Hou

sing

and

Indo

or E

nviro

nmen

ts

Cha

pter

15

Air

Pol

lutio

n P

robl

ems

Out

door

Sou

rces

•A

utom

obile

em

issi

ons

•In

dust

rial e

mis

sion

s•

Glo

bal w

arm

ing

•T

hinn

ing

of th

e oz

one

laye

r

Indo

or S

ourc

es•

Bui

ldin

g m

ater

ials

•S

mok

ers

•C

lean

ing

chem

ical

s an

d so

lven

ts•

Pes

ticid

es•

Vol

atile

org

anic

co

mpo

unds

(V

OC

s)•

Mol

d, m

ildew

, dus

t, po

llen

•R

adon

Whe

re to

Liv

e?

•G

eogr

aphi

cal c

onsi

dera

tions

•C

limat

e•

Em

ploy

men

t•

Low

crim

e ra

tes

•C

omm

unity

and

gov

ernm

ent s

ervi

ces

–D

rinki

ng w

ater

and

sol

id w

aste

dis

posa

l–

Pub

lic tr

ansp

orta

tion

–P

arks

and

rec

reat

ion

Bas

ic H

ousi

ng N

eeds

•S

uppo

rtiv

e st

ruct

ure

in c

ompl

ianc

e w

ith

build

ing

code

s an

d pu

blic

hea

lth c

odes

.•

Sou

ndpr

oofin

g an

d in

sula

tion

•A

dequ

ate

spac

e•

Ade

quat

e lig

htin

g•

Ade

quat

e te

mpe

ratu

re a

nd h

umid

ity•

Ade

quat

e ve

ntila

tion

•G

ood

sani

tatio

n

How

Muc

h S

pace

Do

You

Nee

d?

•A

t lea

st 1

50 s

q. ft

. for

the

first

per

son

•10

0 sq

. ft.

for

each

add

ition

al p

erso

n•

7 ft.

min

imum

cei

ling

heig

ht•

Sle

epin

g sp

ace

shou

ld h

ave

70 s

q. ft

. of

floor

spa

ce fo

r th

e fir

st o

ccup

ant

•A

t lea

st 5

0 sq

. ft.

for

each

add

ition

al

occu

pant

•A

t lea

st 4

sq.

