AP Environmental Science Indoor Air Pollution (part of Ch 21) Notes
Indoor Air Pollution
 The quality of indoor air can be _____ to ______ times (and even up to
_________ times) more polluted than the worst outside air.
 Common symptoms of exposure to indoor air pollutants include headaches,
tiredness, dizziness, nausea, itchy nose, and scratchy throat. More serious
effects are _____________ and other breathing disorders and ___________.
 Sources of indoor air pollutants
o _________________ sources: gas,
oil, kerosene and wood stoves or
fireplaces, tobacco smoke
o Building materials: insulation,
____________, cabinetry, pressed
wood products
o ______________________: cleaning
products, personal care products,
glues, pastes
o Outdoor sources: radon, pesticides,
____________, outdoor air pollution
o Other: pet ________________, dust
mites, _________, ___________
o ______________ gas (can seep into
buildings from the soil)
 Naturally-occurring radioactive gas that is a product of the radioactive decay chain
from _________________ to stable lead.
 The combination of radon exposure and cigarette smoke is ________________; the
combination is ____-____ times more dangerous than exposure to either in isolation.
 Some regions in the U.S. contain bedrock with an above-average natural
concentration of uranium (ex. ___________________________________________).
 Over the years, buildings have been made more ___________ to conserve energy. A variety of
methods have been employed to keep the hot or cool air from escaping from our homes: installing
storm windows and insulation; applying caulk and weather-stripping to seal ____________ and
other openings; and _______________ our homes with kerosene, wood, coal, and natural gas.
Unfortunately, when we trap in hot or cool air, we also trap in ______________ and
sometimes generate more.
 Improving indoor air quality
o Testing indoor air is not practical or affordable unless a specific pollutant (ex.
radon) is suspected. It is much more efficient to examine the home and
review activities, furnishings, conditions, and recent changes to develop a
list of likely pollutants.
o The three most important methods of improving indoor air quality are
 ____________ removal (cleaning floor, using a dehumidifier, cutting
down on synthetic fragrances, having hard floors instead of carpet, no
candles/fireplaces)
 ___________________ (keeping indoor plants—ex. Devil’s Ivy and
Peace Lily, using an air purifier, checking and replacing air filters)
 increased __________________ (opening windows).
Exposure facts
o Around 3 billion people cook and heat their homes using
___________________ and leaky stoves burning _______________
(wood, animal dung and crop waste) and ___________.
o Nearly 2 million people die prematurely from illness attributable to indoor
air pollution from household solid fuel use.
o More than 1 million people a year die from _______________________
______________________________ (COPD) that develops due to
exposure to indoor air pollution.
o Both women and men exposed to heavy
indoor smoke are _____-_____ times more
likely to develop COPD than those who are
not exposed.
MAJOR INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS, SOURCES, HEALTH EFFECTS AND CONTROL
Pollutants
Sources
Unvented kerosene and gas heaters, gas
By-products of
appliances, wood- and gas-burning fireplaces,
combustion (such as
leaking chimneys and furnaces, tobacco smoke,
CO, CO 2 , NO x )
automobile exhaust in attached garages
Health Effects
Eye, nose, and throat irritation, impaired lung
function and respiratory function in children,
bronchitis, lung cancer, flu-like symptoms.
Environmental
tobacco smoke
Cigarettes, cigars, pipes
Eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches,
pneumonia. Increased risk of respiratory and
ear infections in children. Lung cancer and
increased risk of heart disease.
Formaldehyde
Pressed wood products (hardwood, plywood
wall paneling, particleboard, fiberboard) used in
buildings and furniture, urea-formaldehyde
foam insulation, permanent press textiles, glue,
ETS, vehicle exhaust, stoves, fireplaces
Eye, nose, and throat irritation, coughing,
fatigue, rashes, and allergic reactions. Causes
cancer in animals. Death at very high
concentration.
Other volatile
organic compounds
Paints, solvents, wood preservatives, aerosol
sprays, cleaners and disinfectants, moth
repellents, air fresheners, hobby supplies, and
dry cleaned clothes
Eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, loss
of coordination; nausea, damage to kidney and
central nervous system. Some cause cancer in
animals. Some may cause cancer in humans.
Radon
Local geology, soil, water
Lung cancer, possibility of stomach cancer
Pesticides
Garden and lawn chemicals, poisons for pest
control
Eye, nose, and throat irritation, damage to
central nervous system and kidney, cancer
Asbestos
Deteriorating or damaged insulation,
fireproofing, or acoustical materials
Cancer and lung diseases (smokers at higher
risk)
Heavy metals
Paints, automobiles, tobacco smoke, soil, and
dust
Headaches, irritation in mouth, rash, excessive
perspiration, kidney damage
Bioaerosols
Humans, pets, moist surfaces, humidifiers,
ventilation systems, drip pans, cooling coils in
air handling units, plants, outside air
Legionnaires' disease, humidifier fever,
influenza