Indoor Air

QualityRamon Crisostomo

Jaira Samantha HernandezJoshua Errol Legaspi

Cristopher PanganSharinnel Salazar

Introduction All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we

go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. Some we choose to accept because to do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead our lives the way we want. And some are risks we might decide to avoid if we had the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.

Introduction In the last several years, a growing body of

scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in even the largest and most industrialized cities.

In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

IAQ Problems Poor Indoor Air Quality

- can cause or contribute to the development of infections, lung cancer, and chronic lung diseases such as asthma. In addition, it can cause headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue. People who already have lung disease are at greater risk.

HEALTH and SAFETY Having clean air indoor is very

important for the health of the whole population of the world most especially the babies, children, and elderly. Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or probably years later.

List of the sources and effects of indoor air pollutants

Some basic things to do in reducing concentrations of indoor air pollutants

Source management is the most effective control method when it can be practically applied.

Source removal is very effective.

Source substitution includes actions such as selecting a less toxic art material or interior paint than the products which are currently in use.

Indoor air contaminats/pollution Indoor air pollution refers to chemical,

biological and physical contamination of indoor air. It may result in adverse health effects.

Main source of indoor air pollution biomass smoke which contains

suspended particulate matter (5PM) nitrogen dioxide (NO2) sulphur dioxide (SO2) carbon monoxide (Ca) formaldehyde and polycyclic aromatic

hydrocarbons(PAHs).

Causes of indoor air contaminants the polyurethane common in mattresses formaldehyde and organic chemicals like

dioxin, polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) and polybrominated biphenyl (PBB) used in lots of furniture and other interior elements are all harmful to us humans.

Drapes, carpets and other absorbent fabrics can help trap these nasties, along with dust, mites and other allergens, and our modern, mostly airtight homes keep them inside.

Below is a tabulated form of some of the indoor air contaminats:

VI. SYMPTOMS OF POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY (IAQ)

It is common for people to report one or more of the following symptoms: Dryness and irritation of the eyes, nose, throat, and skin Headache Fatigue Shortness of breath Hypersensitivity and allergies Sinus congestion Coughing and sneezing Dizziness Nausea

Health related issues: Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) is used to describe

cases in which building occupants experience adverse effects while in the building, but no clinically diagnosed disease is found.

Building-Related Illness (BRI) refers to less frequent (but often more serious) cases of people becoming ill after being in a specific building at a certain time. 

Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS) or Environmental Illness (EI)—a controversial condition where an individual has or develops sensitivity to even low levels of certain chemicals due to extended exposure.

Investigating Indoor Air Quality A typical IAQ investigation requires several

steps: Planning Gather background information about the

building and its systems. Interview affected people—understand the

complaints and symptoms and check for patterns as to where and when they occur.

Set objectives. Determine the strategy to be employed.

Investigating Indoor Air Quality Gathering data—make necessary measurements

throughout the building, possibly including temperature, humidity, CO2, CO, particles, VOCs, chemicals and bioaerosols.

Analyzing the data—check for acceptable measurements to eliminate certain areas or suspected problems, as well as anomalies that direct you to areas requiring additional focus (remember, there can be multiple problems).

Reporting findings—all results indicating a need for corrective action should be reported.

Offering assistance—prepare an IAQ management plan that includes setting policies and conducting routine measurements to ensure good air quality is maintained.

Investigating Indoor Air Quality

Often, it is advisable to consult with an experienced IAQ professional, health and safety specialist or industrial hygienist when devising an IAQ investigation. So many issues must be considered in a complete investigation that this precaution will probably end up saving time and increasing the likelihood of a successful outcome. To help steer an investigation, the affected occupants should be asked questions such as:

1. What symptoms are you experiencing? 2. When did the symptoms begin? 3. Are the symptoms present all the time or just

during certain times (hour, day, season of the year, etc.)?

Investigating Indoor Air Quality

4. Where do the symptoms occur? 5. Do symptoms subside when you leave the

affected the area? How soon? 6. Have there been changes to the area—new

furniture, carpet, paint, remodeling or construction projects, etc.?

7. Is there a smoking or parking area nearby? 8. Have you recently moved? 9. Have you had a significant change in your

activities? 10. Does anyone else near the affected area

have symptoms similar to yours?

MEASUREMENTS Temperature Humidity 3vs Carbon Monoxide Airborne Particles Ultrafine Particles Bioaerosols Chemical in Aerosol Form Light, Noise, Vibration, Ergonomics, Odors, etc.

