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AP Environmental Science
Unit 7: Atmospheric Pollution
7.5 Indoor Air Pollutants
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Cards (38)
What is the formula for defining indoor air pollution?
Indoor Air Pollution
=
\text{Indoor Air Pollution} =
Indoor Air Pollution
=
\text{presence of contaminants \in indoor environments} +
adverse effects on human health
\text{adverse effects on human health}
adverse effects on human health
Indoor air pollutants originate primarily from industrial or traffic emissions.
False
Match the source of indoor air pollution with its pollutants and health effects:
Combustion Appliances ↔️
C
a
r
b
o
n
m
o
n
o
x
i
d
e
Carbon monoxide
C
a
r
b
o
nm
o
n
o
x
i
d
e
,
n
i
t
r
o
g
e
n
d
i
o
x
i
d
e
nitrogen dioxide
ni
t
ro
g
e
n
d
i
o
x
i
d
e
||| Dizziness, headache, respiratory irritation
Building Materials ↔️ Asbestos,
f
o
r
m
a
l
d
e
h
y
d
e
formaldehyde
f
or
ma
l
d
e
h
y
d
e
||| Lung diseases, cancer, respiratory irritation
Household Products ↔️ VOCs,
b
e
n
z
e
n
e
benzene
b
e
n
ze
n
e
||| Allergies, asthma, neurological damage
Biological Contaminants ↔️ Mold, pollen, dust mites ||| Respiratory issues, allergies
What are some common indoor air pollutants?
Carbon monoxide, radon, formaldehyde, asbestos, mold, VOCs, particulate matter
Radon is found in the
soil
under buildings.
Asbestos is a common indoor air pollutant found in damp areas with poor ventilation.
False
Match the indoor air pollutant with its source and health effects:
C
a
r
b
o
n
m
o
n
o
x
i
d
e
Carbon monoxide
C
a
r
b
o
nm
o
n
o
x
i
d
e
↔️ Combustion appliances ||| Headaches, dizziness, asphyxiation
R
a
d
o
n
Radon
R
a
d
o
n
↔️ Soil under buildings ||| Lung cancer
F
o
r
m
a
l
d
e
h
y
d
e
Formaldehyde
F
or
ma
l
d
e
h
y
d
e
↔️ Building materials, furniture ||| Eye and respiratory irritation, cancer
A
s
b
e
s
t
o
s
Asbestos
A
s
b
es
t
os
↔️ Old insulation, fireproofing ||| Asbestosis, lung cancer
What are the main categories of sources for indoor air pollutants?
Combustion appliances, building materials, household products, biological contaminants
Long-term exposure to indoor air pollutants like
formaldehyde
can lead to asthma.
Immediate health effects of indoor air pollutants include headaches and
respiratory irritation
.
What are the immediate symptoms of exposure to indoor air pollutants?
Headaches and respiratory irritation
Long-term exposure to indoor air pollutants can lead to
lung cancer
.
The severity of health effects from indoor air pollutants depends on the concentration of the pollutant and the duration of
exposure
Match the pollutant with its health effects:
Carbon Monoxide ↔️ Headaches, dizziness, asphyxiation
Radon ↔️ Lung cancer
Formaldehyde ↔️ Eye and respiratory irritation, cancer
Asbestos ↔️ Asbestosis, lung cancer
What is the primary health effect of radon exposure?
Lung cancer
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) can cause headaches, nausea, and liver and kidney
damage
What type of problems can particulate matter (PM) cause?
Respiratory and cardiovascular
Indoor air pollution differs from outdoor air pollution in its
primary sources
.
Match the source with the pollutants it produces:
Combustion Appliances ↔️
C
O
CO
CO
,
N
O
2
NO_{2}
N
O
2
Building Materials ↔️ Asbestos,
C
H
2
O
CH_{2}O
C
H
2
O
Household Products ↔️ VOCs,
b
e
n
z
e
n
e
benzene
b
e
n
ze
n
e
Biological Contaminants ↔️ Mold, pollen, dust mites
What pollutants are emitted by combustion appliances?
C
a
r
b
o
n
m
o
n
o
x
i
d
e
Carbon monoxide
C
a
r
b
o
nm
o
n
o
x
i
d
e
,
n
i
t
r
o
g
e
n
d
i
o
x
i
d
e
nitrogen dioxide
ni
t
ro
g
e
n
d
i
o
x
i
d
e
Common indoor air pollutants include radon, formaldehyde, and volatile organic
compounds
What is the source of carbon monoxide in indoor environments?
Combustion appliances
Asbestos
is commonly found in old insulation and fireproofing materials.
Order the primary sources of indoor air pollution:
1️⃣ Combustion Appliances
2️⃣ Building Materials
3️⃣ Household Products
4️⃣ Biological Contaminants
Which building materials release formaldehyde?
Plywood, insulation
The health effects of indoor air pollutants depend on their concentration and the duration of
exposure
Match the pollutant with its health effects:
Carbon Monoxide ↔️ Headaches, dizziness, asphyxiation
Radon ↔️ Lung cancer
Formaldehyde ↔️ Eye and respiratory irritation, cancer
Asbestos ↔️ Asbestosis, lung cancer
What health problems can mold cause?
Allergies, respiratory infections
Order the strategies to improve indoor air quality:
1️⃣ Improve Ventilation
2️⃣ Use Air Purifiers
3️⃣ Control Sources
Air purifiers with HEPA filters can capture particulate matter and other airborne
pollutants
What type of products should be used to control indoor air pollution sources?
Low-VOC paints
Regulations and standards for
indoor air quality
are aimed at ensuring healthy indoor environments.
Match the organization with its regulatory focus:
EPA ↔️ National Ambient Air Quality Standards (NAAQS)
OSHA ↔️ Permissible Exposure Limits (PELs)
WHO ↔️ IAQ Guidelines
ASHRAE ↔️ Ventilation and IAQ standards
Which organization sets standards for pollutants like carbon monoxide and particulate matter?
EPA
Building managers use ASHRAE's standards to design effective ventilation
systems
Carbon monoxide poisoning in schools led to the implementation of
CO
detectors.
What type of contamination occurred in Gulf Coast homes after Hurricane Katrina?
Toxic mold infestation
Imported furniture from China caused benzene contamination, leading to nausea and long-term health
risks