Indoor Contaminants:

CO2,NO2,Indoor Aerosol, O3,

Bioaerosol, Asbestos
Unit 3
Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

CO2 not harmful air contaminant

CO2 measures IAQ
High CO2 levels = uncomfortable
How to Reduce CO2 Levels Indoor

VENTILATION

PEOPLE DENSITY
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

Combustion process = NO2

Boiler System
Unvented Gas Stoves
Smoking
Engines
Generators
Effects of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

PLANTS
•Small amounts = growth
•Large amount = stunted growth
•Enhance microbial activity
(composting, MRF)
Effects of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

MATERIALS
• Damage dyes, fabrics, plastics, metals and
stonework
Effects of Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)

HUMANS
• Irritation of eyes, nose, throat
• Respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis)
• Pulmonary problems (lung injury)
How to Reduce NO2 Levels Indoor

Control Measures NO2 = CO

How to Reduce NO2 Levels Indoor

VENTILATION

Regular inspection and maintenance of

combustion devices

IDLING
Ozone (O3)

• Colorless
• Pungent Smell
• Reactive
• Strong Oxidizing Agent

https://www.freshairguide.com/wp-content/uploads/
2019/10/rain-shower-creating-ozone-smell.jpg
Ozone (O3)

Good Ozone

Bad Ozone

https://www.acsh.org/sites/default/files/ozone%20layer.jpg
PROS and CONS of O3
+ -
Eliminate odor and reduce other Plants: Stunted growth
contaminants (bioaerosols and CO)

Improve performance of other cleaning Materials: Facilitates corrosion and

technologies degrades polymers (PVC, plastics)
Humans: Throat irritation, coughing,
chest pain, shortness of breath and
respiratory issues
Reacts to other pollutant to form
secondary pollutant
O3 Control Methods

VENTILATION

Reduce usage

Eliminate /isolate sources

Indoor Aerosol

Common category: Particulate Matters

PM grouping by size. µm (micron)
• 10 µm = Can pass via nose and throat
• 2.5 µm = Go deeper into lungs and tissues
• 0.1 µm = Go deeper into blood stream
Micron Relative Size

https://3.bp.blogspot.com/-ukmTZ3IaJPA/TswDYAta3qI/
AAAAAAAAL20/HjfU7JgRrcY/w1200-h630-p-k-no-nu/PM2.5.jpg
Indoor Aerosol Sources
Natural
• Volcano, forest fires, sea spray, living vegetation
Man-made
• Smoking
• Vacuum Cleaning
• Cooking
• Burning fossil fuels
• Incinerating waste
Indoor Aerosol Effects
• Irritation of eyes, nose, throat
• Respiratory diseases (chronic bronchitis)
• Pulmonary problems (lung injury)
How to Reduce PM Concentration

VENTILATION

FILTRATION
• Diffusion
• Interception
• Impaction
• Electrostatic Deposition
Bioaerosols
Type of PMs
Airborne particle
Containing whole or part of biological material
 Fungi Sources
• Organic food and
water
• Living and dead plant
materials
• Wet building
materials
Examples
• Bacteria
• Mycobacterium tuberculosis
• Legionella (Pontiac Fever and Legionnaire’s Disease)
• Virus
• Influenza
• Smallpox
• SARS
• Fungi
• Molds
• Yeast, mildews and rust
Effects of Bioaerosols
• Bacteria: Respiratory infection (Pontiac fever to
legionella), allergies
• Virus: respiratory and pulmonary infection, allergies,
varied
• Fungi: respiratory and pulmonary infection, worsens
allergies
How to Reduce Bioaerosols
• Filtration
• Chemical and Ozone disinfection
• Electrostatic Precipitation
• removes particles from a gas stream by using electrical energy to charge particles
either positively or negatively. The charged particles are then attracted to collector
plates carrying the opposite charge.
Asbestos
Commonly found in building construction materials, walls, ceilings,
insulation and tiles
Airborne asbestos fibers are solid particles that vary in size between
0.7 and 90 microns
Cannot be broken down or removed once fibers enters the lungs or
body tissues
Airborne asbestos fibers are solid particles that vary in size
between 0.7 and 90 microns
Do not drill, cut, hammer, saw or break materials containing
asbestos
Asbestos
All forms of asbestos are banned in • friction materials
the Philippines except for • high temperature textile products
chrysotile, which is restricted under
a government Chemical Control • gaskets
Order issued in 2000. Chrysotile • mechanical packing materials
asbestos is permitted in: • high-grade electrical paper
• fire-proof clothing • battery separators
• roofing felts and related products • other high-density products
• asbestos cement roofing
• asbestos cement flat sheets