ft. o

f clo

set s

pace

per

oc

cupa

nt

Ade

quat

e Li

ghtin

g

•W

indo

ws

or s

kylig

hts

mus

t equ

al 1

0% o

f th

e to

tal f

loor

are

a of

the

resi

denc

e•

Tw

o el

ectr

ical

out

lets

per

roo

m•

Hal

lway

s an

d st

airs

mus

t hav

e at

leas

t 10

foot

can

dles

of l

ight

•T

he ty

pe o

f lig

htin

g de

pend

s on

the

type

of

activ

ity a

nd r

oom

Tem

pera

ture

and

Hum

idity

•R

oom

tem

pera

ture

s sh

ould

be

at le

ast

68o F

36

inch

es fr

om th

e flo

or•

Tem

pera

ture

s ca

n be

64–

70o F

for

wor

king

an

d 60

–65o

F fo

r sl

eepi

ng•

Hum

idity

sho

uld

be b

etw

een

30 a

nd 5

0%•

If hu

mid

ity is

abo

ve 6

0%, a

deh

umid

ifier

sh

ould

be

used

•If

hum

idity

is b

elow

30%

, a h

umid

ifier

sh

ould

be

used

Ven

tilat

ion

•O

utdo

or a

ir sh

ould

be

used

to fr

eshe

n th

e in

door

s•

Air

mov

emen

t reg

ulat

es te

mpe

ratu

re a

nd

hum

idity

•F

orce

d ai

r sy

stem

s sh

ould

mov

e 50

0 fe

et p

er

min

ute

in a

ll ro

oms

or s

o th

e to

tal a

ir of

a

build

ing

is tu

rned

ove

r 2–

6 tim

es p

er h

our

•O

ffice

bui

ldin

gs s

houl

d m

ove

15–6

0 cu

bic

feet

pe

r m

inut

e pe

r pe

rson

•P

artit

ions

sho

uld

be r

aise

d 6

inch

es fr

om th

e flo

or

San

itatio

n

•H

ot w

ater

hea

ters

sho

uld

be s

et a

t 120

o F•

Wat

er s

houl

d flo

w fr

om fa

ucet

s at

a

min

imum

rat

e of

1 g

allo

n pe

r m

inut

e•

Toi

lets

sho

uld

be in

wor

king

ord

er•

Gar

bage

rem

oval

is im

port

ant

Indo

or A

ir P

ollu

tion

•90

% o

f tim

e is

spe

nt in

door

s•

One

of t

he to

p fiv

e en

viro

nmen

tal r

isks

•In

door

pol

lutio

n ca

n be

2–1

00 ti

mes

hig

her

than

ou

tdoo

r po

llutio

n•

Acc

ount

s fo

r th

e m

ajor

ity o

f lun

g ca

ncer

dea

ths

•S

ince

the

1970

s bu

ildin

gs h

ave

been

bui

lt ai

rtig

ht to

con

serv

e en

ergy

•H

eada

ches

, alle

rgie

s, d

epre

ssio

n, a

nd c

hron

ic

resp

irato

ry p

robl

ems

are

indi

cato

rs o

f ind

oor

pollu

tion

Indo

or P

ollu

tion

and

Chi

ldre

n

•55

mill

ion

child

ren

spen

d th

eir

days

in

scho

ol•

One

in fi

ve s

choo

ls h

as in

adeq

uate

ve

ntila

tion

•C

hild

ren

are

mor

e vu

lner

able

to th

e ef

fect

s of

indo

or a

ir po

llutio

n th

an a

dults

Typ

es o

f Ind

oor

Pol

luta

nts

•P

hysi

cal

–A

sbes

tos

–E

nviro

nmen

tal t

obac

co s

mok

e (E

TS

)–

Rad

on

•C

hem

ical

–C

O, P

b, H

g, p

estic

ides

, and

VO

Cs

•B

iolo

gica

l–

Mol

d, m

ildew

, dus

t, po

llen,

pet

s

Phy

sica

l Pol

luta

nts:

Asb

esto

s

•N

atur

ally

occ

urrin

g m

iner

al•

Doe

s no

t con

duct

ele

ctric

ity o

r he

at•

Use

d in

insu

latio

n, fl

oor

tiles

, roo

fing

pape

r, p

otho

lder

s, p

aint

s, p

last

ics,

ce

men

t, an

d ca

ulki

ng c

ompo

unds

•A

haz

ardo

us a

ir po

llutio

n du

e to

as

best

osis

•R

equi

res

spec

ial h

andl

ing

to r

emov

e

Phy

sica

l Pol

luta

nts:

ET

S

•E

nviro

nmen

tal t

obac

co s

mok

e (E

TS

),

know

n as

“se

cond

hand

sm

oke,

” co

nsis

ts

of –S

ide

stre

am s

mok

e•

Sm

oke

emitt

ed b

etw

een

puffs

of a

bur

ning

ci

gare

tte, p

ipe,

or

ciga

r–

Mai

nstr

eam

sm

oke

•S

mok

e ex

hale

d by

the

smok

er

ET

S P

ollu

tant

s

•Le

adin

g ca

use

of p

reve

ntab

le d

eath

s in

th

e U

.S.

•C

onta

ins

40 c

arci

noge

ns a

nd th

ousa

nds

of

othe

r ch

emic

als:

–M

utag

ens

–P

oiso

nous

gas

es (

CO

)–

Poi

sono

us c

hem

ical

s (b

enze

ne,

form

alde

hyde

, and

pol

oniu

m)

