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Facts About Indoor Air Pollution


What is Air Pollution?

Air pollution is the material, whether chemicals, particulates, or biological materials, that is introduced into the atmosphere by humans or human products. This includes smog, CFCs, acid rain, and indoor air pollutants. Air pollution is always a bad thing, there are no positives having to do with air pollution. Pollution is quickly becoming a serious problem all over the world, in the air, the water, the soil, and many other ways. As humans, we are responsible for the damage we do, and if we do not find a way to either tremendously curb or clear the world we live on, we will not have our natural resources for very long. Most people think that air pollution is a problem that only tree-huggers or environmentalists worry about, but the sad fact is it is a reality that we all have to face. We cause more problems every day than we come up with solutions for in ten years. Drastic measures may be required from our children and grandchildren if we do not begin to make some serious headway in the air pollution problem. Scientists and researchers generally measure air pollution by two methods. The first method is measuring the maximum amount of any given pollutant that can be in our atmosphere at all times. By this method, scientists and researchers can determine how the air pollution will affect both the ecosystems on Earth and life in general. The second method of measuring air pollution has to do with how the pollution levels will affect day-to-day life on Earth. Many news stations and newspapers publish daily or weekly reports showing the level of outdoor pollutants (such as those affecting outdoor activities), and warn the public accordingly.

What is Indoor Air Quality?

A healthy indoor environment is one in which the occupants of the building feel a sense of health and well being. The qualities of good indoor air include: Introduction of fresh air and distribution of adequate ventilation air. Control of indoor contaminants such as Voc's and Mold. Maintenance of acceptable temperature and relative humidity are maintained in an acceptable manner for occupants.

Polluted indoor air can cause problems and have serious consequences such as: Repetitious health problems such as coughs, eye irritation, headaches, and allergic reactions. Unacceptable productivity due to discomfort, stress and increased absenteeism. Accelerated deterioration of furnishings and equipment. Strained relations between employees and employers or household inhabitants.

What are the risks involved with air pollution?

If air pollution is not put into remission, it could pose many risks and dangers, both environmental and physiologically. The aforementioned greenhouse effect is one of the most serious results of unchecked air pollution. The air pollution problem is also systematically causing the oceans to become more acidic. While this is not a problem right now, since many marine creatures use the acid in their photosynthesis actions, the far-reaching effects are not entirely known yet. We could also face crises with the depletion of the ozone, which is caused by air pollution. With a depleted ozone layer, we risk the global warming trend becoming even more volatile. If the ozone layer is depleted enough, the sun will begin to burn the Earth, causing severe problems and death for all living things. While this is a worse case scenario at this point in time, it is still a potential risk associated with not creating a solution to the global warming problem and the air pollution dilemma in general.

Major Pollutants

Carbon Dioxide: is the primary gas released by human activity (e.g., coal, oil, and gas usage). If inhaled in high concentrations, CO2 is toxic to the body and can result in a faster breathing rate and other health problems. Fear not: the world will overheat from global warming far before CO2 in our atmosphere reaches this level.

Chlorofluorocarbons: are a chemical byproduct of industry, refrigeration and air conditioning systems. When they get into the atmosphere, CFCs travel to the stratosphere. Here, they react with other chemicals, causing the ozone layer to be depleted. The ozone layer protects Earth from harmless ultraviolet rays. By reducing our emissions and eliminating the production of ozone harming chemicals, Reducing CFC emissions and eliminating the production and use of ozone-destroying chemicals is very important to protecting the planets atmosphere.

Nitrogen Oxide: is a cause of smog and acid rain. NO reacts with other molecules in the air to create a form of air pollution known as smog. In addition to being unpleasant to the eye, in higher quantities smog can damage the human respiratory system, particularly in children.

Sulfur Dioxide: although odorless in lower quantities, can have a potent small in greater volume. Sulfur Dioxide is formed when coal is burned. The primary producers of Sulfur Dioxide are power plants and factories. Sulfur Dioxide is one of the primary causes of smog and acid rain.


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