Page 52 - CIJ Feb 2024 Digital Edition

Facility ManageMent-iaQ

Pollutant Sources • Excess moisture smoking, cleaning, redecorating or doing
• Outdoor sources such as: hobbies release pollutants intermittently.
There are many sources of Unvented or malfunctioning appliances
indoor air pollution. These can o Radon or improperly used products can release
include: o Pesticides higher and sometimes dangerous levels
• Fuel-burning combustion o Outdoor air pollution of pollutants indoors.
appliances The relative importance of Pollutant concentrations can remain
• Tobacco products any single source depends on in the air for long periods after some
• Building materials and how much of a given pollutant activities.
it emits and how hazardous
furnishings as diverse as: those emissions are. In some
o Deteriorated asbestos- cases, factors such as how Inadequate Ventilation
containing insulation old the source is and whether If too little outdoor air enters indoors,
o Newly installed flooring, it is properly maintained are pollutants can accumulate to levels that
upholstery or carpet significant. For example, an can pose health and comfort problems.
o Cabinetry or furniture made improperly adjusted gas stove Unless buildings are built with special
mechanical means of ventilation, those
can emit significantly more
of certain pressed wood carbon monoxide than one that designed and constructed to minimize
products is properly adjusted. the amount of outdoor air that can “leak”
• Products for household Some sources, like building in and out may have higher indoor
cleaning and maintenance, materials, furnishings and pollutant levels.
personal care, or hobbies products like air fresheners, can
• Central heating and cooling release pollutants more or less How Outdoor Air
systems and humidification continuously. Other sources, Enters a Building
devices related to activities like
Outdoor air can enter and leave a
building by: infiltration, natural ventilation,
and mechanical ventilation. In a process
known as infiltration, outdoor air flows
into buildings through openings, joints,
and cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings,
and around windows and doors. In natural
ventilation, air moves through opened
windows and doors. Air movement
associated with infiltration and natural
ventilation is caused by air temperature
differences between indoors and outdoors
and by wind.
Finally, there are a number of
mechanical ventilation devices, from
outdoor-vented fans that intermittently
remove air from a single room, such as
bathrooms and kitchen, to air handling
systems that use fans and duct work
to continuously remove indoor air
and distribute filtered and conditioned
outdoor air to strategic points throughout
the house. The rate at which outdoor
air replaces indoor air is described as
the air exchange rate. When there is
little infiltration, natural ventilation, or
mechanical ventilation, the air exchange
rate is low and pollutant levels can
increase.

FEBRUARY 2024•Clean India Journal
52 www.cleanindiajournal.com