Indoor Air Pollution

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
 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
 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.
 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.
 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
 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)
 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.
 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.
 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).
 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).
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 Radon Gas
Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas
that is colorless, odorless, and tasteless.

Radon-222 has a half-life of 3.8 days, is the

product of radioactive decay of radium-226.
 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.
 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.
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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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.
 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.