How Outdoor Air Pollution Affects the Quality of Indoor Air

1714 Words4 Pages
bulb-icon

Recommended: Air pollution effects on the environment

Introduction
We spend most of our time indoors, at work, home and school or even at the shopping mall. There are many sources of air indoor pollution, building materials, cigarettes, consumer products, gas appliances, and furniture can all add to the problem. However, the toxic emissions from many of these contributors are not measured or are only partially measured by local, state or federal laws. Pollution from power plants, cars, and other transportation is a well-known source of outdoor air pollution, but sometimes our indoor air quality is worse; it can be up to ten times worse for you than the outside air.

The revised United States Environmental Protection Agency National Ambient Air Quality Standards (US EPA NAAQS) for Particulate matter PM2.5 and other air pollutants could be exceeded not only outdoors but also indoors. This is based on the different studies on indoor and outdoor particulate matter in the inner-city environment or even in the neighborhood of busy major roads.
In these recent years indoor air quality (IAQ) has gained excessive attention. The main reason is we spend a significant amount of time indoors in modern times. Urban people spend on average 87% indoors and only 6% outdoors. We also believe that the indoor environment is better and more livable than the outdoors. We also believe indoor air is cleaner, more relaxed and healthier and the building will shelter us from harmful substances in the ambient environment. For this reason a number of air quality indication systems in the world, which are designed for outdoor use also, gives warnings or advice during episodes of poor air quality, to stay indoors. Yet, the important question is: Is indoor air actually cleaner? Is it cleared of outdoor pollutants?...

... middle of paper ...

...al. "Relation between indoor and outdoor exposure to fine particles near a busy arterial road." Indoor Air 9.2 (1999): 75-84.
3. www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html
4. http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/indoor.htm
5. Li, Wen-Whai, et al. "Correlations between short-term indoor and outdoor PM concentrations at residences with evaporative coolers." Atmospheric Environment 37.19 (2003): 2691-2703.
6. Leaderer, Brian P., et al. "Indoor, outdoor, and regional summer and winter concentrations of PM10, PM2. 5, SO4 (2)-, H+, NH4+, NO3-, NH3, and nitrous acid in homes with and without kerosene space heaters." Environmental Health Perspectives 107.3 (1999): 223.
7. www.umad.de/infos/aqm2005/IndoorAirQuality.pdf
8. http://www.treehugger.com/natural-sciences/indoor-air-quality-causes-of-testing-and-monitoring-indoor-air-pollution.html
9. http://www.epa.gov/heasd/research/emi.html

Show More
Related

  • The Effects of Pollution in Utah

    726 Words  | 2 Pages

    Driving emits particle pollution, which increases the risk of heart disease, lung cancer and asthma. Particle pollution is processed in two ways, either mechanical or chemical.

    Read More

  • Impact of Ultrafine & PM10 Particles on Air Quality

    649 Words  | 2 Pages

    Ultrafine particles can be defined as nano-sized particles which is less than 100nm. However, it is not manufactured purposely and not inevitably exist in a constant size. It is also known to be appeared by friction or combustion process, natural process in the air or water. (United States Environmental Protection Agency, 2013). Besides that, ultrafine particles can be described as the smallest fraction in a scale of airborne particles with diameters ranging from a few nanometers to several nanometers. Even they are small particles in size, they are dominant contributors to particle number even it is capable to contribute little to the mass of particulate matter in ambient air. (Health Effects Institute, 2013). They are also represent about 80% of particles in terms of number concentration in an urban environment (Morawska et al., 1998). There are variety of sources of ultrafine particles. According to Cess et al (2000), the major sources of ultrafine particles is from combustion process which is comprised of vehicle emission, stationary sources fuel combustion, non-highway mobile sources such as diesel off-road vehicles, and other mixed emission from open

    Read More

  • Is Particulate Matter Associated with Cardiovascular Disease Morbidity/Mortality?

    2122 Words  | 5 Pages

    There is considerable literature indicating a link between particulate matter and cardiovascular morbidity and mortality, especially in elderly individuals (Koken, et al, 2003). Particulate matter defined as any particle that measures less than or equal to ten micrometers (< 10µm PM10) or two point five micrometers(< 2.5µm PM2.5) that form from solid particles and liquid droplets. Most particulate matter forms due to vehicle admissions, industrials processes or wood burnings. Additionally, it has also been suggested that ultra fine particulate matter measuring less than or equal to 2.5 µm is considered more harmful to health than are larger particles in aerodynamic diameter because PM2.5 can penetrate deeper into the lung than PM10 (Park, et al, 2010).

    Read More

  • Pollution in Canada is not Good

    989 Words  | 2 Pages

    When we think of air pollution we think of the refineries in our cities and the exhaust coming from our cars mostly. In reality there are many more pollutants that we don't think about every day. The six most common air pollutants are; “Carbon monoxide, Nitrogen oxides, Sulphur oxides, Particulate matter, Volatile organic compounds, and Ground-level ozone (nitrogen oxide and Volatile organic compounds reaction)”(David Suzuki Foundation). The fact is people are dying from air pollution and we are doing nothing to make it better, in fact air pollution is getting worse.

    Read More

  • Homeless Population Case Study

    717 Words  | 2 Pages

    Environment plays a big role in human health. Having a healthy environment such as clean air can bring positive impact to people’s health.

    Read More

  • Relationships between Asthma and Air Pollution

    1670 Words  | 4 Pages

    Ostro, B., Chestnut, L. (1998). Assessing the health benefits of reducing particulate matter air pollution in the United States. Environmental Research 76, 94–106.

