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Environmental Health > Indoor Air Pollution/Radon > Flashcards

Indoor Air Pollution/Radon Flashcards

1
Q

What are some air pollutants that are often found at higher concentrations indoors than outdoors?

A
  • Radon
  • NO2
  • SO2
  • Hydrocarbons - PAHs
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2
Q

What are the standards for indoor air, and who established them?

A

There are no standards for residential indoor air…the Clean Air Act does not include indoor air

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3
Q

What casues indoor air pollution?

A
  • Any source that releases gases or particles into the air
  • Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources
  • High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.
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4
Q

What are some IAP Sources?

A
  • Combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products;
  • Building materials and furnishings
  • Deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation,
  • wet or damp carpet
  • cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products;
  • products for household cleaning and maintenance,
  • personal care, or hobbies;
  • central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices;
  • outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.
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5
Q

Aspects of WHO Indoor Air Report

A
  • Based on observational studies
  • Few direct measurements of pollution
  • Use of proxy indicators based on fuel type, stove type, time spent near fire
  • Issue with confounding
  • Biomass smoke puts people at risk for many diseases…but accurate risk estimates are difficult to develop due to bias and lack of data
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6
Q

CDC NIOSH Study - Causes of IA Incidents

A
  • 48% from inadequate ventilation
  • 18% Internal Source
  • 10 % OUTSIDE SOURCE
  • 4 % HUMIDITY
  • 4 % BIOLOGICAL AGENTS
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7
Q

IA & Synergism with household chemicals

A
  • Combination of pollutants…emergent effect worse than they are individually
  • Lack of research to determine effects
  • Major Source: “Cottage Industries”
  • Use of solvents, solder, etc. for hobbies
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8
Q

What groups experience the most health effects from IAP?

A

Classic:

  • Children
  • Elderly (sedentary, same enviroment all day)
  • Immuno-comprimised
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9
Q

What are the three categories of IAP?

A
  • Generation within building
  • Generation from materials
  • Infiltration
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10
Q

IAP sources continued: What are some biological sources?

A
  • DANDER
  • POLLEN
  • MOLDS
  • BACTERIA
  • DUST MITES
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11
Q

IAP Sources continued: Chemical Sources?

A

VOLATILE ORGANIC COMPOUNDS (VOC)
CO, NO2, SO2
RADON
ASBESTOS
FORMALDEHYDE PESTICIDES

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12
Q

Aside from chemical and biological sources, two more were listed…remember??

A
  • Natural Disasters
  • Particulates
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13
Q

What is the most important aspect of mold control?

A

Controling the sources of moisture and humidity!

  • Floods, leaking pipes, windows, roofs
  • Inadequate ventilation and sealed living & working environments
  • Reduce indoor humidity - 30-60%
  • Preventing condensation
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14
Q

What are some of the potential health effects of mold infestation?

A
  • Toxin-induced inflammation:

Mycotoxins: initiate a toxic response in humans; Cytotoxic, immunosuppresive effect, inhalation of spores may cause toxic pneomonitis

  • Allergy:

10-32% of all asthmatics are sensitive to fungi

  • Infection:

9% of nosocomial infections are caused
by fungi in immunocompromised individuals

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15
Q

What is the process of mold remediation?

A
  • Cleaning mold off surfaces with detergent
  • Replacing absorbant materials
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16
Q

What standards exist for indoor mold growth?

A

Trick Question…There are None!!

  • No mandated actions specific to molds required by any state or federal agencies
  • No mandated exposure limits
  • EPA states, “Standards or Threshold Limit Values for airborne concentrations of mold, or mold spores, have not been set”
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17
Q

What is the definition of Sick Building Syndrome?

A

Well….Paul says there’s no established definition. Maybe he’s never heard of the little organization that made up the following definition:

The term “sick building syndrome” (SBS) is used to
describe situations in which building occupants
experience acute health and comfort effects that
appear to be linked to time spent in a building, but
no specific illness or cause can be identified.

-THE EPA!!

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18
Q

What is the another term for Sick Building Syndrome?

A

Non-Specific Building Related Illness

19
Q

Common symptoms from NSBRI that generally decrease after leaving the building?

A

Irritants:

  • BURNING EYES
  • NASAL STUFFINESS
  • COUGH
  • SORE THROAT
  • LARYNGITIS
  • CHEST PAIN
  • SKIN RASH
  • HEADACHE
  • FATIGUE
20
Q

What are some more serious issues that may continue after leaving a sick building?

A

* LEGIONELLOSIS - bacterial illness
* ASTHMA
* ALLERGIES

21
Q

What are some Economic and Quality of Life effects of Sick Building Syndrome?

A
  • PRODUCTIVITY CONCERNS
  • ABSENTEEISM
  • POOR WORK/SCHOOL PERFORMANCE
22
Q

Recommended Air Intake Rates…how have they changed?

A
  • 1975 = 5 cu/ft/min
  • Now 15 CU FT/min/per person for many spaces
  • Depends on the use of the space
23
Q

Are there national building codes/standards?

A

No. Not all states have building codes, there are only national recomendations. Connecticut has a code that applies to all towns,

24
Q

Issues with Sick Building investigations

A
  • Unknown etiology…what to look for?
  • How long should testing go on?
  • What to do if something is found?
  • What standard would be used…OSHA, NIOSH, WHO?
25
Q

What are the potential variables to be investigated in a Sick Building?

