RIAQ Residential Indoor Air Quality Bill Bardin Air and Water Pollution Prevention and Control Engineering RPI – Fall 2013 Professor Gutierrez-Miravete

RIAQ – Residential Indoor Air Pollution Many of us realize, from first hand experience, that the outside air can be unhealthy and polluted, but fewer people know that the indoor air quality can be even worse. Recommended exchange rate: –1 – 3 / Hour. Areas of Concern: –Radon –VOC’s –PM’s

RIAQ - Radon Average national indoor radon level: –1.3 pCi/L (1 Ci = 3.7 × decays per second.) Fairfield County: –3.9 pCi/L with 29% of the test sites yielding at least 4.0 pCi/L and above, the EPA action level. Radon is the most common cause of lung cancer among non- smokers and causes about 21,000 U.S. deaths a year. Radon exists naturally, as a gas, resulting from the decay of Thorium or Uranium. Radon testing and remediation is required for home sales. Proper design and construction can mitigate radon issues in residential construction

RIAQ – VOC’s Paints, stains, varnishes Waxes Polishes Solvents Pesticides Adhesives Wood preservatives Cleansers Lubricants Air fresheners Fuels Plastics Copy machines, printers Tobacco products Perfumes Dry cleaned clothing Headache Dizziness Lack of coordination Nervousness Irritability Insomnia Confusion Loss of concentration Speech difficulties Depression Impaired judgment Memory deficits Visual disturbances ECG changes Weakness Fatigue Paralysis

RIAQ – PM’s According to the EPA people spend nearly 90% of their time indoors. Pets Aerosols Soot Pests Dust Carpets Rugs Furniture Cooking Open Windows Smoke Mold Mildew Electrostatic filters HEPA Filters Exhaust fans for cooking No Smoking Policy No work clothes Humidity Control Frequent vacuuming Proper renovation protection

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