1. Mansel A Nelson Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals.
Basics Strategies for Maintaining Good
Indoor Air Quality
Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Communities
Mansel A Nelson
Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals

2. Presentation How Lungs Work What is IAQ?
Basic Strategies to address IAQ
Source Reduction
Ventilation
Air Cleaning

3. How Lungs Work
Mansel Nelson, ITEP
30 minutes

4. Lungs

5. Cardiovascular Connection
Gases and small particles distributed widely after entering bloodstream
If lungs are not functioning properly, heart must work harder
CO causes heart problems
Some fumes can make us dizzy
People with COPD end up with Congestive heart failure

6. Protect the Lungs of Young Children
Lungs of young children are very sensitive
Air pollution can damage lungs for a lifetime
Exposure to air pollutants can cause asthma, which can last a lifetime
Lung infections can damage lungs for a lifetime

7. What is IAQ?

8. What Is Indoor Air Quality?
Two types
Acceptable Air in occupied space toward which substantial majority of occupants express no dissatisfaction and in which there are not likely to be known contaminants at concentrations leading to exposures that pose a significant health risk (as opposed to occupational/industrial settings)
Unacceptable Majority of occupants in an occupied space that express dissatisfaction or one or more individuals “perceive” a problem with indoor air

9. Risk Factor Components for IAQ
Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) equipment
Carbon Dioxide concentrations
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)
Microbial Organisms (mold, bacteria)
Temperature
Relative Humidity
Bio-effluents
Other sources (radon, noise, light, asbestos, lead, ETS, vermin)
Build-up of outdoor air contaminants inside

10. Basics Strategies to Improve IAQ

11. Basic Principles
Source Control
Ventilation
Air Cleaning

12. Source Control
Improving quality of indoor air is vital for human health
Preferred strategy
Increasing ventilation – higher energy costs

13. Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
No risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke.
Eliminate from indoor environment
Following actions DO NOT protect nonsmokers
Separating smokers from nonsmokers
Cleaning the air
Ventilating buildings

14. Wood / Coal Burning Stoves
Consider alternative heating sources

15. Cleaners and Air Fresheners
Average US household uses 40 lbs of chemicals each year
Average household stores more than 60 hazardous products
Many of the products are loaded with fragrances and petroleum-distilled chemicals (Volatile Organic Compounds / VOCs)

16. Air Fresheners
DO NOT “clean” the air
They add more air pollutants

17. Pesticides
Read and follow label instructions
IPM preferred

18. Carbon Monoxide (CO)
All burning emits CO
Alarms are backup

19. Radon Radioactive gas Radon Resistant Construction (Keep it out)

20. Outside Sources Location of dumpsters Reduce idling of buses
Watch for fresh air intakes
Reduce idling of buses

21. Designated Smoking Area?

22. Walk-Off Mats

23. Carpets

24. Mold

25. Art and Science Classrooms

26. Floor Drains

27. Occupant Sources Physiological “equilibrium” Sweat/perspiration
Perfume, cologne

28. Basic Principles
Source Control
Ventilation
Air Cleaning

29. Ventilation Higher energy costs
Tension between weatherization and indoor air quality
Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV)
Heat Capacity of air is LOW

30. Source Ventilation
Exhaust out of building

31. Source Ventilation (cont.)

32. Source Ventilation (cont.)
Cooking releases moisture
Gas stoves release low CO and lots of moisture
Make sure range hood vents to outside

33. Source Ventilation (cont.)
Gas stoves release low CO and lots of H2O

34. Source Ventilation (cont.)

35. Art and Science Classrooms

36. Ventilation – Outside Air
ASHRAE provides guidelines
ASHRAE

37. Classroom Ventilation

38. How Much Outside Air (OA)?
ASHRAE
Offices= 17 cubic feet/minute (cfm)/person
Libraries= 17 cfm/person
Science Labs= 1 cfm/sq. ft.
Auditoriums= 5 cfm/person
Indoor Gymnasium= 0.3 cfm/sq.ft.
Art Classrooms= 0.7 cfm/sq.ft.
Health Care (patients’ rooms)= 25 cfm/person

39. Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning System
Location of outside air intakes
Air handlers inspected periodically
Filters changed periodically, wet/dirty, appropriate for occupancy (office, school, hospital, automotive garage, etc.)
Exchange indoor air frequently (flush)
Sufficient outside air brought in?
Standing water anywhere in system; moisture on interior duct surfaces
Heating/Cooling coils free of dirt and debris
Visible “slimes” on duct surfaces

40. Air Cleaning Basic Principles Source Control Ventilation
Air cleaning is only recommended after proper source control and ventilation steps are taken.

41. Air Cleaners Generally not effective for gaseous pollutants
Efficiency for collecting pollutants (HEPA = % of 0.3 micron particles)
Moving air through cleaning element
On going maintenance
Combine with source removal and ventilation

42. Air Cleaners Buyer beware! No Ozone Air Cleaners True HEPA Filter
Activated Charcoal
Size for the space and air flows

43. Air Cleaning – Don’ts These methods may make air quality WORSE
DO NOT USE Ozone (sold under many different guises)
Ozone is an air pollutant
Chemical reactions may lead to even more dangerous air pollutants
Air Fresheners typically attempt to cover up odors and add more air pollutants
Electronic or electrostatic cleaners that may add ozone

44. Summary – Maintaining Healthy IAQ
Connected to health of building occupants
No silver bullets – If it is too good to be true…
Source control is preferred strategy

45. More Information… www.epa.gov/iaq
Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-Guide- to-Indoor-Air-Quality/
lity.html

46. Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP)
Mansel A. Nelson, Senior Program Coordinator
Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Communities
Northern Arizona University (NAU)
Voice
FAX
PO Box 5768, Flagstaff, AZ 86011