Ramin Karchagani METR-113 05-10-11 ASSIGNMENT #3

OUTLINE

I. Introduction A. Statement of the problem B. Which news story, why it was chosen, and its relevance to air pollution C. Purpose and scope of report II. Background A. What is indoor air pollution and what are some main categories? III. Indoor air pollutants A. Biological contaminants B. Tobacco smoke C. Household products and pesticides D. Gases such as radon and carbon monoxide E. Materials used in the building such as asbestos IV. Health effects of indoor pollutants V. Recommendations VI. Conclusion

I. Introduction A. Clean air must be cherished, whether it is indoor or outdoor. There are many regulations and standards on various outdoor air pollutions by different states and agencies, but when it comes to the air inside of a house or a building it is a different story. Today many products and household activities, and even interior decorations cause indoor air pollutants that have harmful effects to human health. B. The news story that caught my attention is called, Beat Bad Air Days by Katherine Bowers, published on Yahoo news on October 14, 2010 (Bowers, 2010). I chose this story because I believe it is necessary to have an understanding of the indoor air pollutants we live with everyday emitted by the different types of products and materials we use on a daily basis. Air pollution exists both indoor and outdoor, indoor air pollutants are as serious as outdoor pollutants and in some cases even more dangerous because they can be trapped inside of a building and last for a long time with a high level of concentration. C. The purpose of this report is to obtain a better understanding of indoor air pollution, to identify different types of pollutants, and to further understand the health effects associated with it. II. Background Indoor air pollution is when one or more air pollutants or contaminants exist indoors putting the health of the occupants in risk. Indoor pollutants go all the way back to the beginning of civilization, but it was not until three decades ago when a much more serious emphasis was put on it and it health effects to human beings and the environment around us. Research shows that people spend more than 65 percent of their time at home, while being exposed to air pollutants which according to various field studies have two to five times and even in some cases hundred times more than the level of outdoor concentration (World Health Organization). III. Indoor air pollutants A. Biological contaminants are consisted of bacteria, pollen, mold, house dust, mites and so on. There are different sources for each of these pollutants. For example Mold a fungi that can be found indoor or outdoor usually forms in wet or damp areas causing health problems. One can show allergic reactions or suffer from asthma attacks for touching or inhaling mold. Fungal infections, eye, nose or skin irritation can also happen as a result of touching or being around mold. Pollen, a microscopic powdery substance originated by plants, transported by wind or insects is another good example of what we might be inhaling indoors. Pollens can enter buildings through open doors, windows and cracks, and are also produced by plants inside the house or building, or by the surrounding trees. Viruses go around by people and mostly animals, especially pets such as dogs and

cats. B. The most common method of using tobacco, is smoking cigarettes. Not only smoking tobacco is a danger to human health and can cause cardio vascular and respiratory disease, but it is also an indoor air pollution effecting the health of those who don not smoke and are exposed to secondhand smoking also referred to as passive smoking, or environmental tobacco. There are more than 40,000 chemical compounds in tobacco smoke and more than 60 of them can be cancer causing agents according to the US Environmental Protection Agency smoke (Environmental Protection Agency). Tobacco smoke has also lately been associated with tuberculosis disease and infections that sometimes lead to death. There are more systematic studies being done about the association between tobacco smoke and TB. The chances of having a positive tuberculin skin test are much higher for those who smoke than non-smokers (American Lung Association). C. Household products whether solid or liquid are used for different purposes in an average household. Some of these products release what is called volatile organic compounds or in other words gases that are made up of variety of chemical threatening human health for short and long periods of time. According to EPA the concentration of such type of indoor pollutants is usually ten times higher indoors than outdoor. Some example of products which emit VOCs include, paints, weed and insect killers, printers, building materials, markers, glues, and cosmetics. VOCs can be very harmful, they can cause loss of coordination, liver damage, irritation, nausea, kidney and nerve problems, and of course cancer like many other known air pollutants (Environmental Protection Agency). D. Radon is a very serious hazard when it comes to indoor air pollutants. Radon is a heavy and invisible radioactive gas that can be found in rock formations used in buildings, most commonly beneath the foundation. Building materials imported or made in the United States are not always properly monitored or tested for radon and are responsible for thousands of lung cancer deaths each year. Simple testing can be done indoors for to identify the gas, but little action is taken by home owners and building owners. On the other hand carbon monoxide is one of the most toxic and dangerous indoor air contaminant. Carbon monoxide is dangerous because it is a colorless and an odorless gas that can deprive the brain of oxygen and cause unconsciousness and death. Defective heaters, tobacco smoke, and automobile exhaust are all big sources of carbon monoxide (World Health Organization). E. Asbestos, a strong and a good heat resistant mineral fiber has been used in most of building materials such as tile, insulation, shingles, and heating systems before 1975, and is now regulated heavily. Older houses are the biggest source of asbestos, but they usually are not a threat unless disturbed. Lots of construction workers disturb asbestos by cutting, demolition or sanding of building materials when working on older buildings, and must take safety precautions, and obtain the