A
  • Ventilation system - functioning, distribution
  • Physical layout of building - air intakes/outlets, partitions
  • Location of equipment (Copiers??)
  • Changes - cleaning chemicals, seasons, humidity, temp
  • Heating system & fuel source
  • Construction/remodeling activities
  • Building materials - carpeting, particle board, adhesives, formaldehyde (10% of gnp!)
  • Outside sources - vehicles, industries, etc
26
Q

Asthma - General Information

A
  • Prevalance increasing in the U.S. between 2001 - 2010 (7.3-8.4%)
  • Higher percentage of children affected
  • Racial Disparities : Higher rate in the black population
  • Economic Disparities: Higher rate in low SES groups (diet, poor housing, allergen exposure)
27
Q

Asthma Morbidity & Mortality

A

Adults

  • Number of noninstitutionalized adults who currently have asthma: 18.7 million
  • Percent of noninstitutionalized adults who currently have asthma: 8.0%

Children

  • Number of children who currently have asthma: 6.8 million
  • Percent of children who currently have asthma: 9.3%

Mortality

  • Number of deaths: 3,630
  • Deaths per 100,000 population: 1.1
28
Q

What are some environmental triggers of asthma?

A
  • DUST MITES
  • COCKROACHES
  • COLD
  • Environmental factors have an association with exacerbations but not disease prevalence (the cities

studies)

  • Airborne particulate matter, O3, mold, NOx and SO2
  • Varying result across studies prove the complex and
    multifactorial nature of disease
29
Q

What is the Federal Program to improve IAQ in Schools?

A

EPA - Tools for Schools

Voluntary program that provides outreach, guidance, and tools to assist school systems in reducing exposure to indoor contaminants by identifying, correcting, and preventing IAQ problems (including asthma, allergy, and respiratory triggers) in the school environment

30
Q

IAP Prevention Program: CT State Level

A

2003 Legislation requiring all schools:

  • to maintain and ensure operation of HVAC systems while people occupy the building,
  • adopt an IAQ program,
  • report to the state every three years on the condition of school facilities
  • Creates a “certified school indoor air quality emergency” category for receiving state
    bonding money.
  • New Schools require Phase 1 environmental site assessment
31
Q

List agencies involved in Asthma prevention

A

WHO
CDC
EPA
NAEPP - awareness. recognition of symptoms, effective control
ALA

32
Q

Home Indoor Air Quality Intervention Costs?

A

This is definitely unimportant:

Integrated pest management of cockroaches $150
Check, clean & tune furnace $60
Address basement cold air return system $360
Remove cellulose debris from basement $10
Vent clothes dryer $40
Cover dirt floor with impermeable vapor barrier $85
Install furnace filter + labor $20

33
Q

What disease is associated with long term radon exposure?

A

Lung Cancer

Exposure to radon in the home is responsible for an estimated 20,000 lung cancer deaths each year, second only to smoking - EPA

34
Q

What is the source of radon gas, and how was it connected to lung cancer?

A

Radon comes from the natural (radioactive) breakdown of uranium in soil, rock and water

Initial epidemiology was done among uranium miners who had higher than expected deaths from lung cancer

35
Q

What did the 1999 Radon report from the National Academy of Sciences conclude?

A
  • Radon in indoor air results in 20,000 lung cancer deaths annually
  • Radon in groundwater results in 168 cancer deaths per year.
  • 89% due to breathing released radon
  • 11% due to stomach cancer (ingestion)
36
Q

Living patterns that influence radon risk

A
  • Smoking in the home
  • Amount of time spent inside
  • occupancy time in the lower levels of the home
  • Length of residency
37
Q

How does radon enter homes?

A
  • Cracks in solid floors
  • construction joints
  • Cracks in walls
  • Gaps in suspended floors
  • Gaps around service pipes
  • Cavities inside walls
  • The water supply - inhaled when given off during showers, ingested
38
Q

What tests are used for home radon?

A

Short Term Tests (2- 90 days):

“Charcoal canisters,” “alpha track,” “electret ion chamber,” “continuous monitors,” and “charcoal liquid scintillation” detectors

Long Term Tests (90+ days):

“Alpha track” and “electret”

39
Q

What are some variables that infuence the accuracy of radon tests?

A
  • TIME OF YEAR - Radon levels change
  • LOCATION OF TEST DEVICE - lowest occupied level
  • HUMIDITY
  • TEMPERATURE

Long-term tests give the best estimate of the home’s year-round average radon level.

40
Q
A

This is a shed

41
Q

What standards/proposed standards exist for radon?

A

EPA Proposed Rule 1999:

  • Applies to all CWS that use groundwater or a mixture of groundwater and surface water
  • Sets a Maximum Contaminant Levels (MCL) dependent on mitgation plans and number of people served
  • EPA (2003) recommends the American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) standard of 4 pCi/L for mitgation action in homes
42
Q

What are Multimedia Mitigation Programs (MMM)?

A

EPA approved, state-enhanced radon indoor air programs

Quantitative goals for reducing radon in existing and new homes

43
Q

What is the cost advantage of a state’s adoption of an MMM program? (Related to treatment of water sources for radon)

A

States can choose to develop MMM programs and individual water systems must only reduce radon levels in drinking water to 4,000 pCi/L or lower - Cost: $80 million/year

OR

If a state chooses not to develop an MMM program, individual water systems in that state would be required to either reduce radon in their system’s drinking water to 300 pCi/L - Cost: $407 million/year

44
Q

What are the methods of treating radon from groundwater?

A

Point of Entry (POE) treatment –removes radon before it enters the house (ex. aeration)
•Point of Use (POU) treatment –removes radon at tap
•Only treats small portion of water used
•Not effective in reducing risk from inhalation

Environmental Health (4 decks)

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