Hea

lth H

azar

ds o

f ET

S

•Lu

ng c

ance

r, r

espi

rato

ry tr

act i

nfec

tions

, sin

us

infe

ctio

ns, c

ance

r, h

eart

dis

ease

, mis

carr

iage

, ea

r in

fect

ions

, bro

nchi

tis, a

sthm

a ex

acer

batio

n,

SID

S, a

nd d

evel

opm

enta

l del

ays

in c

hild

ren

•T

he r

isk

for

nons

mok

ers

is a

lso

high

•C

onsi

dere

d a

nuis

ance

, neg

ligen

ce,

hara

ssm

ent,

and

a fir

e ha

zard

•T

he r

isk

is n

ot lo

wer

with

“lo

w ta

r” c

igar

ette

s

Hea

lth H

azar

ds o

f Rad

on

•S

econ

d le

adin

g ca

use

of lu

ng c

ance

r in

no

nsm

oker

s–

Cau

ses

emph

ysem

a an

d pu

lmon

ary

fibro

sis

–D

amag

es e

pith

elia

l lun

g tis

sue

•S

mok

ers

are

at g

reat

er r

isk

•C

an b

e de

tect

ed in

urin

e, lu

ng, a

nd b

one

tissu

e•

Hom

e ki

ts a

re a

vaila

ble

to te

st b

asem

ents

, at

tics,

and

clo

sed

in p

lace

s

Che

mic

al P

ollu

tant

s: C

O

•C

arbo

n m

onox

ide

(CO

) is

a b

y-pr

oduc

t of

inco

mpl

ete

com

bust

ion

•A

ttach

es to

Hb

in R

BC

s an

d pr

even

ts O

2tr

ansp

ort

•F

ound

in c

igar

ette

sm

oke,

fire

plac

es,

stov

es, c

him

neys

, gril

ls, a

nd c

amp

stov

es•

The

con

cent

ratio

n in

door

s is

det

erm

ined

by

ven

tilat

ion,

sou

rce,

and

tim

e•

Pre

sent

in a

ny s

mok

y at

mos

pher

e

Che

mic

al P

ollu

tant

s: P

b

•Le

ad (

Pb)

is a

hea

vy m

etal

•F

ound

in p

lum

bing

, pes

ticid

es, c

ooki

ng u

tens

ils,

cera

mic

dis

hes,

pai

nt, a

nd g

asol

ine

•H

as a

cum

ulat

ive

effe

ct w

ith n

euro

logi

cal a

nd

kidn

ey d

amag

e, h

igh

bloo

d pr

essu

re, d

isru

pted

bl

ood

cell

prod

uctio

n, a

nd r

epro

duct

ive

prob

lem

s•

Esp

ecia

lly h

arm

ful f

or c

hild

ren

•F

ound

in in

terio

r an

d ex

terio

r pa

ints

unl

ess

it is

“le

ad fr

ee”

Che

mic

al P

ollu

tant

s: H

g

•M

ercu

ry (

Hg)

is fo

und

in p

aint

s w

ith a

m

etal

lic s

heen

•A

lso

foun

d in

ther

mom

eter

s, b

lood

pr

essu

re c

uffs

, the

rmos

tats

, bat

terie

s, a

nd

fluor

esce

nt b

ulbs

•H

arm

ful w

hen

inha

led,

inge

sted

, or

abso

rbed

thro

ugh

the

skin

Che

mic

al P

ollu

tant

s: P

estic

ides

•U

sed

arou

nd fo

unda

tions

and

insi

de•

Som

e re

sidu

es o

f ban

ned

pest

icid

es a

re

foun

d in

old

er h

omes

(no

t bio

degr

adab

le)

