© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc. AP Environmental Science Mr. Grant Lesson 47 Indoor Air Quality.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

AP Environmental Science

Mr. Grant

Lesson 47

Indoor Air Quality

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Mastery Check

Why are the effects of acid deposition often felt in areas far from where the primary pollutants are produced? List three impacts of acid deposition.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Objectives:

• Define the term sick-building syndrome.

• Characterize the scope of indoor air pollution and assess potential solutions.

• TED - Fumes from indoor cooking fires kill more than 2 million children a year in the developing world. MIT engineer Amy Smith details an exciting but simple solution: a tool for turning farm waste into clean-burning charcoal.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Sick-Building Syndrome: A building-related illness produced by indoor pollution in which the specific cause is not identifiable.

Define the term sick-building syndrome.

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

Characterize the scope of indoor air pollution and assess solutions.

• Indoor air pollution causes more deaths and heath problems worldwide than outdoor air pollution.

• Indoor burning of fuelwood is the developing world’s primary indoor pollution risk.

• Tobacco smoke and radon are the deadliest indoor pollutants in the developed world.

• Volatile organic compounds and living organisms can pollute indoor air.

• Using low toxicity materials, keeping spaces clean, monitoring air quality, and maximizing ventilation all help to enhance indoor air quality.

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Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air pollution = pollution in workplaces, schools, and homes

Health effects are greater than from outdoor pollution

The average U.S. citizen spends 90% of the time indoors

Exposure to synthetic materials that have not been comprehensively tested

Being environmentally prudent can make it worse

To reduce heat loss and improve efficiency, ventilation systems were sealed off

New buildings were constructed with windows that do not open, trapping pollutants inside

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Burning fuelwood causes indoor air pollution in the developing world

Indoor air pollution has the greatest impact on the developing world Poverty forces millions to burn wood, charcoal, dung,

crop wastes inside homes for heating and cooking with little to no ventilation

Produces soot, carbon monoxide, and other pollutants increasing risk of pneumonia, bronchitis, lung cancer, allergies, cataracts, asthma, heart disease, etc.

Fuel-burning pollution causes 3.5 million deaths/year (nearly 7% of all deaths)

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

Tobacco smoke and radon are the primary indoor pollutants in industrialized nations

Cigarettes Cause eye, nose, and throat irritation

Greatly increase risk of lung cancer

Contain over 4000 chemical compounds

Secondhand smoke causes similar problems to smoking While smoking has declined in developed nations, it

still causes 160,000 cases of lung cancer per year in the United States

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Tobacco smoke and radon are the primary indoor pollutants in industrialized nations

Radon causes 21,000 deaths/year in the United States A radioactive gas resulting from natural decay of rock,

soil, or water that can seep into buildings

New homes are being built that are radon resistant

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

Many VOCs pollute indoor air

VOCs are the most diverse group of indoor air pollutants Released by everything from plastics and oils to

perfumes and paints

Most are released in very small amounts

Health implications are unclear because exposure is to low concentrations and people are exposed to mixtures of pollutants

Formaldehyde leaks from pressed wood and insulation Irritates mucous membranes and induces skin allergies

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

Living organisms can pollute

Tiny living organisms may be the most widespread source of indoor air pollution in the developed world

Dust mites and animal dander worsen asthma

Fungi, mold, mildew, airborne bacteria cause allergies, asthma, other respiratory ailments, and diseases

Building-related illness = a sickness produced by indoor pollution

Sick building syndrome = a sickness produced by indoor pollution with general and nonspecific symptoms Reduced by using low-toxicity building materials and good

ventilation

© 2014 Pearson Education, Inc.

We can enhance indoor air quality

Using low-toxicity materials, monitoring air quality, keeping rooms clean and providing adequate ventilation alleviate indoor air pollution

In developing countries: Dry wood before burning and cooking outside

Use more efficient stoves and less-polluting fuels

In developed countries: Limit exposure to known toxicants

Test homes and offices for radon and use CO detectors

Premature deaths from indoor air pollution worldwide dropped 40% from 1990 to 2010

© 2011 Pearson Education, Inc.

TED Video

Amy Smith shares simple, lifesaving design (15:03)

Amy Smith designs cheap, practical fixes for tough problems in developing countries. Among her many accomplishments, the MIT engineer received a MacArthur "genius" grant in 2004 and was the first woman to win the Lemelson-MIT Prize for turning her ideas into inventions.

Fumes from indoor cooking fires kill more than 2 million children a year in the developing world. MIT engineer Amy Smith details an exciting but simple solution: a tool for turning farm waste into clean-burning charcoal.