necessary permit for such work. Asbestosis is a sneaky respiratory disease that takes up to even 20 years sometimes to show itself and is caused by long-term exposure to asbestos. IV. Health effects of indoor pollutants Different types of air pollutants contain very small particles that are capable of penetrating deep into the lungs causing short and long term health risks and conditions. According to World Health Organization (WHO), indoor air pollution is responsible for death of 1.6 million people, thats one death every 20 seconds. Indoor air pollutants such as biological contaminants, tobacco smoke, household products, gases like carbon monoxide, and building materials such as asbestos and lead can lead to pneumonia, chronic respiratory disease, irritation of different body parts, damage to kidney, liver, brain, and nervous system, cardio vascular complications and cancer. The ability of contaminants and chemical compounds to cause health effects varies and depends on: 1. The amount of pollution available in the air 2. The amount of air we breathe in a given time 3. How healthy we are EPA reports that people on average spend 90 percent of their time indoors, of which 60 percent is spent at home (American Cancer Society). This is even worst for people who spend more time at home than others, such as children, elderly, and pregnant women. Below is a figure that shows different parts (sources) of an average house and the role of each in emitting the pollutants discussed in this paper.

Here is a closer look at the sources found inside of an average house highlighted in yellow, such as furniture, pets, fire place, fabrics, building materials, cleaning agents, and showers that contribute to indoor air pollution.

V. Recommendations Indoor air pollution kills many people every second, minute, day and year, but the good news is that there are steps we can take in order to control the amount of pollution surrounding us. The first step is identifying and assessing the quality of the air in your home (Geiger, 2010). This is to understand what type of existing problem might be putting you and your loved ones in danger.

After identifying the problems there are different steps we can take to fight indoor air pollutants. For carbon monoxide leaks home or building owners must inspect gas appliances, and get them cleaned annually by professionals. When it comes to household products and pesticides homeowners must make sure to use products in ventilated areas, and schedule pesticide inspection and application. Air filters are also very important when it comes to heating and cooling systems, these filters need to be inspected and changed as needed. Electronic air cleaners are a good way to keep the air clean and get rid of indoor air pollutants. When it comes to radon gas, it is a good idea to seal the concrete slab floors, foundations and drainage systems. Controlling the humidity level of the house to keep mold, and mildew away is also crucial. VI. Conclusion Air pollution kills, but as discussed previously it can definitely be prevented to a great extend. Four to eight thousand people a day die due to air pollution. Annually air pollution is responsible for the death of 3 million people, of which 2.8 million are from indoor air pollution (Department of Health and Human Services). Developing countries have the highest rate of air pollution related deaths according to the World Health Organization due to the heavy reliance on biomass in the forms of, wood, crop residue, and charcoal for their domestic cooking fuel. In conclusion clean air must be cherished and everyone should take steps towards preventing one of our biggest assets from getting polluted, causing disease and eventually death.

Reference List

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