2.6: indoor air pollution

## indoor air pollution

* i**ndoor air pollution**: pollution found inside buildings and cars
* can cause disease, headaches, coughing, nausea, burning eyes, chronic fatigue
* can result in absenteeism, reduced productivity, cost of healthcare
* source of indoor pollutants
* our focus will be on radon, formaldehyde, carbon monoxide, and asbestos
* **radon**: a radioactive gas that comes from the ground through cracks in the foundation
* causes lung cancers
* **formaldehyde**: a volatile organic compound (VOC) found in plywood, particle board, paneling, drapes, upholstery, dry-cleaned clothing
* worse in new buildings
* **asbestos**: a heat-resistant mineral that does not burn or conduct electricity
* used for insulation
* not harmful unless exposed or crumbling
* causes lung cancer and mesothelioma
* april 2022: EPA proposed ban of ongoing use of asbestos
* **carbon monoxide (CO)**: the product of incomplete combustion of wood, gas, coal, natural gas, and kerosene; has no smell
* reduces the ability of blood to carry oxygen
* indoor pollution in schools
* investing in quality would help with COVID, flu and colds, asthma and allergies, student attention (poorer when hot)
* action items
* test for radon
* don’t buy furniture/appliances with formaldehyde
* remove shoes when entering home
* avoid houses build pre-1980 (may contain lead, asbestos)
* don’t store solvents, gasoline, other VOCs in house
* don’t smoke inside
* install and check carbon monoxide detectors

## acid deposition

### the pH scale

* **pH**: a measure of how acidic or basic a solution is
* pH7: the neutral pH level of pure water
*