Indoor Air Quality

Question 1

What are examples of indoor air pollutants?

Answer 1

Smoking
Cooking
Mold

Question 2

What kind of activities can create indoor air pollutants?

Answer 2

Cooking
Renovating / Home Improvement
Hobbies
Cleaning
Laundry

Question 3

What kind of rooms, places, or items can cause indoor air pollutants?

Answer 3

Attached garage
Dampness
Water leaks
Household Items/Furniture

Question 4

What kind of chemicals can smoking emit?

Answer 4

Formaldehyde
Particulate Matter
Carbon Monoxide
VOC’s

Question 5

What is particulate matter?

Answer 5

sum of all solid and liquid particles suspended in air

Question 6

What are some of the organic and inorganic particles that make up particulate matter?

Answer 6

Dust
Pollen
Soot
Smoke
Liquid Droplets

Question 7

How does particulate matter enter the body?

Answer 7

1. Enters through nose or mouth when we breathe
2. Body eliminates most of the larger particles while smaller particles continue to lungs
3. Smaller particles penetrate deep into lungs

Question 8

Why are attached garages bad?

Answer 8

Car inside garage can produce pollutants that can infiltrate your home

Question 9

What types of pollutants can infiltrate your home through an attached garage?

Answer 9

Particulate Matter
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Carbon Dioxide (CO)
VOC’s

Question 10

How can cooking cause bad indoor air quality?

Answer 10

Can generate indoor air pollutants through cooking, frying, boiling, or gas stoves

Question 11

How does FRYING generate indoor air pollutants?

Answer 11

emits more particles compared to others

Question 12

How does BOILING generate indoor air pollutants?

Answer 12

increases humidity levels

Question 13

How do gas stoves generate indoor air pollutants?

Answer 13

produces gases and ultrafine particles

Question 14

How can you decrease the amount of pollutants in your kitchen?

Answer 14

Range Hood

Question 15

What kind of pollutants can be released in the kitchen when cooking?

Answer 15

Particulate Matter
Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
Carbon Dioxide (CO)

Question 16

What is Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)?

Answer 16

A chemical compound that primarily gets into the air from burning fossil fuels (coal, gas, oil)

Question 17

Where in the home can Nitrogen Dioxide be produced?

Answer 17

Stoves
Space Heaters
Water Heaters
Furnaces
Fireplaces

Question 18

Which natural sources can produce Nitrogen Dioxide?

Answer 18

Volcanoes
Oceans

Question 19

What can we do to keep Nitrogen Dioxide out of our homes?

Answer 19

Keep gas appliances properly adjusted
Open flues when fireplace is burning
Use vented space heaters
Replace gas stoves with electric or induction
Use proper filters and exhaust fans

Question 20

What is Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Answer 20

Odorless & colourless gas that can cause serious health effects or death

Question 21

What in the home can produce Carbon Monoxide?

Answer 21

Gas space heaters
Stoves
Furnaces
Fireplaces
Gas powdered equipment

Question 22

What kind of natural sources can produce Carbon Monoxide?

Answer 22

Volcanoes
Bushfires

Question 23

Which places in the home can produce mold, dampness, or water leaks?

Answer 23

areas where stagnant water builds up or damp places like showers and basements

Question 24

What can cause mold to grow indoors?

Answer 24

high humidity
leaks
water infiltration
flooding

Question 25

How can you prevent mold from growing?

Answer 25

fix any moisture problem control humidity levels

Question 26

What can gas or oil furnaces and gas water heaters emit?

Answer 26

Wood Smoke Particulate Matter Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) Carbon Monoxide (CO) VOC's

Question 27

What kind of gases or contaminants can be released into the air from building materials?

Answer 27

Asbestos Formaldehyde VOC's

Question 28

What kind of renovation materials can emit gases or contaminants?

Answer 28

Glues Flooring Solvents Insulation Wood Products Paints & Varnishes

Question 29

When was the last asbestos mine closed in Canada?

Answer 29

2012

Question 30

What kind of products contain asbestos in the 1990s - 2000s?

Answer 30

Sealants Adhesives Mastics Caulking Cement Pipes Boards

Question 31

Where in the home can Formaldehyde be found?

Answer 31

Composite & Engineered Wood Counter Tops Moldings Furniture Shelving Support Beams Glues/Resins

Question 32

Which kind of home improvements or renovations require the windows being opened?

Answer 32

Painting Cleaning Varnishing Home Improvement

Question 33

What kind of household items can release VOC's?

Answer 33

Carpets Cleaning products Candles & Incense Furniture & Cabinets Personal Care Products

Question 34

What kind of things in the home can attract dust mites?

Answer 34

Carpets Fabric Foam Chair Cushions Pillows Mattresses

Question 35

What can dust mites cause for humans?

Answer 35

Allergens

Question 36

How can you prevent dust mites?

Answer 36

Increasing ventilation

Question 37

What kind of hobbies can contribute to indoor air pollution?

Answer 37

Carving Woodworking Arts & Crafts

Question 38

How can cleaning and laundry activities increase indoor air pollution?

Answer 38

Increase amount of moisture in air

Question 39

What kind of cleaning/laundry methods can reduce air pollutants?

Answer 39

Cleaning floors with damp mop or cloth Vacuum often Use mattress/pillow protector Hang laundry outdoors Make sure dryer vents arent blocked Clean lint tray often

Question 40

Is indoor air or outdoor air more contaminated?

Answer 40

Indoor

Question 41

What are the two types of indoor contaminants?

Answer 41

Biological Chemical

Question 42

What are Biological contaminants?

Answer 42

Moisture -- leads to mold Bacteria Animal Dander Dust Mites Pollen Cockroaches

Question 43

What are Chemical contaminants?

Answer 43

Building Materials Cleaning Products Toiletries/Cosmetics Fireplaces/Stoves Upholstery & Furniture (VOC's) Paint, Adhesive, Grout, Sealers

Question 44

What kind of plants can reduce indoor pollutants? (benzene, formaldehyde, trichlorethylene)

Answer 44

Madagaskar Dragon Tree Warenkil Pathos Chinese Evergreen Heartleaf Peace Lilly English Ivy Snake Plant

Question 45

What can sick building syndrome cause because of the poor air quality?

Answer 45

Asthma Migraines Allergies

Question 46

Which kind of individuals can Sick Building Syndrome affect?

Answer 46

Individuals in: Offices Schools Hospitals Public Buildings