Temperature Temperature is one of the basic IAQ measurements that

has a direct impact on perceived comfort and, in turn, concentration and productivity. According to ASHRAE Standard 55, the recommended temperature ranges perceived as "comfortable" are 73 to 79°F (22.8 to 26.1°C) in the summer and 68 to 74.5°F (20.0 to 23.6°C) in the winter. Measurements should be taken periodically at many areas of the building to be sure that air is distributed evenly and temperatures are consistent. TSI offers a number of instruments that measure temperature. These include IAQ monitors, thermohygrometers and multi-parameter ventilation meters.

 Temperatures that are too cold or too hot ranked as #1 and #2 on a list of top office complaints according to a survey by the International Facility Managers Association. Excessively high or low temperatures in an office area can lead to symptoms in building occupants and reduce productivity. High temperatures have been associated with fatigue, irritability, headache and a decrease in performance and alertness. Likewise, if the office is too cold, persons may experience discomfort to their hands and feet, shivering, fatigue and a decrease in performance and alertness.

HUMIDITY Humidity is the amount of water vapor

in the air. Water vapor is the gaseous state of water and is invisible. Humidity indicates the likelihood of precipitation, dew, or fog. Higher humidity reduces the effectiveness of sweating in cooling the body by reducing the rate of evaporation of moisture from the skin.

EFFECTS of HUMIDITY

Respiratory infections Allergies. Humidity is a good thing when it comes

to air quality because if a building isn't humid enough, people will experience discomfort such as scratchy eyes and dry mucus membranes.

But if the humidity is too high, the body loses its ability to cool itself. High humidity conditions (primarily occurs in the summer months) can result in persons feeling wet and clammy

3Vs (volume, variety and velocity) 3Vs (volume, variety and velocity) are three

defining properties or dimensions of big data. Volume refers to the amount of data, variety refers to the number of types of data and velocity refers to the speed of data processing. According to the 3Vs model, the challenges of big data management result from the expansion of all three properties, rather than just the volume alone -- the sheer amount of data to be managed.

Gartner analyst Doug Laney introduced the 3Vs concept in a 2001 MetaGroup research publication, 3D data management: Controlling data volume, variety and velocity. More recently, additional Vs have been proposed for addition to the model, including variability -- the increase in the range of values typical of a large data set -- and value, which addresses the need for valuation of enterprise data.

Carbon MonoxideCarbon monoxide (CO) is a deadly, colorless, odorless, poisonous gas. Exposure limits for CO are an average of 35 ppm for one hour, not more than one time per year, or 9 ppm over any eight-hour period. (U.S EPA)Instruments like IAQ monitors and combustion analysers can be used to measure carbon monoxide.

Airborne Particles Airborne particles are very fine particles made up of either

solid or liquid matter that can stay suspended in the air and spread with the wind. Common examples of such particles are: fog, which is made up of tiny water droplets; dust, which is made up of very fine particles of solid matter; and smoke, which is made up of both solid matter and liquid.

Airborne particle size varies greatly, and they are often measured in microns, meaning it is so small that it cannot be seen with the naked eye. Sources of airborne particles can be natural, such as the dust and smoke created by volcanic eruptions and forest fires, or man-made, such as the soot from the burning of coal in a power plant or the residual oil particles in vehicle exhaust fumes. Scientific studies show that this particle pollution can cause health problems in humans and affect the Earth's climate.

Ultrafine Particles Ultrafine particles (UFPs), defined as particles less

than 0.1 micrometer diameter, are often produced by combustion and some chemical reactions. They are so small that they can pass easily through the body's natural defense mechanisms to the deepest areas of the lungs. Certain people are extremely sensitive to ultrafine particles, sometimes regardless of chemical composition. It is suspected that the sheer number of particles and their cumulative surface area may trigger a reaction in these people.

The only practical instrument for detecting ultrafine particles is a condensation particle counter (CPC), a device that “grows” the small particles to a size large enough to be counted using conventional particle counting techniques. TSI’s ultrafine particle counter employs CPC technology to detect and track ultrafine particles within the building environment.

BIOAEROSOLS

A bio aerosol or biological aerosol is a suspension of airborne particles that contain living organisms or were released from living organism. These particles are also referred to as organic dust.

EFFECTS of BIOAEROSOLS

Respiratory symptoms Lung function impairment Tuberculosis Bacterial pneumonia

Measles Gastrointestinal illness CancerBio aerosols are also associated

with some noninfectious airway diseases, such as allergies and asthma.