    Read More

  • Air Pollution In New York City

    1535 Words  | 4 Pages

    New York City, itself, is the most populous city in the United States and with such a large number of people condensed into such a small area, the pollution is more concentrated. Pollution in the form of smog, photochemical smog, fine particulate matter, and ground level ozone is the outcome from human activity in the region (NYSDEC, 2015). The biggest problem caused by ground level smog and/or ozone is its effects on our lungs. It is especially detrimental when someone already has a respiratory illness, like allergies or asthma, which makes it an even larger struggle to breathe. Heating fuels also contribute greatly towards the area’s air pollution (Kheirbek, 2014). The primary the primary types of fuels used for heating are “liquid fuel oils and natural gas” (Kheirbek, 2014). Burning such fuels releases fine particulate matter, or PM2.5, into the air, which causes adverse health effects like, “increased air way inflammation, reduced lung function, and changes in heart rhythm and blood pressure” (Kheirbek, 2014). These symptoms lead to more hospital visits and even premature death (Kheirbek,

    Read More

  • Air Pollution in Mexico City

    1218 Words  | 3 Pages

    Mexico City adds an estimated one million new residents each year, resulting in one million new aggravates to the city’s already abominable air quality (Collins, 119). Over the span of a generation, Mexico City’s air has gone from being one of the world’s cleanest to one of the world’s most polluted, as well as the most polluted in its country. The average visibility in the city is down from almost 100 km in the 1940s to only 1.5 km today, removing the once beautiful landscape of the surrounding snow-capped volcanoes (Yip, 1). More significantly, however, Mexico City’s air problems have resulted in a notable decrease in the health of its residents, particularly its children. There are a variety of reasons for the decline in air quality, including factory emissions, suspended particles, vehicles, as well as problematic geographic hindrances. Fortunately, Mexico City is doing a lot in response to the problem, including vehicle control, mass transit improvements, required industry emission reductions, and an investing in research and education programs. Regardless of these actions, however, Mexico City’s air is still significantly affecting the quality of life for its residents, and the city must continue to make changes in order for real progress to occur.

    Read More

  • Air Pollution: History and Recent Events

    1264 Words  | 3 Pages

    One of the most dangerous environment issues Southern California is facing today is air pollution. This includes the burning of fossil fuels and natural disasters. Los Angeles is one of the most polluted cities in the world, and the most polluted city in the United States. I will research information about the causes, the effects, and the history of air pollution in the Los Angeles. For my research, I have relied mostly on, the school’s database and library, as well as current events.

    Read More

  • Sustainability in Furniture

    2916 Words  | 6 Pages

    "Minnesota Department of Health." Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) in Your Home. Minnesota Government, n.d. Web. 9 Nov. 2013. .

    Read More

  • Informative Speech: Polltion Getter For Air Pollution

    1031 Words  | 3 Pages

    We just learned about the outdoor air pollution, now we have to learn about the indoor air pollution. Indoor air pollution, is founded with the highest concentration of harmful fumes or toxic pollutants than outdoors. According to Nature, Causes, and Burden of Condition, air pollution is considering “a major threat to health, particularly for women and young children, who may spend many hours close to the fire”, other words most of the household uses “solid fuels burn them in open fire or simple stoves that release most of the smoke into the home”, creating more air pollution (Bruce, Rehfuess, Mehta, Hutton, & Smith

    Read More

  • Air Pollution Essay: Greenhouse Gases and Climate Change

    1498 Words  | 3 Pages

    Air pollution and greenhouse gases are the reason for the planet as it is today; the reason why we see campaigns flooding the media informing us to ‘switch off’, ‘save the planet’ and ‘turn down the heat’ and the reason why the government is trying to develop a successful scheme, such as the carbon tax scheme, to reduce air pollution caused by major industries. Air pollution and greenhouse gases are the two immediate causes of global warming and climate change. Air pollution occurs when chemicals or particulate matter enter the atmosphere. They can cause damage to living organisms on the planet, as well as destruction to the natural and synthetic environment (Energy Environment.net 2008). Greenhouse gases are gases in the atmosphere that absorb infrared radiation emitted from the earth. They trap infrared radiation in the form of heat, and hence contribute to global warming. Anthropogenic greenhouse gases are a direct result of air pollution. They are the physical gases emitted that cause air pollution. Naturally occurring greenhouse gases also have an influence on the earth’s atmosphere, though it is not as conspicuous as anthropogenic causes. Together, air pollution and greenhouse gases are intensifying climate change and global warming on a world-wide basis.

    Read More

  • Air Pollution

    334 Words  | 1 Pages

    Air pollution is caused by many things such as car fumes, burning of fossil fuels,

    Read More

  • Air Pollution and Mortality: A Focus on Maryland

    509 Words  | 2 Pages

    What is air pollution? According to the experts, the presence into the air of a substance which has harmful or poisonous effects is termed as air pollution. The presence of Air Pollution is countries such as the US comes unsurprisingly to everyone. Being one of the most industrialized countries on earth, air pollution is one of the environmental issues that we just have to deal with. However, a statistic which may take the people by surprise is that among states such as New York, California and Indiana, it is Maryland which has managed in registering the highest number of deaths from Air pollution in the United States. After multiple study conducted by various institutes, it has been concluded that motor vehicles, and industrial smokestacks contribute to the death of 113 people per 100,000 per year in Maryland, with Baltimore and Montgomery Village topping the list with 130 deaths per 100,000 people.

    Read More

  • Persuasive Essay On Environmental Pollution

    1259 Words  | 3 Pages

    Air pollution is a type of pollution that can severely damage our environment as well as the earth’s atmosphere. Air pollution occurs all the time when the air contains many substances ...

    Read More

More about How Outdoor Air Pollution Affects the Quality of Indoor Air

Open Document