JenniferSpartzAnnotation11IntrotoIAQ

Annotation 11 An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality This website was written by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. As the government group assigned to aid people in search of safer environments, it would be accepted that the information they provide is accurate. This site is a basic outline of what causes indoor air pollution and how to improve air quality. It states how to determine problems and what to do once you detect one. They discuss many different pollutants: asbestos, biological pollutants, carbon monoxide (CO), formaldehyde, lead, NO2, pesticides, radon, secondhand smoke/ETS, and volatile organic compounds (VOCs). This site was put together based on many studies of these pollutants to report to the public what was known about these problems and what to expect from them. The pollution sources studied release potentially harmful particles and gases into the air. The website starts by talking about bad ventilation. The high temperature and humidity levels could increase the concentration of pollution. The article also studied sources of combustion within a building for causes of pollution. Problems occur with the burning of oil, gas, kerosene, coal, and tobacco. Other problems come in the form of deteriorating construction materials, wet or damp carpet, cabinetry, or furniture, cleaning and other maintenance products, central heating and cooling systems, and outdoor radon, pesticide, and air pollution. The significance of the impact any one of these might have upon the occupants of a building depends upon the level and how hazardous the off gas or particles being released were. Ventilation is needed to bring outdoor air into the home to ensure the health and comfort of a building. The three ways outdoor air enters a building are through infiltration (openings and cracks), natural (windows and doors), and mechanical (vented fans) ventilation. The rate outdoor air replaces indoor air is the air exchange rate and pollutants tend to increase with a low exchange rate. The health effects the pollutants may create could be immediate or long-term. The immediate effects occur generally after a single or multiple exposures. They may be eye, nose, and throat irritation, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. These effects are generally treatable; however, asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonia, and humidifier fever have been known to occur. The likelihood of any reaction occurring depends on age, medical condition, and sensitivity to biological and chemical pollutants. The long-term effects however, occur after years of exposure. These can include respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer. The specific pages devoted to each potential health threat describe what it is, the causes, health effects, where levels might be elevated, and how to reduce exposure. The average levels of CO in a household were .5 – 5 ppm. However, there were no indoor standards for carbon monoxide. The website states the levels that are known to cause harm for CO, formaldehyde, lead, and VOCs and only the industrial standard for formaldehyde is .75 ppm and notes there is not standard for the home setting. “Further research is needed to better understand which health effects occur after exposure to the average pollutant concentrations found in homes and which occurs from the higher concentrations that occur for short periods of time.” (EPA 2009). Overall, there are many causes of pollutants, but even after studies were conducted about each pollutant, the health problems caused by them are still uncertain. This website seems to follow the trend of people trying to know more about their environments, and what should be noticed to ensure healthy living. The webpage was constructed with little outside help. Most of the information posted was studies done by the EPA. While this means that they are familiar with the subjects they are reporting, the data would be more reliable if there were further groups that backed it up. This study aids our group questions by telling us who is reporting about indoor air. It also tells us what they EPA considers as risks to the breathing environment. By noting these compounds and their causes it is easier to note when an individual might be contributing to a more harmful environment. Citation “An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality.” U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. Updated 27 October 2009. Accessed 14 March 2010. .