Indoor Air Pollution Is a Serious Problem

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Air Pollution
Chapter 18
18-4 Indoor Air Pollution Is a Serious
Problem
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Developing countries
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Indoor burning
Poor suffer the greatest risk
Few, if any, regulations
 Is the most serious air pollution problem


Developed countries

Indoor air pollution poses a greater threat
than outdoor air pollution.
Indoor Air Pollution Is a Serious Problem

Why?
11 of the common air pollutants are at
higher levels inside than outside
 Greater inside vehicles than outside
 Health risks magnified: people spend
70–98% of their time is indoors or
inside cars

Indoor Air Pollution Is a Serious Problem

Who is at greatest risk from indoor air
pollution?
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Children under 5 and the elderly
Sick
Pregnant women
People with respiratory disorders or heart
problems
Smokers
Factory workers
Indoor Air Pollution Is a Serious Problem

Four most dangerous indoor air pollutants

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Tobacco smoke
Formaldehyde(CH2O) – found in plywood,
particle board, paneling, drapes, furniture,
carpet and wallpaper adhesives)
Radioactive radon-222 gas- underground rock
deposits
Very small particles

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Sources of these
pollutants-brought in
on shoes, pesticides,
paints, sprays, living
organisms (bugs),
mold
Human health riskssore throat,
headache, chronic
breathing problems,
rash (flu-like systems)
Indoor Air Pollution Is a Serious Problem

Other possible indoor air pollutants
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Pesticide residue
Pb particles
Living organisms and their excrements
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E.g., Dust mites and cockroach droppings
Airborne spores of molds and mildews
Sick-building syndrome
Some Important Indoor Air Pollutants
Radioactive Radon Gas

Colorless, odorless, radioactive gas

Sources: natural radioactive decay of
Uranium-238 (rocks and soil)

Human health risks-damage to lung
tissue-cancer

Testing for radon - detectors

Correcting a radon problem:

Sealing cracks in walls and foundation, increase
ventilation
Sources and Paths of Entry for Indoor
Radon-222 Gas
It’s a fantastic house with the
exception of the radon gas.
Your Body’s Natural Defenses against Air
Pollution Can Be Overwhelmed

Respiratory system protection from
air pollutants

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Role of cilia, mucus, sneezing, and
coughing
Effect of smoking and prolonged air
pollution exposure

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Chronic bronchitis
Emphysema
6% of people in US suffer from asthma
Major Components of the
Human Respiratory System
Lung Attack
Air Pollution Is a Big Killer

3 Million deaths per year world-wide
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In US more than 150,000 die each day from air
pollution
EPA: proposed stricter emission standards
for diesel-powered vehicles
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Mostly in Asia
Main causes-indoor air pollution
Reduce emission by 90%
Car makers hope they can delay
Link between international trade and air
pollution

Cargo ships and pollution
Premature Deaths from Air
Pollution in the U.S.
Laws and Regulations Can Reduce
Outdoor Air Pollution


United States
 Clean Air Acts: 1970, 1977, and 1990
EPA
 National ambient air quality standards
(NAAQs) for 6 outdoor criteria pollutants
 Carbon monoxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur
dioxide, ozone, lead, and suspended
particulate matter
 Primary Standard-Human health
 Secondary Standard-environmental and
property damage

National emission standards for
188 hazardous air pollutants
(HAPs)
 Mainly toxic metals, VOCs, and
chlorinated hydrocarbons
 Toxic Release Inventory (TRI)for power plants, refineries
Laws and Regulations Can
Reduce Outdoor Air Pollution

Good news in U.S.
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Decrease in emissions 49% from 1980-2006
Use of low-sulfur diesel fuel
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Cuts pollution
Developing countries

More air pollution
We Can Use the Marketplace to
Reduce Outdoor Air Pollution

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Emission trading or cap-and-trade
program
“Pollution Credits”
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Mixed reactions to program
SO2 emissions down significantly
NO2 will be tried in the future
Mercury from coal plants-does not break
down-must set limits
There Are Many Ways to Reduce
Outdoor Air Pollution

1980 –2006
SO2 emissions from U.S. electric power
plants decreased by 66%
 NOx emissions by 41%
 Particulate emissions by 28%
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Older plants not governed by the same
regulations
New cars have better emissions
Reducing Indoor Air Pollution
Should Be a Priority
Greater threat to human
health than outdoor pollution

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What can be done?
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Prevention
Cleanup
We Need to Put More Emphasis
on Pollution Prevention

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Output approaches
New shift to preventing
outdoor and indoor
pollution
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Pressure from citizens
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http://esa21.kennesaw.edu/activitie
s/smog-city/epa-smog-hurts.pdf
Air Pollution…

Global climate change, ozone depletion,
acid rain, photochemical smog, and indoor
air pollution are some of the most
significant environmental problems faced
by humanity. All of these problems/issues
emphasize how important a healthy
atmosphere is.
ON THE AP EXAM…

Don’t just state something “causes
pollution”. At least state that the
activity causes “air pollution” or
“water pollution”. Most likely,
though, graders will want more
specific information such as “this
activity releases sulfur dioxide into
the atmosphere”.
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