Air, Noise, and Light Pollution

Chapter 12 Section 2

Air, Noise, and Light Pollution

•The very young and very old with heart or lung problems are most susceptible.

•Death certificates will list diseases like emphysema and lung cancer instead of air pollution.

•Americans pay tens of billions of dollars annually to treat respiratory diseases caused by air pollution.

Short Term Effects of Air Pollution on Health

•Many effects of air pollution are short-term and reversible IF exposure decreases.

•Short-term effects include headache, nausea, irritation to the eyes, nose, and throat, tightness in the chest, coughing, and upper respiratory infections like bronchitis and pneumonia.

•People who have asthma and emphysema can have symptoms worsen.

Long Term Health Effects of Air Pollution

•Long term effects include emphysema, lung cancer, and heart disease.

•Long term exposure may worsen symptoms especially in older people

Sick Building Syndrome

•Chemicals used to make carpets, building materials, paints, and furniture are the major sources of indoor pollutants.

•Buildings that have very poor air quality have a condition called sick-building syndrome.

•This is most common in hot places where buildings are tightly sealed to keep the heat out.

•Identifying and removing the sources of indoor pollutants is the most effective way to maintain good indoor air quality.

•Ventilation is necessary for good indoor air quality.

Radon Gas

•Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless gas that is radioactive. It is produced by the decay of uranium.

•Radon can seep through the cracks and holes in the foundation of homes, offices, schools, etc. where it sticks to dust particles.

•In the lungs, radon can destroy the genetic material in the cells that line air passages.

•Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S.

Asbestos

•Several minerals that form in long, thin fibers and that are valued for their strength and resistance to heat are called asbestos.

•Asbestos is primarily used as an insulator and fire retardant that was used extensively in building materials.

•The U.S. banned the use of asbestos in the early 1970's.

•Asbestos fibers that are inhaled can cut and scar the lungs causing asbestosis. People who have this have difficulty breathing and can die of heart failure.

Noise Pollution

•Unwanted sound is noise pollution.

•It is irritating, and it damages our hearing. Hearing loss has doubled in the U.S. in the past 30 years. About 12% of teens have permanent hearing loss likely due to the use of portable listening devices. The National Institutes of Health say the safe threshold for MP3 players is 85 dB for 8 hours.

•Sound intensity is measured in decibels (dB).

•Noise pollution can be controlled by devices such as mufflers on lawn mowers and vehicles.

Light Pollution

•Light pollution does not present a direct hazard to human health.

•Light pollution in urban ares diminishes our view of the night sky.

•The more important concern of light pollution is wasted energy.

•Solutions include shields to direct light downward, using timers, and low-pressure sodium sources which are more efficient.

Copy now, answer later

• Describe the long-term effects and the short-term effects of air pollution on health.

• Describe two ways in which indoor air pollution can be prevented.

• Describe some of the human health problems caused by noise pollution.

• Describe several solutions to the energy waste associated with light pollution.

• Molds can grow in new, tightly sealed buildings where the humidity is high and the ventilation is poor. Explain how you would control the growth of mold in this type of environment.