2. 1 Mansel A Nelson Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals Basics of Indoor Air Quality Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Communities

3. 2 Presentation How Lungs Work What is IAQ? Basic Strategies to address IAQ Source Reduction Ventilation Air Cleaning www.nau.edu/eeop

4. 3 Mansel Nelson, ITEP

5. 4 Lungs

6. 5 Cardiovascular Connection Gases and small particles distributed widely after entering bloodstream If lungs are not functioning properly, heart must work harder

7. 6 Protect the Lungs of Young Children Lungs of young children are very sensitive Air pollution can damage lungs for a lifetime Exposure to air pollutants can cause asthma, which can last a lifetime Lung infections can damage lungs for a lifetime

8. 7

9. 8 What Is Indoor Air Quality? Two types Acceptable Air in an occupied space toward which a substantial majority of occupants express no dissatisfaction and in which there are not likely to be known contaminants at concentrations leading to exposures that pose a significanthealth risk (as opposed to occupational/industrial settings) Unacceptable Majority of occupants in an occupied space that express dissatisfaction or one or more individuals “perceive” a problem with indoor air

10. 9 Illnesses Associated With Poor Indoor Air Quality Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) – Office building in which ill-defined illness develops in one or more workers. Illness demonstrates great variability among workers; no causative agent apparent or found despite significant evaluation Building-related illness (BRI) – Office building where one or more workers develop an accepted, well-defined illness for which a specific cause is found

11. 10 Building-Related Illness Diagnosable illnesses Known cause Can be serious and occasionally life- threatening

12. 11 Sick Building Syndrome Non-diagnosable illnesses No known cause Can be serious and occasionally life-threatening irritation (eyes, nose, throat) Symptoms can vary greatly among individuals

13. 12 SBS Nonspecific Symptoms Dry mucous membranes and skin Headache Fatigue Hoarseness of voice and wheezing Nausea Dizziness Respiratory infections and cough Psychogenic (“It’s all in your head”!) Sociogenic (“We want a new building)

14. 13 Risk Factor Components for IAQ Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning (HVAC) equipment Carbon Dioxide concentrations Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) Microbial Organisms (mold, bacteria) Temperature Relative Humidity Bioeffluents Other sources (radon, noise, light, asbestos, lead, ETS, vermin) Concentration of outdoor air contaminants

15. 14

16. 15 Basic Principles 1. Source Control 2. Ventilation 3. Air Cleaning

17. 16 Source Control Improving quality of indoor air is vital for human health Preferred strategy Increasing ventilation – higher energy costs

18. 17 Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS) No risk-free level of exposure to secondhand smoke Eliminate from indoor environment Following actions DO NOT protect nonsmokers Separating smokers from nonsmokers Cleaning the air Ventilating buildings

19. 18 Consider alternative heating sources

20. 19 Cleaners and Air Fresheners Average US household uses 40 lbs of chemicals each year Average household stores more than 60 hazardous products Many of the products are loaded with fragrances and petroleum-distilled chemicals (Volatile Organic Compounds / VOCs)

21. 20 They DO NOT “clean” the air– they add more air pollutants

22. 21 Read and follow label instructions IPM preferred

23. 22 Carbon Monoxide (CO) All burning emits CO Alarms are backup

24. 23 www.nau.edu/eeop Radon Radioactive gas Radon Resistant Construction (Keep it out) www.radonleaders.org

25. 24 Outside Sources Reduce idling of buses Location of dumpsters Watch for fresh air intakes

26. 25 Designated Smoking Area?

27. 26 Walk-Off Mats

28. 27 Carpets

29. 28 Mold nau.edu/iaqtc

30. 29 www.nau.edu/eeop Art and Science Classrooms

31. 30 Floor Drains nau.edu/iaqtc

32. 31 Occupant Sources Physiological “equilibrium” Sweat/Perspiration Perfume, cologne

33. 32 Basic Principles 1. Source Control 2. Ventilation 3. Air Cleaning

34. 33 Ventilation Higher energy costs Tension between weatherization and indoor air quality Heat Recovery Ventilators (HRV) Heat Capacity of air is LOW

35. 34 Source Ventilation Exhaust out of building

36. 35 Source Ventilation (cont.)

37. 36 Gas stoves release low CO and lots of moisture Cooking releases moisture Make sure range hood vents to outside

38. 37 Gas stoves release low CO and lots of H2O

39. 38 Source Ventilation (cont.)

40. 39 www.nau.edu/eeop Art and Science Classrooms

41. 40 Ventilation – Outside Air ASHRAE provides guidelines

42. 41 Classroom Ventilation

43. 42 How Much Outside Air (OA)? ASHRAE 62.1-2007 Offices= 17 cubic feet/minute (cfm)/person Libraries= 17 cfm/person Science Labs= 1 cfm/sq. ft. Auditoriums= 5 cfm/person Indoor Gymnasium= 0.3 cfm/sq.ft. Art Classrooms= 0.7 cfm/sq.ft. Health Care (patients’ rooms)= 25 cfm/person

44. 43 Heating, Ventilation, and Air-Conditioning System Location of outside air intakes Air handlers inspected periodically Filters changed periodically, wet/dirty, appropriate for occupancy (office, school, hospital, automotive garage, etc.) Exchange indoor air frequently (flush) Sufficient outside air brought in? Standing water anywhere in system; moisture on interior duct surfaces Heating/Cooling coils free of dirt and debris Visible “slimes” on duct surfaces

45. 44 Basic Principles 1. Source Control 2. Ventilation 3. Air Cleaning Air cleaning is only recommended after proper source control and ventilation steps are taken

46. 45 Air Cleaners Generally not effective for gaseous pollutants Efficiency for collecting pollutants (HEPA = 99.97% of 0.3 micron particles) Moving air through cleaning element On going maintenance Combine with source removal and ventilation

47. 46 Air Cleaners (cont.) Buyer beware! No Ozone Air Cleaners True HEPA Filter Activated Charcoal Size device for the space and air flows

48. 47 Air Cleaning – Don’ts These methods may make air quality WORSE DO NOT USE ozone (sold under many different guises) Ozone is an air pollutant Chemical reactions may lead to even more dangerous air pollutants Air fresheners typically attempt to cover up odors and add more air pollutants Electronic or electrostatic cleaners that may add ozone www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/residair.html

49. 48 Summary – Maintaining Healthy IAQ Connected to health of building occupants No silver bullets – If it is too good to be true… Source control is preferred strategy

50. 49 More Information… http://www.epa.gov/iaq https://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety- Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The- Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air- Quality/ https://www.cpsc.gov/en/Safety- Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The- Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air- Quality/ http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/ http://www.cdc.gov/healthyhomes/bytopic/ airquality.html http://www.cdc.gov/healthyhomes/bytopic/ airquality.html

51. 50 Institute for Tribal Environmental Professionals (ITEP) Mansel A. Nelson, Senior Program Coordinator Indoor Air Quality in Tribal Communities Northern Arizona University (NAU) nau.edu/iaqtc/ mansel.nelson@nau.edu Voice 928 523 1275 FAX 928 523 1280 PO Box 5768, Flagstaff, AZ 86011