Indoor Air Pollution Indoor air pollution can be an even greater health threat than outdoor air pollution. Common pollutants often ____________ _________________________.

4 Most Hazardous Indoor Pollutants

• Smoke • Formaldehyde:

Outgassed from building materials Causes headaches, sore throat and eye irritation

• Asbestos: ____________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

Can cause breathing difficulties, lung cancer Removal can release fibers

• Radon -222 ___________________________________________

Sick Building Syndrome

If ______ or more of a building’s occupants suffer health effects that improve when they leave the building, a building is considered to have “sick building syndrome”.

Indoor Air Pollution

Discuss with your table partner:

What are methods that can be used to reduce the amount of indoor air pollutant?.

One strategy that could lessen certain indoor air pollutants is phytoremediation (a type of bioremediation). Discuss what this term means.

• _______________________________________ _______________________________________

• _________________________________________ _________________________________________

Phyto = ______ Remediation = ____________ Phytoremediation: ____________________________ __________________________________________.

_______________________________________________.

Radon-222

Radon–222 gas is a colorless, odorless, naturally occurring gas that is a breakdown product of uranium–238.

Found in small amounts in most soil.

Radon gas causes lung cancer & other health problems.

______________________ ________________ can prevent accumulation of this dangerous gas.

Respiratory System Body defenses against particulate matter: • Nose hairs • Mucus that traps particulate matter • ________________________________________________ Not very effective against fine particulate matter.

Video on Indoor Air Pollutants

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video?id=8069834

Common Health Effects of Air Pollutants

• Lung Cancer • Asthma: typically an allergic reaction causing

muscle spasms in bronchial walls and leading to shortness of breath

• Chronic Bronchitis: persistent swelling of bronchi and bronchioles, causing mucus build-up, coughing and shortness of breath

• ____________________________________________________________ ______________________________________

• Recent studies show that air pollution exposure linked to greater risk of heart attacks, stroke and cognitive deterioration including dementia.

Normal Human Lungs and the Lungs of a Person Who Died of

Emphysema

Health Effects of Air Pollutants

• carbon monoxide (CO): ______________________ ____________________________________________________________________________________ particulates: long–term exposure contributes to lung disease & cancer, aggravates bronchitis & asthma; • sulfur dioxide (SO2): causes constriction of airways & can cause bronchitis;

• nitrogen oxides (especially NO2): irritate lungs, cause conditions similar to bronchitis & emphysema;

• volatile organics (& toxic particulates):___________ ___________________________________________ • ozone: causes coughing, chest pain, shortness of breath, & eye, nose, & throat irritation.

Preventing & Reducing Air Pollution

A combination of laws, technologies, & responsible practices can be used to prevent & clean up air pollution.

Air Pollution Legislation The Clean Air Acts of 1970, 1977, & 1990 require the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) to establish national ambient air quality standards (NAAQS). •NAAQS apply to: suspended particulate matter sulfur oxides carbon monoxide nitrogen oxides (NOx) ozone lead •Prevention of significant deterioration is a policy of the

Clean Air Act, regions with air quality cleaner than that required by NAAQS are not allowed to deteriorate;

Sulfur Dioxide Cap and Trade In 1990, the Clean Air Act created a cap and trade program for sulfur dioxide. This mainly affects coal power plants. • A cap is set on emissions of sulfur dioxide. • ________________________________________

______________________________________________________________

Effectiveness of Clean Air Laws

•Between 1970 & 1997 levels of six major air pollutants decreased by 31%; •A 1996 study by the EPA shows that

benefits of the Clean Air Act greatly exceed costs: 1970–90 $436 billion spent, health benefits of $2.7 to $14.6 trillion; •However, EPA estimates that 107 million

Americans live in areas that exceed at least one outdoor air pollution standard. •Nitrogen dioxide levels have increased

slightly, primarily from automobiles;

Premature Deaths from Air Pollution in the U.S.

Video: Air Pollution in US cities Down but Not Out

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/video/pollution--10502526

Four commonly used methods for removing particulates from the exhaust gases of power & industrial plants. All produce hazardous waste that must be disposed.

Technologies for Preventing & Reducing Air Pollution

Reducing Air Pollution from Vehicles • Catalytic Converters

reduce CO and hydrocarbon emissions: O2 from air is passed over a catalyst, which converts ___________ ______________________________________

•Mandatory testing for older vehicles which may be more polluting.

Preventing & Reducing Air Pollution

How can we protect the atmosphere? •Put more emphasis on pollution prevention •Improve energy efficiency •Reduce use of fossil fuels (especially coal & oil) •Increase use of renewable energy •Slow population growth •Integrate air pollution prevention with other policies •Regulate air quality for entire regions •Tax the production of air pollution •Transfer appropriate technologies to developing

countries.

•SOLUTIONS •Indoor Air Pollution •Prevention •Cleanup or Dilution

•Clean ceiling tiles and line AC ducts to prevent release of mineral fibers

•Use adjustable fresh air vents for work spaces

•Ban smoking or limit it to well-ventilated areas •Increase intake of outside

air

•Change air more frequently

•Set stricter formaldehyde emissions standards for carpet, furniture, and building materials •Circulate a building’s air

through rooftop greenhouses •Prevent radon

infiltration

•Use efficient venting systems for wood-burning stoves

•Use office machines in well-ventilated areas

•Use less polluting substitutes for harmful cleaning agents, paints, and other products

•Use exhaust hoods for stoves and appliances burning natural gas