•C

once

ntra

tions

are

hig

her

indo

ors

–K

eep

child

ren

and

pets

out

of t

he h

ouse

for

8 ho

urs

afte

r ap

plic

atio

n or

ven

tilat

e th

e ho

use

•M

ust b

e ap

plie

d by

a c

ertif

ied

spec

ialis

t

Che

mic

al P

ollu

tant

s: V

OC

s

•V

olat

ile o

rgan

ic c

ompo

unds

(V

OC

s) a

re g

ases

re

late

d fr

om s

olid

s or

liqu

ids

at r

oom

te

mpe

ratu

re•

Use

d in

sol

vent

s, d

isin

fect

ants

, pes

ticid

es, p

aint

, ad

hesi

ves,

spr

ay c

ans,

roo

m d

eodo

rizer

s, c

opy

mac

hine

tone

rs, m

arke

rs, p

ens,

and

cor

rect

ion

fluid

•C

an r

emai

n in

door

s fo

r as

long

as

6 m

onth

s•

Cau

se h

eada

ches

, nau

sea,

irrit

atio

n, d

amag

e to

liv

er, k

idne

ys, a

nd C

NS

Com

mon

VO

Cs

•A

ceto

ne•

Ben

zene

•F

orm

alde

hyde

•N

itrog

en d

ioxi

de•

Par

adic

hlor

oben

zene

•P

erch

loro

ethy

lene

•T

olue

ne•

Tric

holo

reth

ylen

e•

Vin

yl c

hlor

ide

Ace

tone

•U

sed

to m

ake

plas

tic, f

iber

s, d

rugs

, and

ot

her

chem

ical

s•

Use

d as

a s

olve

nt fo

r fin

gern

ail p

olis

h re

mov

er a

nd d

uplic

atin

g flu

id

Ben

zene

•A

kno

wn

hum

an c

arci

noge

n•

Prim

ary

sour

ce fr

om E

TS

, sto

red

fuel

s,

pain

t, an

d au

tom

obile

em

issi

ons

•C

an b

e re

duce

d by

not

sm

okin

g in

the

hom

e an

d ha

ving

max

imum

ven

tilat

ion

For

mal

dehy

de

•O

ne o

f the

mos

t haz

ardo

us c

ompo

unds

to

hum

an h

ealth

•U

sed

to m

ake

plas

tics,

res

ins,

pai

nt, g

lue,

ru

bber

, tex

tiles

, exp

losi

ves,

insu

latio

n, a

nd

build

ing

mat

eria

ls•

Als

o fo

und

in a

dhes

ives

and

pho

togr

aphi

c ch

emic

als

•M

ore

occu

patio

nal e

xpos

ure

with

thos

e w

orki

ng

with

woo

d pr

oduc

ts, s

olve

nts,

cop

y m

achi

nes,

an

d co

rrec

tion

fluid

s

Par

adic

hlor

oben

zene

•U

sed

to c

ontr

ol m

oths

, mol

ds, m

ildew

, and

de

odor

ize

rest

room

s an

d w

aste

con

tain

ers

•A

str

ong

odor

•A

kno

wn

carc

inog

en•

Exp

osur

e ca

uses

diz

zine

ss, h

eada

ches

, an

d liv

er p

robl

ems

Per

chlo

roet

hyle

ne

•U

sed

in d

ry-c

lean

ing

fluid

s an

d so

lven

ts•

Cau

ses

canc

er in

ani

mal

s•

Dry

goo

ds s

houl

d be

pro

perly

drie

d an

d ai

red

out b

efor

e ha

ngin

g in

the

clos

et

Tol

uene

•U

sed

as a

sol

vent

in p

aint

s, p

aint

thin

ners

, fin

gern

ail p

olis

h, la

cque

rs, a

dhes

ives

, ru

bber

•U

sed

in s

ome

prin

ting

and

leat

her

tann

ing

proc

esse

s

Tric

hlor

oeth

ylen

e

•N

onfla

mm

able

, col

orle

ss li

quid

with

a

swee

t odo

r•

Use

d as

a s

olve

nt to

rem

ove

grea

se fr

om

met

al p

arts

•A

n in

gred

ient

in a

dhes

ives

, pai

nt

rem

over

s, ty

pew

riter

cor

rect

ion

fluid

s, a

nd

spot

rem

over

s fo

r dr

y cl

eani

ng

Vin

yl C

hlor

ide

•A

mild

, sw

eet o

dor

•U

sed

to m

ake

PV

C p

ipe,

coa

ting

for

wire

an

d ca

bles

, and

pac

kagi

ng m

ater

ials

Oth

er T

oxic

Indo

or C

hem

ical

s

•A

mm

onia

(ho

useh

old

clea

ner)

–D

o no

t inh

ale

•C

hlor

ine

(ble

achi

ng a

nd d

isin

fect

ant)

