Visualizing Environmental Science

214 CHAPTER 8 Air and Air Pollution

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5

Indoor Air Pollution 209

1. Indoor air pollution includes radon, cigarette smoke, nitrogen
   dioxide (from gas stoves), and formaldehyde (from carpet,
   fabrics, and furniture). These contribute to a variety of
   symptoms referred to as sick building syndrome.


2. Burning solid fuels indoors in developing countries leads to
   diseases including respiratory and eye infections, particularly
   among women and children.


3. Radon, a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas enters
   buildings from the ground. In some locations, indoor radon
   can pose a significant health threat.

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Controlling Air Pollutants 206

1. Improvements in U.S. air quality since 1970 are largely due to
   the Clean Air Act, which authorizes the EPA to set limits on
   specific air pollutants. Individual states must meet deadlines
   to reduce air pollution to acceptable levels and can’t mandate
   weaker limits than those stipulated in the Clean Air Act.


2. Air quality in the United States has slowly improved since
   passage of the Clean Air Act. The most dramatic improvement
   is the decline of lead in the air, although levels of sulfur oxides,
   ozone, carbon monoxide, volatile compounds, and nitrogen
   oxides have also declined. Air quality is deteriorating in
   developing nations as a result of rapid industrialization, growing
   numbers of automobiles, and a lack of emissions standards.

Key Terms

air pollution 196
atmosphere^192
Coriolis effect^195
dust dome^205

photochemical smog^201

primary air pollutants^196

secondary air pollutants^196

sick building syndrome^209

temperature inversion^202

urban heat island^204

What is happening

in this picture?

This Nepalese woman is preparing a meal inside a poorly
ventilated room. Cooking meals can take up many hours each
day. In this picture, where is the smoke most visible? What
does this imply for the health of women, who do much of the
cooking in developing countries?

Young children in developing countries tend to spend much
of their time with their mothers; in fact, an infant may be
strapped to the mother while she cooks. Explain what sorts of
health effects you might expect these children to suffer as a
result.