|
CA EPA Cites Finding: Rule of 1000 Indoor Pollutants 1000 X More Likely To Be Inhaled
This California EPA report (Feb., 2005), found in full on AB 1173 INDOOR AIR QUALITY REPORT, #3 below, states very important findings for all indoor occupants about molds and chemicals.
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/ab1173/ab1173.htm
1. March 17, 2005 Staff Presentation to the Board
2. March 17, 2005 ARB News Release
3. February 2005 Draft Report on Indoor Air Pollution in California
---------------------------------------------
Indoor Air Pollution in California
http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/ab1173/board-presentation-03-17-05.pdf
EPA Staff Presentation, Slides
For example:
Slide 4:
Significance of Indoor Exposures
�� Majority of time spent indoors
�� Building shell traps pollutants
�� Activities put people in close proximity to sources
�� Rule of 1000 – indoor pollutants 1000 X more likely to be inhaled
-------------------
The significance of the latter statement, explained and cited in the full EPA report (see page 29/page 39 of pdf file, of full Draft Report, excerpted below and found at http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/ab1173/report0205/rpt0205.pdf), cannot be underestimated. This is the reason that indoor mold cannot be compared to outdoor mold measurement, with the assumption that equal or lower levels of mold inside are safe (compared to outside levels). The EPA study cites three separate scientists who found that this rule applies. One is more likely to inhale indoor pollutants due to the trapping effect of buildings. Simple, logical and true. This is why we have very sick people in buildings that are found by the "experts" hired by the building owners/managers to be healthy. This will be very helpful when confronting reports of safe buildings that are obviously making people ill.
Susan Brinchman, Executive Director, Center for School Mold Help
------------------
"The high ranking of indoor pollution relative to other environmental problems is not surprising, because there are numerous sources of pollutants indoors, indoor air concentrations of some pollutants are often high enough to pose a health risk, and people spend most of their time indoors. The total quantity of air pollutants emitted indoors is much less than that emitted by outdoor sources. However, once emitted, indoor pollutants are diluted much more slowly than pollutants from outdoor sources. When this factor is combined with the fact that Californians, like others from industrialized nations, spend most of their time indoors, there is a much higher likelihood that people will be exposed to pollutants emitted indoors than those emitted outdoors.
Investigators have developed concepts and terms to quantify the portion of pollutant emissions actually inhaled (Bennet et al., 2002; Lai et al., 2000). The inhalation transfer factor (ITF) is defined as the pollutant mass inhaled by an exposed population per unit mass emitted from an air pollution source (Lai et al., 2000).
Although more people are exposed to a pollutant released outdoors, the concentration is usually reduced due to wide dispersion, relative to a pollutant emitted indoors. Calculated inhalation transfer factors were several orders of magnitude greater for pollutants emitted indoors and in vehicles than those emitted outdoors, thus indicating a significantly larger fraction of pollutant is inhaled when it is released indoors as opposed to outdoors.
Investigators calculate that pollutants emitted indoors have a 1000-fold greater chance of being inhaled than do those emitted outdoors (Smith, 1988; Bennet et al., 2002; Lai et al., 2000). Thus, reducing indoor emissions by a given amount might be anticipated to have a greater impact on reducing exposure than would reducing outdoor emissions by that same amount. Regulation of outdoor sources such as motor vehicles and industrial plants has notably reduced many outdoor pollutant levels in California. Now, there are significant gains to be achieved in public health protection from reductions in indoor source emissions and other measures that might be taken to reduce indoor concentrations and exposures.
The health effects of indoor pollutants range from irritant effects to respiratory disease, cancer, and even sudden death. Indoor sources of pollutants are numerous, such as building materials, consumer products of all types, combustion appliances, and even some so-called “air fresheners”. Common indoor activities such as cooking, cigarette smoking, burning candles, and vacuuming also generate pollutants. The health effects of indoor pollutants, and indoor pollutant sources and concentrations in California, are discussed in Chapter 2 of this report." (p.29)
DRAFT FOR BOARD REVIEW
Report to the California Legislature
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION IN CALIFORNIA
A report submitted by:
California Air Resources Board
Pursuant to Health and Safety Code § 39930
(Assembly Bill 1173, Keeley, 2002)
February 2005
Arnold Schwarzenegger
Governor
California Environmental Protection Agency
Air Resources Board
|
