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Chapter 25
Indoor Air Pollution
Concentrations of common indoor pollutants compared with
outdoor concentrations.
Some Sources of Indoor Air
Pollution
• Secondhand smoke
• Legionella pneumophila (bacteria) found in pools
of stagnant water in air ducts
• Mold
• Radon Gas
• Pesticides
• Dust Mites
• Pet Dander
More Sources of Indoor Air
Pollution
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Abestos: fireproofing
Aerosols: air fresheners, etc.
CO: gas heaters
PM’s: fireplaces
O3: photocopiers
Pathways, Processes and Driving
Forces
• Chimney Effect (Stack Effect)
– Process whereby warmer air rises in buildings
to upper levels and is replaced in the lower
portion of the building by outdoor air drawn
through a variety of openings, such as windows
doors or cracks in the foundation or walls
• Generally occurs when there is a temperature
difference between indoor and outdoor
environments.
Sick Building Syndrome
• A condition associated with an indoor
environment that appears to be unhealthy
• The symptoms people report cannot be
traced to any one particular cause…making
it difficult to diagnose
– Headache, itchy eyes, vomiting, skin irritations,
troubles breathing, dizziness, nosebleeds,
abdominal pain etc.
Massachusetts RMV
• Employees moved into new building in 94’
• Complaints of unpleasant odors, fatigue,
itchy eyes, headaches, respiratory problems
• Cause turned out to be poor ventilation &
construction that caused fireproofing
material to be carried throughout the
building
Environmental Tobacco Smoke
• Secondhand smoke
• 2 sources
– Smoke exhaled by smokers
– Smoke emitted from burning tobacco
• The most hazardous indoor pollutant
Radon Gas
• Radon
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Naturally occurring radioactive gas
Colorless, odorless, tasteless
Only identified through proper testing
Causes CANCER (lung)
• Health hazard when leaked into homes
• Exposure is associated with lung cancer
Radioactive decay for
radon. Radon is a gas that
can move up from rock or
soil and into the air.
Control of Indoor Air Pollution
Ventilation
Source Removal
Source Modifications
Air Cleaning (pollutant removal)
Education