Indoor Pollution

Question 1

which is worse: indoor air quality or outdoor?

Answer 1

INDOOR

Question 2

5 sources of indoor pollution?

Answer 2

natural gas
VOCs (volatile organic compounds)
PAHs (polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons)
smoke
asbestos

Question 3

where can you find VOCs?

Answer 3

most used as solvents
paint thinners, varnishes, adhesives, glues, plastic, dyes, inks, particle board, plywood, cosmetics, detergents, drugs, pesticides, tobacco smoke, petroleum fuels
typically small molecules, ubiquitous in indoor settings

Question 4

4 routes of VOC exposure?

Answer 4

inhalation
ingestion
absorption

Question 5

VOC exposure sxs?

Answer 5

aplastic anemia
B-cell malignancies
blood dyscrasias
bone marrow damage
CA
leukemia
paresthesias
BIG TAKE AWAY: mostly hematological, nervous and immune system- often are oncogenic

Question 6

6 VOCs?

Answer 6

benzene
toluene
xylene
phenol
formaldehyde
vinyl chloride and PVC

Question 7

where can you find benzenes outdoors? indoors?

Answer 7

outdoors: volcanoes, forest fires, natural part of crude oil, gasoline, cigarette smoke, refinery emissions, motor vehicle exhaust
indoor: glues, paints, furniture wax, detergents

Question 8

health effects of VOC exposure?

Answer 8

bone marrow suppression
anemia
immune suppression
lower levels of antibodies
leukemia

Question 9

characteristics of toluene?

Answer 9

clear, water-insoluble liquid
smell of paint thinner
used in paints, coatings, synthetic fragrances, adhesives, inks, cleaning agents
25x more reactive than benzene!!

Question 10

where are you exposed to toluene?

Answer 10

highest in indoor air from common household products, cigarette smoke

Question 11

health effects of toluene?

Answer 11

CNS is the primary target for toxicity

ssxs: fatigue, sleepiness, H/A, nausea, chronic inhalation, developmental effects in children of PG women

Question 12

characteristics of xylene?

Answer 12

aromatic hydrocarbon aka dimethylbenzene
used in histology labs for tissue processing
colorless
sweet-smelling
occurs naturally in petroleum, cool and wood tar
used as a solvent

Question 13

how can you be exposed to toluene?

Answer 13

occupational, leaking underground storage tanks, can occur through inhalation, ingestion, eye or skin contact

Question 14

health effects of toluene exposure?

Answer 14

H/A, dizziness, nausea, vomiting, HEENT irritation, irritation to lungs that can cause chest pain and SOB, liver and KD damage, dermatitis and skin irritation

Question 15

characteristics of phenol exposure?

Answer 15

white volatile crystalline solid, produced from petroleum, used in conversion to precursors of plastics
includes bisphenol-A, phenolic resins, precursor to many drugs (aspirin, herbicides, oral anesthetic)

Question 16

toxicity ssxs of phenol exposure?

Answer 16

corrosive to eyes, skin and respiratory tract, dermatitis, lung edema, seizures, coma, toxic via oral exposure

Question 17

characteristics of formaldehyde?

Answer 17

colorless, highly toxic, flammable, pungent, irritating odor, easily detectable

Question 18

uses of formaldehyde?

Answer 18

extremely common
adhesives, glues, dyes
pressed wood products
carpet, particle board, plywood
paper
germicide, embalming fluid
fertilizer and food production
wrinkle-free clothing
cosmetics
carbon combustion by-product

Question 19

exposure/health effects of formaldehyde?

Answer 19

primarily respiratory: respiratory and mucous membranes
bronchitis, pulmonary edema, asthma, URT but not LRT
sinonasal and nasopharyngeal carcinoma
leukemia

Question 20

health concerns of exposure to PVCs come from what 3 sources?

Answer 20

off-gassing
leeching of phthalates
combustion products

Question 21

health concerns and ssxs of vinyl chloride?

Answer 21

demyelinating neuro-toxin
dizziness, fatigue, neurasthenia, ataxia
respiratory and mucous membrane irritation
highly hepatotoxic/carcinogenic

Question 22

characteristics of polyvinyl chloride?

Answer 22

ubiquitous in industry
cheap, durable, light-weight
can be softened with phthalates

Question 23

mechanism of toxicity of polyvinyl chloride?

Answer 23

toxic hepatic metabolites
binding to hepatocellular DNA
pro-oncogenic and tumor suppressor action

Question 24

what is vinyl chloride disease?

Answer 24

raynaud’s phenomenon
acroosteolysis
scleroderma-like skin changes

Question 25

characteristics of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons?

Answer 25

multiple conjoined benzene rings | combustion of carbon-based fuels

Question 26

two classes of PAHs?

Answer 26

low molecular weight | high molecular weight

Question 27

describe low molecular weight PAHs?

Answer 27

``` 2-3 rings low molecular weight white solid flammable volatile aromatic ingredient of mothballs unstable molecule does not linger in environment produced as by-product of coal processing napthalene ```

Question 28

describe high molecular weight PAHs? health effects?

Answer 28

``` 4-7 rings by-product of carbon combustion first carcinogen discovered most carcinogenic substance in tobacco charred/grilled food also form heterocyclic amines one of most prevalent carcinogens known CAs: lungs, prostate, pancreas, stomach, colon, rectum, digestive tract and then prostate and lungs ```

Question 29

health effects of low molecular weight PAHs?

Answer 29

hemolytic anemia heightened concern for people with known anemia conditions large dose exposure can cause: nausea, vomiting, diarrhea, hematuria, jaundice, renal failure respiratory failure

Question 30

how do high molecular weight PAHs cause cancer?

Answer 30

intercalation, inhibits p52 tumor suppression gene

Question 31

foods to avoid so you don't get PAH exposure?

Answer 31

grilled meats | breads, grains, cereals

Question 32

what protects you from PAHs?

Answer 32

``` don't smoke tobacco don't grill meat eat brassicas eat other antioxidants marinade meats before grilling them ```

Question 33

what can second hand smoke cause?

Answer 33

lung CA, bronchitis, asthma, SOB, CVS, OM, decreased immune fxn, increased infxn rate

Question 34

what is a substance that can be measured to assess tobacco exposure?

Answer 34

cotinine- metabolite of nicotine urine test most common test for those who are in an environment where exposure is still going on

Question 35

what is 3rd hand smoke?

Answer 35

chemical deposit into objects that come into contact w/tobacco smoke: furniture, clothing, fabrics, carpet, etc going outside is not enough, should use a smoking jacket

Question 36

characteristics of asbestos?

Answer 36

``` naturally occurring non-flammable insulation friction products tile ```

Question 37

current asbestos risk?

Answer 37

often can be sealed and safely avoided | only if material shows wear does removal of asbestos need to occur

Question 38

three major health effects of asbestos exposure?

Answer 38

asbestosis (diffuse, dry rales, cyanosis, no fever b/c not infectious process) mesothelioma (PATHOGONOMIC FOR ASBESTOS EXPOSURE) lung cancer (mostly adenocarcinoma)

Question 39

mesothelioma ssxs?

Answer 39

``` dyspnea, SOB pleuritic pain cough, wheezing fatigue cachexia, hemoptysis ```