|
Sponsored by the Environmental Assistance Office (EAO)
for Small Business at UNC Charlotte, The
Environmental Corner is designed to serve as an
environmental management and pollution prevention
resource.
When you think of air pollution, what do you think
of? Car exhaust? Smoke stacks billowing
out smoke? Coal burning plants? Well,
all of these are definitely air pollution...
But they fall under the category of outdoor air
pollution. In this issue of the e-letter, we
are going to talk about a different category of air
pollution:
Indoor Air Pollution!
Throughout the issue we will talk about what causes
specific types of indoor air pollution, what dangers exist in our
indoor atmosphere, how to combat these dangers, and
what resources currently exist for more information.
Now, without further adieu, let us cut to the good
stuff.
In this issue:
Pollutants:
Outdoor Sources
Links:
Other Resources
A
definition of Indoor Air Pollution
The
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) defines indoor air
pollution as "a source that releases gases or
particles into the air ... (and is) the primary
cause of indoor air quality problems in homes."
The
EPA is right on the money with this definition.
Indoor air pollution can be anything from cigarette
smoke to mold. Later in this newsletter we
will be discussing some specific dangers that fall
into the following categories: combustion sources,
building materials, household cleaners, and outdoor
sources.
Source:
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html
Return to top of page
What are some causes of low
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)
can be lowered due to a number of different sources
that range from poor ventilation to the presence of
actual pollutants. Inadequate ventilation can
cause an increase in the number of indoor pollutants
by not allowing the input of enough outdoor air into
the indoor system to properly dilute unavoidable
indoor air pollutants. I.e. Indoor ink
jet printers release a number of hazardous
particles into the air. These particles are at
a minimum, but without proper ventilation the
concentration of these particles become denser and
denser. Ultimately, and some readers might
have notices this, ink particles can appear in a
fine layer black looking dust. Mind you, ink
particles are probably the least of ones worries,
but they do provide a good practical example.
Some of the
aforementioned 'actual pollutants' include
combustion sources, building materials, household
cleaners, and outdoor sources. These sources
will be talked about in greater detail in the
following respectively named sections.
In an effort to make these sections easy to read and
reference, we will be presenting the data in
organized subcategories: Sources, Health Effects,
and Steps to Reduce Exposure.
Note: all the following data was adopted from the
EPA's website at
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html.
Return to top of page
Pollutants: Combustion
Sources
A combustion source
is anything that can be set ablaze.
Combustions sources include oil, gas, kerosene,
coal, wood, and tobacco products. In an effort
to make this section and the following sections easy
to read and reference, we will be presenting the
data in organized subcategories: Sources, Health
Effects, Steps to Reduce Exposure. Note:
all the following data was adopted from the EPA's
website at
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html.
Sources:
Fireplaces, wood stoves, kerosene heaters,
cigarette smoke
Health
Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation,
respiratory infections and bronchitis; lung
cancer.
Steps to
Reduce Exposure:
- Vent all
furnaces to outdoors; keep doors to rest of
house open when using unvented space
heaters.
- Choose
properly sized wood stoves, certified to
meet EPA emission standards; make certain
that doors on all woodstoves fit tightly.
- Have a
trained professional inspect, clean, and
tune-up central heating system (furnaces,
flues, and chimneys) annually. Repair
any leaks properly.
- Change
filters on central heating and cooling
systems and air cleaners according to
manufactures directions.
- Never smoke
tobacco inside.
Return to top of page
Pollutants: Building
Materials
A building material
source could be anything from asbestos containing
insulation to damp carpet.
Sources:
- Asbestos:
Deteriorating, damaged, or disturbed
insulation, fireproofing, acoustical
materials, and floor tiles.
-
Formaldehyde: Pressed wood products
(hardwood plywood wall paneling,
particleboard, fiberboard) and furniture
made with these pressed wood products.
Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI).
Combustion sources and environmental tobacco
smoke. Durable press drapes, other
textiles, and glues.
Health
Effects:
- Asbestos: No
immediate symptoms, but long-term risk of
chest and abdominal cancers and lung
diseases. Smokers are at a higher risk
of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer.
For more information see
www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0371.htm#I.A..
-
Formaldehyde, a colorless, pungent-smelling
gas, can cause watery eyes, burning
sensations in the eyes and throat, nausea,
and difficulty in breathing in some humans
exposed at elevated levels (above 0.1 parts
per million). High concentrations may
trigger attacks in people with asthma. There
is evidence that some people can develop a
sensitivity to formaldehyde. It has also
been shown to cause cancer in animals and
may cause cancer in humans. Health effects
include eye, nose, and throat irritation;
wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash;
severe allergic reactions. May cause cancer.
May also cause other effects listed under
"organic gases." EPA's Integrated Risk
Information System profile -
http://www.epa.gov/iris/subst/0419.htm.
Steps to
Reduce Exposure:
- Asbestos: It
is best to leave undamaged asbestos material
alone if it is not likely to be disturbed.
Use trained and qualified contractors for
control and measurers that may disturb
asbestos and for cleanup. Follow
proper procedures in replacing wood stove
door gaskets that may contain asbestos.
-
Formaldehyde: Use "exterior-grade" pressed
wood products (lower-emitting because they
contain phenol resins, not urea resins).
Use air conditioning and dehumidifiers to
maintain moderate temperature and reduce
humidity levels. Increase ventilation,
particularly after bringing new sources of
formaldehyde into the home.
