Indoor Air Pollutants

Question 1

Asphyxiant IPs

Answer 1

Carbon monoxide

Question 2

Particulate IPs

Answer 2

asbestos, dust & smoke

Question 3

Natural-Source IPs

Answer 3

radon, mold, & dust

Question 4

Human-made IPs

Answer 4

• insulation
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) from furniture, paneling & carpets
• formaldehyde from building materials, furniture, upholstery, & carpeting
• lead from paints

Question 5

combustion air pollutants

Answer 5

carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxides, sulfur dioxide, particulates, & tobacco smoke

Question 6

What is the source of radon-222? How does it infiltrate the house? What is its primary health effect? What are characteristics of radon gas?

Answer 6

• naturally occurring radioactive gas that is produced by the decay of uranium found in some rocks & soils
• infiltrate homes as it moves up through the soil & enters homes via the basement or cracks in the walls or foundation or dissolved in groundwater (esp. from a well)
• Exposure to radon gas can lead to radon-induced lung cancer
• Cannot see/smell, hard to catch

Question 7

In what environments does mold grow? What is the primary health risk?

Answer 7

• found in homes, schools & buildings that have poor ventilation
• Water leaks & too much humidity
• Affects respiratory passageways

Question 8

What does dust contain? How can dust be prevented?

Answer 8

• contain particulates of different sizes (same standards as PM for coarse v.s. fine)
• Home heating & cooling systems have filters that should be changed often

Question 9

What are the sources of smoke? Primary health risk?

Answer 9

• candles burning
• use of fireplaces
• use of cookstoves that burn wood, charcoal & animal dung
• Use of unvented space heaters or kerosene heaters
  cigarette smoke
• smoke from nearby wildfires
  Health Effects:
• Irritate and damage respiratory systems

Question 10

Where in the United States is high radon exposure more likely to occur? What factors contribute to radon exposure?

Answer 10

Northern regions

- The kind of bedstone and soils in an area can determine how likely radon is to affect human health

Question 11

How can building owners reduce risk of radon inflitration?

Answer 11

• Radon tests can be performed to determine risk
• Monitoring & remediation can reduce the risk of exposure
• Sealing cracks & venting can easily reduce the risk

Question 12

How do asbestos infiltrate homes and what are the health effects?

Answer 12

• used in insulation (but no longer used in schools or public buildings)
• causes mesothelioma (a specific kind of lung cancer)

Question 13

Where can VOCs be found? `

Answer 13

furniture, paneling & carpets, cleaning supplies, fabric softener, dryer sheets

Question 14

What are some sources of formaldehyde?

Answer 14

treated woods, carpets, glues & resins

Question 15

What household items can produce carbon monoxide? Why is it classified as an asphyxiant?

Answer 15

• small engines
• stoves
• lanterns
• grills/fireplaces
• furnaces
• cars & trucks
  Health Effects: CO impairs the ability of red blood cells to carry oxygen, dizziness, nausea & suffocation

Question 16

Globally, what regions face CO pollution as a major danger?

Answer 16

• Developing countries (more burning of coal, less modern fuel sources)

Question 17

What is sick building syndrome? What are some potential causes?

Answer 17

situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort effects that appear to be linked to time spent in a building

• Inadequate or faulty ventilation
• Chemical contamination from indoor sources
• Chemical contamination from outdoor sources
• Biological contamination from outside or inside