Reducing indoor air pollution: Remedies

• Use low-toxicity material
• Monitor air quality
• Keep rooms clean
• Limit exposure to chemicals
• Allow for better mixing of indoor & outdoor air
• Dry wood before burning
• Cook outside
• Use less-polluting fuels (natural gas)

We can reduce indoor air pollution

• —The amount of air available (for mixing of indoor & outdoor air) to dilute pollutants is an important indicator of the likely contaminant concentration
  • Indoor air can mix with outside air by 3 mechanisms –
    • infiltration
    • natural ventilation
    • forced ventilation

Mixing of Indoor & Outdoor Air

• — Infiltration
  • natural air exchange that occurs between a building & its environment when doors & windows are closed
    • leakage through holes or openings in the building Influenced by:
    • pressure differentials inside & outside the building
    • temperature differentials inside & outside of building
    • in winter, warm air inside wants to rise à exit through cracks in ceiling & draws in outside air
    • how fast wind is blowing