Air Pollution Pollution

 Pollutants entering the home  What we do in our homes and the products we use  How the home is built and maintained Factors that Affect the Quality of Air Inside

 Biological pollutants  Bacteria  Mould  Dust mites  Radiological pollutants  Radon Types of Inside Air Pollution

 Chemical pollutants  Gases and particles from appliances that burn oil, gas or wood  Tobacco smoke  Household cleaners  Personal care products  Building materials  From outside the home

Sources of Inside Air Pollution

 Biological pollutants  Bacteria – grow from excessive humidity from showering  Mould – grow from excessive humidity from showering or cooking, found in damp basements  Dust mites – live in the dust found on furniture and floor coverings  Radiological pollutants  Radon – seeps through cracks in the foundation and drains into the home Sources of Inside Air Pollution

 Chemical pollutants  Gases and particles from appliances that burn oil, gas or wood - particulate matter and carbon monoxide (e.g. from a fireplace if it is not properly venter or there are poor burning practices), particulates from cooking/frying, nitrogen dioxide from gas stoves, carbon monoxide leaking from furnaces  Tobacco smoke  Household cleaners  Personal care products  Building materials – formaldehyde and VOC’s released (e.g. painting, new furniture)  From outside the home – come through the air vents (e.g. ozone, particulate matter), or through the garage (e.g. carbon monoxide, particulates from vehicle exhaust)

 Effects experienced depend on the levels to which they are exposed and the length of the exposure, in general these effects include…  Asthma  Allergies  Respiratory ailments  Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Effects of Inside Air Pollution

 Specifically, these effects include…  Biological Pollutants  Mould – asthma trigger, allergen  Dust mites – asthma trigger, allergen, may cause asthma to develop in some people  Chemical Pollutants Released from Combustion  Carbon monoxide (CO) – flu-like symptoms, to loss of consciousness and death, cardiovascular effects in people with heart problems at lower levels  Nitrogen Dioxide (NO 2 ) – respiratory irritant  Particulate Matter (PM) – respiratory and cardiovascular effects Effects of Inside Air Pollution

 Chemical Pollutants Released from Products  Formaldehyde – irritates eyes, note, throat and lungs, triggers asthma, increases risk of respiratory problems, carcinogen  Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – eyes, note and throat irritants, known and suspected carcinogens (e.g. benzene, trichloroethylene)  Radiological Pollutants  Radon – carcinogen, risk factor for lung cancer

 Industrial activities  Personal every day actions  Driving  Heating Our Homes Factors that Affect the Quality of Air Outside

 Ozone  Particulate matter (PM)  These are the two main components of smog (describe the mix of gases and particles in the air that often causes reduced visibility)  Smog Smog Main Types of Outside Air Pollution

 Ozone  Occurs naturally in Earth’s atmosphere  At high altitudes it forms a protective screen against UV rays  At low altitudes (aka ground-level), ozone is formed when pollutants are exposed to sunlight  Ozone is formed at ground-level by burning fossil fuels and industrial processes Types of Outside Air Pollution

 Particulate matter  Mix of microscope airborne liquid and solid particles  Origin is either natural (e.g. windblown soil, seal salt spray, volcanic dust) or caused by humans (e.g. burning fossil fuels, industrial processes)  Two forms  Primary PM  Directly emitted into the air  Secondary PM  Formed in the atmosphere from chemical reactions with nitrogen oxides, sulphur oxides, ammonia and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)

Classification of Particulate Matter  Ultrafine particles (UFPs) <0.1 micron in diameter  Fine particles (PM 2.5 ) <2.5 microns  Coarse particles (PM ) between 2.5 and 10 microns  Inhalable particles (PM 10 ) <10 microns

 Carbon monoxide  Forms from the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels (e.g. vehicle’s exhaust)  Nitrogen oxides and sulphur dioxide  By-product of burning fossil fuels Other Forms of Outside Air Pollution

 Effects experienced depend on the levels to which they are exposed and the length of the exposure, in general these effects include…  Effects to the respiratory and cardiovascular system Effects of Outside Air Pollution

 Specifically, these effects include…  Ozone  Emergency room visits for asthma  Hospital admissions for respiratory and cardiovascular diseases  Hospital admissions among the elderly for chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), pneumonia or asthma  Premature death because of lung and heart disease Effects of Outside Air Pollution

 Particulate Matter  Problems for people with chronic breathing and heart conditions  Emergency room visits and hospital admissions for people with cardiovascular and respiratory conditions (including newborns)  Premature death because of lung and heart disease

 Skin - absorption  Eyes - absorption  Ears - absorption  Nose - inhalation  Mouth - inhalation How Air Pollution Enters Our Bodies