Return to top of page
Pollutants: Mold
We felt that mold
deserved its own section since it is one of the
most common household air pollutants. In order
to reproduce, molds produce tiny spores that
circulate through the indoor and outdoor air
continually. When these spores find a damp
spot to roost, they begin to grow new mold.
This mold could be growing anywhere, be it on walls,
carpet, paper, wood, or food. There is no
particularly easy way to eliminate all mold in an
indoor environment, however there are ways to
minimize it via controlling indoor moisture using
dehumidifiers.
Sources:
Any damp area, indoor or out can allow mold
spores to grow.
Health
Effects: Allergic reactions, asthma, nasal
stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, and skin
irritation. Other more severe reactions
may include fever, shortness of breath, and
possible lung infections.
Steps to Reduce
Exposure:
-
It should
be noted that there is no practical way to
eliminate all mold and mold spores in the
indoor environment.
-
The way to
control mold growth is to control moisture.
-
If there is
a mold problem, clean up all the mold and
eliminate any sources of moisture.
-
Quickly fix
any source of water leak.
-
Keep indoor
humidity between 30 and 60 percent.
-
Make sure
those areas where moisture accumulates, i.e.
bathrooms, laundry rooms, etc... are
vented properly.
-
In areas
where moisture cannot be controlled, do not
install carpeting.
Source:
http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldresources.html.
Return to top of page
Pollutants: Household Cleaners
Certain Volatile
Organic Chemicals (VOCs), which are often used as
ingredients in household products, sometimes contain
components which may have short- and long-term
adverse health effects.
Examples of products containing such VOCs include
paints, varnishes, wax, and many different cleaning,
disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing, and hobby
products.
The above mentioned products, as well as many
others, may be releasing unhealthy amounts of VOCs
into your home or business. In fact, the EPA
found that the average levels of about a dozen
different organic pollutants can be up to 2 to 5
times higher inside than outside.
Sources:
Household products including: paints, paint
strippers, and other solvents; wood
preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and
disinfectants; moth repellents and air
fresheners; stored fuels and automotive
products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing.
Health Effects: Eye, nose and throat
irritation; headaches, loss of coordination,
nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central
nervous system; conjunctival irritation,
allergic skin reaction, dyspnea, declines in
serum cholinesterase levels, emesis, epistaxis,
and fatigue.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
-
Use
household products according to
manufacturer's directions.
-
Make sure
you provide plenty of fresh air when using
these products.
-
Throw away
unused or little-used containers safely; but
in quantities that you will use soon.
-
Keep out of
reach of children and pets.
-
Never mix
household products unless directed to do so
by the label.
-
Follow all
label instructions carefully.
-
Throw away
partially full containers of old or unneeded
chemicals safely
-
Buy limited
quantities of chemicals.
-
Keep
exposure to emissions from products
containing methylene chloride to a minimum.
-
Keep
exposure to benzene to a minimum
-
Keep
exposure to perchloroethylene emissions from
newly dry-cleaned materials to a minimum.
Return to top of page
Pollutants: Outdoor Sources
The two primary
outdoor sources for indoor air pollution are radon
and pesticides. Below is a snapshot of some
basic info concerning these two dangers.
Sources:
-
Radon:
Naturally occurring uranium in earth and rock
beneath a structure, well water, and
building materials.
-
Pesticides:
Most chemicals used to kill household pests.
Health Effects:
Steps to Reduce
Exposure:
-
Radon:
Purchase a Radon detector. If radon is
detected, contact an authorized professional
to come and inspect the problem. For a
list of manufacturers that offer various
toxic gas detectors, please consult
http://www.teriin.org/indoor/manufact.htm.
-
Pesticides:
Use all chemicals strictly according to
manufacturer's directions. Mix or
dilute chemicals outdoors. Apply only
in recommended quantities. Increase
ventilation when using indoors. Take
plants or pets outdoors when applying
pesticides/flea and tick treatments.
Use non-chemical methods to control pests
when possible. If you use a pest
control company, select if carefully.
Do not store unneeded pesticides inside of
home and dispose of unwanted containers
safely.
Return to top of page
Links: Other Resources
For more
information on Indoor Air Quality, please consult
the following sites:
Return to top of page
Environmental Assistance
Office (EAO) for Small Business
The Environmental Assistance Office for Small
Business provides non-regulatory,
client-confidential pollution prevention assistance
to small businesses in the greater Charlotte region.
The EAO is designed to assist regional businesses in
their efforts to voluntarily prevent pollution. The
EAO staff can provide timely assistance for
pollution prevention planning, including information
about industry-specific case studies, waste-specific
case studies, and new technologies. The office
provides links of resources to needs between the
region's business community, government,
municipality, and university. If there is a
particular issue or question you would like to see
in an upcoming edition, please send an e-mail to
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu.
Contact Information:
Environmental Assistance Office for Small Business:
9201 University City Blvd. 258 Cameron Building, UNC
Charlotte, Charlotte, NC 28233-0001
Phone number: 704-687-3968 Fax number: 704-687-3115
Email:
EAOforSB@email.uncc.edu
Services:
-
Assistance with Air Permits - Assistance for small
businesses in completing paperwork for EPA air
permits.
-
Educational Materials - Educational pamphlet,
brochures, flyers, and other materials to relate
facts on pollution prevention.
-
Educational Outreach - Develop educational outreach
campaigns and presentations for the public or
employee training.
-
University Resources - Library information, faculty
expertise, student projects and research at both
graduate and undergraduate levels.
Return to top of page
|