Indoor air pollution

Budiansky, Stephen

doi:10.1021/es60169a005

Cited by 24 publications

(9 citation statements)

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“…However, there is mounting evidence that activities carried out in the home are capable of producing aerosols in concentrations that are great enough to constitute a health hazard. Indeed, the concentration of respirable particles is often considerably greater in the home than outdoors [Budiansky, 1980]; concentrations over 100 #g m -3 were encountered in some living areas at home and also in public areas in an office environment, whereas the particle concentration outdoors and on city streets was generally less than about 50 #g m-3. Coincidentally, the concentrations of gases such as CO and especially NO 2 were also quite high, at times exceeding federal standards established for the urban environment.…”

Section: Health and Ecological Effects Of Aerosolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The atmospheric aerosol system: An overview

Prospero¹,

Charlson²,

Mohnen³

et al. 1983

Reviews of Geophysics

246

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Aerosols could play a critical role in many processes which impact on our lives either indirectly (e.g., climate) or directly (e.g., health). However, our ability to assess these possible impacts is constrained by our limited knowledge of the physical and chemical properties of aerosols, both anthropogenic and natural. This deficiency is attributable in part to the fact that aerosols are the end product of a vast array of chemical and physical processes. Consequently, the properties of the aerosol can exhibit a great deal of variability in both time and space. Furthermore, most aerosol studies have focused on measurements of a single aerosol characteristic such as composition or size distribution. Such information is generally not useful for the assessment of impacts because the degree of impact may depend on the integral properties of the aerosol, for example, the aerosol composition as a function of particle size. In this overview we discuss recent work on atmospheric aerosols that illustrates the complex nature of the aerosol chemical and physical system, and we suggest strategies for future research. A major conclusion is that man has had a great impact on the global budgets of certain species, especially sulfur and nitrogen, that play a dominant role in the atmospheric aerosol system. These changes could conceivably affect climate. Large-scale impacts are implied because it has recently been demonstrated that natural and pollutant aerosol episodes can be propagated over great distances. However, at present there is no evidence linking anthropogenic activities with a persistent increase in aerosol concentrations on a global scale. A major problem in assessing man's impact on the atmospheric aerosol system and on global budgets is the absence of aerosol measurements in remote marine and continental areas. This dearth is especially acute for the southern hemisphere, where we could expect natural sources to predominate because of the relatively low level of industrial development and energy utilization.

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Section: Health and Ecological Effects Of Aerosolsmentioning

confidence: 99%

The atmospheric aerosol system: An overview

Prospero¹,

Charlson²,

Mohnen³

et al. 1983

Reviews of Geophysics

246

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“…Several studies have been reported in which measurements of personal exposure to indoor contaminants have not been equal to single point measurements of indoor concentrations (Rodes et al, 1990;Budiansky, 1980). Proximity to pollutant sources and effects associated with body temperature and breathing may contribute to this discrepancy.…”

Section: Indoor Air Quality and The Study Of Pollutant Dispersionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Computed tomography and optical remote sensing: Development for the study of indoor air pollutant transport and dispersion

Drescher¹,

Nazaroff²,

Gadgil³

1995

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“…The NO x and CO levels measured in homes using gas ranges were found to be up to three times higher than the levels measured outside (Wade and others 1975;Spengler and others 1979). Higher exposures to NO 2 may be associated with increased respiratory disease and decreased lung volume (Budiansky 1980). Low-level exposure to CO may result in cardiovascular and central nervous system impairment (USEPA 1979).…”

Section: Passive Solar Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…confounds associations between exposure to outdoor pollutants and health effects. However, studies that have been done, and those in progress, indicate that indoor air pollution may have significant impacts on human health (Melia and others 1977;Lisella and others 1978;Hollowell and others 1979;USEPA 1979;Budiansky 1980).…”

Section: Passive Solar Systemsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Health and safety implications of alternative energy technologies. II. Solar

Etnier

Watson

1981

Environmental Management

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/ No energy technology is risk free when all aspects of its utilization are taken into account. Every energy technology has some attendant direct and indirect health and safety concerns. Solar technologies examined in this paper are wind, ocean thermal energy gradients, passive, photovoltaic, satellite power systems, low-and high-temperature collectors, and central power stations, as well as tidal power. For many of these technologies, insufficient historical data are available from which to assess the health risks and environmental impacts. However, their similarities to other projects make certain predictions possible. For example, anticipated problems in worker safety in constructing ocean thermal energy conversion systems will be similar to those associated with other large-scale construction projects, like deep-sea oil drilling platforms. Occupational hazards associated with photovoltaic plant operation would be those associated with normal electricity generation, although for workers involved in the actual production of photovoltaic materials, there is some concern for the toxic effects of the materials used, including silicon, cadmium, and gallium arsenide.Satellite power systems have several unique risks. These include the effects of long-term space travel for construction workers, effects on the ozone layer and the attendant risk of skin cancer in the general public, and the as-yet-undetermined effects of long-term, low-level microwave exposure. Hazards may arise from three sources in solar heating and cooling systems: water contamination from corrosion inhibitors, heat transfer fluids, and bactericides; collector over-heating, fires, and "out-gassing"; and handling and disposal of system fluids and wastes. Similar concerns exist for solar thermal power systems. Even passive solar systems may increase indoor exposure levels to various air pollutants and toxic substances, either directly from the solar system itself or indirectly by trapping released pollutants from furnishings, building materials, and indoor combustion.This article is the second in a series discussing health implications of alternative energy technologies. The first paper evaluated biomass and geothermal (Watson and Emier 1981), and the third and final paper considers fossil fuels.Energy initiatives often referred to as "benign" are of special interest because of their apparent advantages in terms of health and safety issues. However, as this review will document, no energy technology is risk free when all aspects of its utilization are taken into account. Quantification is not possible in many cases, but there is a sound basis for stating that every energy technology has some attendant direct and indirect health and safety concerns. The current solar energy goal of the United States is to produce 20% of the total energy consumed in the year 2000. Current solar energy conversion technologies are probably not adequate to achieve this goal, and new technologies must emerge to satisfy this need (Jayadev and Roessner 1980). Given t...

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Indoor air pollution

Cited by 24 publications

References 0 publications

The atmospheric aerosol system: An overview

The atmospheric aerosol system: An overview

Computed tomography and optical remote sensing: Development for the study of indoor air pollutant transport and dispersion

Health and safety implications of alternative energy technologies. II. Solar

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