–C

orro

sive

•H

ydro

fluor

ic a

cid

–C

orro

sive

•N

itrog

en d

ioxi

de–

Rel

ease

d du

ring

burn

ing,

ferm

enta

tion,

w

eldi

ng, e

lect

ropl

atin

g, a

nd e

ngra

ving

Bio

logi

cal P

ollu

tant

s

•M

olds

•M

ildew

•D

ust

•P

olle

n•

Pet

s

Bio

logi

cal P

ollu

tant

s: M

olds

•A

fung

us fo

und

anyw

here

•W

et d

ryw

all o

r hu

mid

ity e

ncou

rage

s gr

owth

•H

ave

a ch

arac

teris

tic o

dor

•O

ften

refe

rred

to a

s m

icro

bial

vol

atile

or

gani

c co

mpo

unds

(M

VO

Cs)

•M

old

spor

es g

et in

to th

e re

spira

tory

trac

t•

Cau

ses

infe

ctio

n, g

row

th, o

r al

lerg

ic

resp

onse

Myc

otox

ins

•F

ound

in th

e m

ost d

ange

rous

mol

ds•

Trig

ger

infla

mm

atio

n an

d im

mun

e re

spon

ses

–F

luid

acc

umul

atio

n–

Hyp

erac

tive

imm

une

resp

onse

s–

Tis

sue

scar

ring

–A

llerg

ic r

espo

nses

–A

sthm

atic

atta

cks

and

bron

chia

l con

stric

tion

Typ

es o

f Mol

ds

•C

lado

spor

ium

is fo

und

in p

lant

s, w

ood,

te

xtile

s, a

nd fo

od•

Tox

ic m

olds

:–

Asp

ergi

llus

fum

igat

usis

foun

d in

dec

ayin

g ve

geta

tion

–S

tach

ybot

rys

char

taru

mfo

und

in g

ypsu

m

boar

d, p

aper

, can

vas,

and

jute

•G

reen

ish-

blac

k

Myc

otox

icos

is

•D

isea

ses

caus

ed b

y to

xic

mol

ds•

Sym

ptom

s in

clud

e he

arin

g lo

ss,

head

ache

s, m

emor

y lo

ss, p

oor

conc

entr

atio

n, fa

tigue

, sle

ep d

istu

rban

ces,

fa

cial

sw

ellin

g, r

ashe

s, n

ose

blee

ding

, ga

stro

inte

stin

al, a

nd o

ther

res

pira

tory

pr

oble

ms

Sic

k B

uild

ing

Syn

drom

e

•R

elat

ed to

impr

oper

ly d

esig

ned

or

mai

ntai

ned

heat

ing,

ven

tilat

ing,

and

air

cond

ition

ing

(HV

AC

) sy

stem

s•

Occ

urs

in o

ld a

nd n

ew b

uild

ings

•M

ore

com

mon

in b

uild

ings

with

par

titio

ns,

hallw

ays,

and

clo

sed

door

s•

OS

HA

sho

uld

be n

otifi

ed

Mild

ew

•D

ecom

pose

s pa

per,

fabr

ic, w

ood,

pai

nt,

glue

, lea

ther

, and

any

thin

g co

ated

with

or

gani

c m

atte

r•

Dar

k gr

een

or b

lack

•P

ersi

sten

t in

war

m, h

umid

clim

ates

•M

any

peop

le a

re a

llerg

ic to

mild

ew•

Des

icca

nts

can

be u

sed

to c

ontr

ol

moi

stur

e

Dus

t

•M

any

indi

vidu

als

are

alle

rgic

to th

e du

st

mite

s•

The

y fe

ed u

pon

dead

hum

an s

kin,

ca

rpet

ing,

dra

perie

s, b

eddi

ng, a

nd

upho

lste

ry•

Mat

tres

s an

d pi

llow

cov

ers

can

be u

sed

•V

acuu

min

g he

lps

•A

ir du

cts

can

be c

lean

ed

Pol

len

•S

ourc

es in

clud

e w

eeds

, tre

es, a

nd fl

ower

s•

Bro

adle

aved

tree

pol

len

blow

s ea

sily

in th

e w

ind

•P

ine

polle

n is

less

of a

pro

blem

