pollutants by grooming themselves. They take in what is in their fur from the outside, the carpets, and the air inside.

Effects on a household pet

Solutions

Indoor Air Pollution

Prevention Cleanup

Cover ceiling tiles and lining of AC ducts to prevent release of mineral fibers

Ban smoking or limit it to well-ventilated areas

Set stricter formaldehyde emissions standards for carpet, furniture, and building materials

Prevent radon infiltration

Use office machines in well-ventilated areas

Use less polluting substitutes for harmful cleaning agents, paints, and other products

Use adjustable fresh air vents for work spaces

Increase intake of outside air

Change air more frequently

Circulate building’s air through rooftop greenhouses

Use exhaust hoods for stoves and appliances burning natural gas

Install efficient chimneys for wood-burning stoves

What Can You Do?

Indoor Air Pollution

• Test for radon and formaldehyde inside your home and take corrective measures as needed.• Do not buy furniture and other products containing formaldehyde.• Remove your shoes before entering your house to reduce inputs of dust, lead, and pesticides.• Test your house or workplace for asbestos fiber levels and for any crumbling asbestos materials if it was built before 1980.• Don't live in a pre-1980 house without having its indoor air tested for asbestos and lead.• Do not store gasoline, solvents, or other volatile hazardous chemicals inside a home or attached garage.• If you smoke, do it outside or in a closed room vented to the outside.• Make sure that wood-burning stoves, fireplaces, and kerosene- and gas-burning heaters are properly installed, vented, and maintained.• Install carbon monoxide detectors in all sleeping areas.