AEROSOLS Aerosols are collections of tiny particles

of solid and/or liquid suspended in a gas. The size of particles in an aerosol ranges from about 0.001 to about 100 microns. (A micron is one-millionth of a meter.)

The most familiar form of an aerosol is the pressurized spray can, which can dispense anything from hair spray to enamel paint to whipping cream.

Common aerosols subgroups Fumes. Fumes consist of solid particles

—ranging in size from 0.001 to 1 micron—suspended in a gas. Probably the most familiar form of a fume is smoke. Smoke is formed from the incomplete combustion of fuels such as coal, oil, or natural gas. The particles that make up smoke are smaller than 10 microns in size.

Dusts. Dusts also contain solid particles suspended in a gas, usually air, but the particles are larger in size than those in a fume. They range from about 1 to about 100 microns in size, although they may be even larger. Dust is formed by the release of materials such as soil and sand, fertilizers, coal dust, cement dust, pollen, and fly ash into the atmosphere. Because of their larger particle size, dusts tend to be more unstable and settle out more rapidly than do fumes, which do not settle out at all.

Mists. Mists are liquid particles—less than about 10 microns in size—dispersed in a gas. The most common type of mist is that formed by tiny water droplets suspended in the air, as on a cool summer morning. If the concentration of liquid particles becomes high enough to affect visibility, it is then called a fog. A particular form of fog that has become significant in the last half century is smog. Smog forms when natural moisture in the air interacts with human-produced components, such as smoke and other combustion products, to form chemically active materials.

Sprays. Sprays form when relatively large (10+ microns) droplets of a liquid are suspended in a gas. Sprays can be formed naturally, as along an ocean beach, but are also produced as the result of some human inventions such as aerosol can dispensers of paints, deodorants, and other household products.

Sources of aerosols About three-quarters of all aerosols found in Earth's

atmosphere come from natural sources. The most important of these natural components are sea salt, soil and rock debris, products of volcanic emissions, smoke from forest fires, and solid and liquid particles formed by chemical reactions in the atmosphere.

Volcanic eruptions are major, if highly irregular, sources of atmospheric aerosols. The eruptions of Mount Hudson in Chile in August 1991 and Mount Pinatubo in the Philippines in June 1991 produced huge volumes of aerosols that had measurable effects on Earth's atmosphere.

THE DANGER IN AEROSOL SNIFFING

Another risk associated with commercial aerosols is their use as recreational drugs. Inhalation of some consumer aerosol preparations may produce a wide variety of effects, including euphoria, excitement, delusions, and hallucinations. Repeated sniffing of aerosols can result in addiction that can cause intoxication, damaged vision, slurred speech, and diminished mental capacity.

LIGHT, NOISE, VIBRATION, ERGONOMICS, ODOR, ETC.LightPoor lighting can results to: difficulty seeing document or screen eye fatigue Headache Minor accidents and injuries

NoiseNoise can result to: Communication interference Annoyance Stress Permanent hearing loss

 

Solving noise problem: Source Control - adding acoustical materials to the

noise-radiating surfaces may help reduce the noise strength at the source

Path Control - by adding sound-absorbing panels to walls and by hanging sound-absorbing devices (unit absorbers) from ceilings and by using enclosures or acoustical barrier walls between the source and receiver. 

Receiver Control - Ear plugs or ear muffs are considered highly economical methods for reasonably effective receiver noise control.

VibrationHand-arm vibration exposure – when a worker operates hand-held materials, vibration affects hands and arms.Effect of HAVS: tingling and loss of sensation in the fingers diseases of the blood vessels in the fingers loss of grip strength bone cysts in fingers and wrists

Whole-body vibration exposure - When a worker sits or stands on a vibrating floor or seat, the vibration exposure affects almost the entire body.Effect of whole-body vibration:  fatigue Insomnia stomach problems Headache shakiness

Vibration can be control by using: Appropriate tool selection Vibration-absorbing materials (gloves) Good work practices - Wear sufficient

clothing, including gloves. Avoid continuous exposure by taking rest periods.

Education programs – training in proper use of vibration tools

Thermal ComfortIt means that a person wearing a normal amount of clothing feels neither too cold nor too warm.

The most important environmental factors contributing to thermal comfort are: air temperature radiant temperature (ie. the temperature of the

walls, floor, windows etc) humidity air speed the amount of physical activity the amount and type of clothing worn.

OdourSome symptoms are reported like: Headache Dizziness Loss of appetite Upper respiratory symptoms Skin irritation

Maintain good air quality. Ensure that air is being replaced with fresh air.Reduce emissions from building materials, cleaning products, etc.