© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 44 Indoor Air Quality

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Mastery Check Name three common sources of indoor pollution and their associated health risks. For each pollution source, describe one way to reduce exposure to the source. Common indoor air pollution sources include tobacco smoke, radon gas, volatile organic compounds, living organisms from mites to bacteria, and smoke from indoor fires. Exposure can be reduced for each (in the order of the factors just mentioned) by not smoking indoors, ventilating confined spaces in basements, choosing alternative products for floor coverings or cleaning compounds, minimizing sources of standing water in HVAC systems, and limiting wood fires to the outdoors—or at least providing a working chimney and adequate ventilation.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Objectives: Define the term sick-building syndrome. Characterize the scope of indoor air pollution and assess potential solutions. TED - Fumes from indoor cooking fires kill more than 2 million children a year in the developing world. MIT engineer Amy Smith details an exciting but simple solution: a tool for turning farm waste into clean-burning charcoal.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Sick-Building Syndrome: A building-related illness produced by indoor pollution in which the specific cause is not identifiable. Define the term sick-building syndrome.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. Characterize the scope of indoor air pollution and assess solutions. Indoor air pollution causes more deaths and heath problems worldwide than outdoor air pollution. Indoor burning of fuelwood is the developing world’s primary indoor pollution risk. Tobacco smoke and radon are the deadliest indoor pollutants in the developed world. Volatile organic compounds and living organisms can pollute indoor air. Using low toxicity materials, keeping spaces clean, monitoring air quality, and maximizing ventilation all help to enhance indoor air quality.

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Indoor Air Quality  Indoor air pollution  pollution in workplaces, schools, and homes  Health effects are greater than from outdoor pollution  The average U.S. citizen spends 90% of the time indoors  Exposure to synthetic materials that have not been comprehensively tested  Being environmentally prudent can make it worse  To reduce heat loss and improve efficiency, ventilation systems were sealed off  New buildings were constructed with windows that do not open, trapping pollutants inside

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Burning fuelwood causes indoor air pollution in the developing world  Indoor air pollution has the greatest impact on the developing world  Poverty forces millions to burn wood, charcoal, dung, crop wastes inside homes for heating and cooking with little to no ventilation  Produces soot, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants increasing risk of pneumonia, bronchitis, lung cancer, allergies, cataracts, asthma, heart disease, etc.  Fuel-burning pollution causes 3.5 million deaths/year (nearly 7% of all deaths)

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Tobacco smoke and radon are the primary indoor pollutants in industrialized nations  Cigarettes  Cause eye, nose, and throat irritation  Greatly increase risk of lung cancer  Contain over 4000 chemical compounds  Secondhand smoke causes similar problems to smoking  While smoking has declined in developed nations, it still causes 160,000 cases of lung cancer per year in the United States

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. Tobacco smoke and radon are the primary indoor pollutants in industrialized nations  Radon causes 21,000 deaths/year in the United States  A radioactive gas resulting from natural decay of rock, soil, or water that can seep into buildings  New homes are being built that are radon resistant

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Many VOCs pollute indoor air  VOCs are the most diverse group of indoor air pollutants  Released by everything from plastics and oils to perfumes and paints  Most are released in very small amounts  Health implications are unclear because exposure is to low concentrations and people are exposed to mixtures of pollutants  Formaldehyde leaks from pressed wood and insulation  Irritates mucous membranes and induces skin allergies

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Living organisms can pollute  Tiny living organisms may be the most widespread source of indoor air pollution in the developed world  Dust mites and animal dander worsen asthma  Fungi, mold, mildew, airborne bacteria cause allergies, asthma, other respiratory ailments, and diseases  Building-related illness  a sickness produced by indoor pollution  Sick building syndrome  a sickness produced by indoor pollution with general and nonspecific symptoms  Reduced by using low-toxicity building materials and good ventilation

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc. We can enhance indoor air quality  Using low-toxicity materials, monitoring air quality, keeping rooms clean and providing adequate ventilation alleviate indoor air pollution  In developing countries:  Dry wood before burning and cooking outside  Use more efficient stoves and less-polluting fuels  In developed countries:  Limit exposure to known toxicants  Test homes and offices for radon and use CO detectors  Premature deaths from indoor air pollution worldwide dropped 40% from 1990 to 2010

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. TED Video Amy Smith shares simple, lifesaving design (15:03) Amy Smith designs cheap, practical fixes for tough problems in developing countries. Among her many accomplishments, the MIT engineer received a MacArthur "genius" grant in 2004 and was the first woman to win the Lemelson-MIT Prize for turning her ideas into inventions. Fumes from indoor cooking fires kill more than 2 million children a year in the developing world. MIT engineer Amy Smith details an exciting but simple solution: a tool for turning farm waste into clean-burning charcoal.