Indoor Air Pollution Indoor air pollution can be

Indoor Air Pollution Indoor air pollution can be an even greater health threat than outdoor air pollution. Common pollutants often 2 -5 times higher, up to 70 times.

4 Most Hazardous Indoor Pollutants • Smoke • Formaldehyde: § offgassed from building materials § causes headaches, sore throat and eye irritation • Asbestos: § fibrous silicate materials that was used as fireproofing and thermal insulation prior to 1984 § breathing difficulties, lung cancer § removal can release fibers • Radon -222 § From decay of Uranium-238 in the soil/bedrock

Sick Building Syndrome If 20% or more of a building’s occupants suffer health effects that improve when they leave the building, a building is considered to have “sick building syndrome”.

Indoor Air Pollution Video http: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=adz. Mcf. Hr 1 q 8

Indoor Air Pollution

Discuss with your table partner: What are methods that can be used to reduce the amount of indoor air pollutant? . • Reducing sources of pollution (furniture that doesn’t emit formaldehyde etc. ) • Ventilation – allowing air flow to reduce indoor concentrations One strategy that could lessen certain indoor air pollutants is phytoremediation (a type of bioremediation). Discuss what this term means. Phyto = plant Remediation = to solve a problem Phytoremediation: using plants to solve an environmental problem such as air pollution. .

Certain plants can take in and/or break down air pollutants.

Radon-222 Radon– 222 gas is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring gas that is a breakdown product of uranium– 238. Found in small amounts in most soil. Radon gas causes lung cancer & other health problems. Ventilation & proper construction can prevent accumulation of this dangerous gas.

Formaldehyde (CH 2 O) Formaldehyde is a volatile organic compound (VOC) - Used in building materials - Also produced in combustion reactions (such as intermediatry in the combustion of methane – CH 4)

Respiratory System Body defenses against particulate matter: • Nose hairs • Mucus that traps particulate matter • Cilia (thin hairs lining) in trachea that push mucus upwards Not very effective against fine particulate matter.

Video on Indoor Air Pollutants http: //abcnews. go. com/Health/video? id=8069 834 Formaldehyde Video https: //www. youtube. com/watch? v=0 xto. Hw 0 VGVU

Common Health Effects of Air Pollutants • Lung Cancer • Asthma: typically an allergic reaction causing muscle spasms in bronchial walls and leading to shortness of breath • Chronic Bronchitis: persistent swelling of bronchi and bronchioles, causing mucus build-up, coughing and shortness of breath • Emphysema: irreversible damage to alveoli (air sacs) causing shortness of breathe • Recent studies show that air pollution exposure linked to greater risk of heart attacks, stroke and cognitive deterioration including dementia.

Normal Human Lungs and the Lungs of a Person Who Died of Emphysema

Health Effects of Air Pollutants • carbon monoxide (CO): 200 x greater affinity to hemoglobin in red blood cells than O 2 or CO 2, therefore reduces ability of blood to carry oxygen; • particulates: long–term exposure contributes to lung disease & cancer, aggravates bronchitis & asthma; • sulfur dioxide (SO 2): causes constriction of airways & can cause bronchitis; • nitrogen oxides (especially NO 2): irritate lungs, cause conditions similar to bronchitis & emphysema; • volatile organics (& toxic particulates): cause mutations, reproductive problems, & cancer; • ozone: causes coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, & eye, nose, & throat irritation.

Preventing & Reducing Air Pollution A combination of laws, technologies, & responsible practices can be used to prevent & clean up air pollution.

Air Pollution Legislation The Clean Air Acts of 1970, 1977, & 1990 require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). • NAAQS apply to: suspended particulate matter sulfur oxides carbon monoxide nitrogen oxides (NOx) ozone lead • Prevention of significant deterioration is a policy of the Clean Air Act, regions with air quality cleaner than that required by NAAQS are not allowed to deteriorate;

Sulfur Dioxide Cap and Trade In 1990, the Clean Air Act created a cap and trade program for sulfur dioxide. This mainly affects coal power plants. • A cap is set on emissions of sulfur dioxide. • Companies that do not utilize their full allowance can trade the surplus as a commodity to companies that exceed the cap.

Effectiveness of Clean Air Laws • Between 1970 & 1997 levels of six major air pollutants decreased by 31%; • A 1996 study by the EPA shows that benefits of the Clean Air Act greatly exceed costs: 1970– 90 $436 billion spent, health benefits of $2. 7 to $14. 6 trillion; • However, EPA estimates that 107 million Americans live in areas that exceed at least one outdoor air pollution standard. • Nitrogen dioxide levels have increased slightly, primarily from automobiles;

Premature Deaths from Air Pollution in the U. S.

Video: Air Pollution in US cities Down but Not Out http: //abcnews. go. com/Health/video/pollution-10502526

Technologies for Preventing & Reducing Air Pollution Four commonly used methods for removing particulates from the exhaust gases of power & industrial plants. All produce hazardous waste that must be disposed.

Reducing Air Pollution from Vehicles • Catalytic Converters reduce CO and hydrocarbon emissions: O 2 from air is passed over a catalyst, which converts CO to CO 2 and hydrocarbons to CO 2 and H 2 O • Mandatory testing for older vehicles which may be more polluting.

Preventing & Reducing Air Pollution How can we protect the atmosphere? • Put more emphasis on pollution prevention • Improve energy efficiency • Reduce use of fossil fuels (especially coal & oil) • Increase use of renewable energy • Slow population growth • Integrate air pollution prevention with other policies • Regulate air quality for entire regions • Tax the production of air pollution • Transfer appropriate technologies to developing countries.

• SOLUTIONS • Prevention • Indoor Air Pollution • Cleanup or Dilution • Clean ceiling tiles and line 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 a building’s air through rooftop greenhouses • Use efficient venting systems for woodburning stoves • Use exhaust hoods for stoves and appliances burning natural gas