•P

ampa

s gr

ass,

gol

denr

od, a

nd m

arig

olds

pr

oduc

e la

rge

amou

nts

of p

olle

n•

Win

dow

s sh

ould

be

clos

ed fo

r th

ose

with

po

llen

alle

rgie

s

Pet

s

•P

ets

can

brin

g po

llen

indo

ors

•M

any

are

alle

rgic

to th

e ha

ir an

d da

nder

•T

hey

can

brin

g fle

as a

nd ti

cks

into

the

hom

e •

Pat

hoge

ns c

an b

e fo

und

in p

et s

aliv

a,

urin

e, a

nd fe

ces

•T

hey

shou

ld b

e gr

oom

ed a

nd b

athe

d re

gula

rly

Alle

rgen

s

•E

ach

pers

on h

as s

ensi

tiviti

es•

The

imm

une

syst

em to

lera

nce

varie

s in

in

divi

dual

s•

Exp

osur

e to

som

e su

bsta

nces

cre

ate

alle

rgic

se

nsiti

vitie

s an

d an

impa

ired

imm

une

syst

em•

His

tam

ine

prod

uctio

n is

an

infla

mm

ator

y re

spon

se•

Ast

hma

is a

n al

lerg

ic r

espo

nse

with

bro

nchi

al

cons

tric

tion

Mul

tiple

Che

mic

al S

ensi

tivity

•H

yper

sens

itivi

ty to

che

mic

als

•P

erfu

mes

, col

ogne

s, a

fters

have

s, lo

tions

, cl

eani

ng p

rodu

cts,

laun

dry

dete

rgen

ts, d

ry

shee

ts, t

oile

t pap

er, f

abric

sof

tene

rs, a

nd fa

cial

tis

sues

•F

atig

ue is

the

first

sym

ptom

of t

oxic

ove

rload

•O

ther

sym

ptom

s in

clud

e he

adac

hes,

alle

rgie

s,

depr

essi

on, j

oint

and

mus

cle

pain

, and

re

spira

tory

illn

esse

s•

A R

AS

T te

st c

an h

elp

iden

tify

alle

rgen

s

Red

ucin

g In

door

Air

Pol

lutio

n

•D

o no

t per

mit

smok

ing

indo

ors

•R

emov

e pl

ants

and

ani

mal

s•

Impr

ove

indo

or v

entil

atio

n•

Dus

t wee

kly

•S

ubst

itute

non

toxi

c cl

eane

rs fo

r to

xic

ones

•In

stal

l cei

ling

fans

•C

onsi

der

air

clea

ning

dev

ices

Red

ucin

g In

door

Air

Pol

luta

nts

•P

reve

nt th

e ac

cum

ulat

ion

of in

door

air

pollu

tant

s w

ith g

ood

clea

ning

•R

emov

e ca

rpet

and

inst

all w

ood

floor

s•

Rem

ove

win

dow

blin

ds a

nd c

urta

ins

•In

stal

l a c

entr

al v

acuu

m s

yste

m in

a n

ew h

ome

•U

se e

lect

rost

atic

furn

ace

filte

rs•

Cha

nge

the

furn

ace

filte

r on

ce p

er m

onth

•U

se a

hig

h ef

ficie

ncy

part

icul

ate

arre

stan

ce

(HE

PA

) fil

ter

in fu

rnac

es a

nd v

acuu

m c

lean

ers

Air

Cle

anin

g D

evic

es

•M

echa

nica

l air

filte

ring

devi

ces

•E

lect

rost

atic

pre

cipi

tato

rs

Impr

ovin

g Y

our

Imm

unity

•C

onsu

me

food

s hi

gh in

vita

min

s B

, C, a

nd

D, p

rote

in, a

nd m

iner

als

such

as

calc

ium

, m

agne

sium

, cop

per,

and

chr

omiu

m•

Incr

ease

inta

ke o

f ant

ioxi

dant

s (b

right

-co

lore

d fr

uits

and

veg

etab

les,

gre

en te

a)•

Red

uce

the

cons

umpt

ion

of fa

t (st

ores

to

xic

subs

tanc

es)