FAQ...and Glossary

This glossary has definitions for technical words used in my Indoor Air Quality blog. 

Adsorption - The physical process that occurs when liquids, gases, or suspended matter adhere to the surfaces or in the pores of a material.

Air cleaner - A device used to remove particulate or gaseous impurities from the air; examples include electrostatic precipitator, ion generator, ultraviolet germicidal irradiation cleaner, photocatalytic oxidation cleaner, and gas phase air filter.

Air filter - A device that removes particulate material from an airstream, also called an “air cleaner.”

Allergen - A chemical or biological substance (e.g., pollen, animal dander, or house dust mite proteins) that can cause an allergic reaction characterized by hypersensitivity (an exaggerated response).

CADR - The Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR) is the measure of portable room air cleaner performance. This is defined as the measure of the delivery of contaminant-free air by a portable household electric room air cleaner, expressed in cubic feet per minute (cfm). CADRs are always the measurement of a unit’s performance as a complete system.

Carbon monoxide (CO) -- A colorless, odorless, poisonous gas, produced by incomplete burning of carbon-based fuels. including gasoline, oil and wood. Carbon monoxide is also produced from incomplete combustion of many natural and synthetic products. For instance, cigarette smoke contains carbon monoxide. When carbon monoxide gets into the body, the carbon monoxide combines with chemicals in the blood and prevents the blood from bringing oxygen to cells, tissues and organs. The body's parts need oxygen for energy, so high-level exposures to carbon monoxide can cause serious health effects, with death possible from massive exposures. Symptoms of exposure to carbon monoxide can include vision problems, reduced alertness, and general reduction in mental and physical functions. Carbon monoxide exposures are especially harmful to people with heart, lung and circulatory system diseases.

CFCs (chlorofluorocarbons) -- These chemicals and some related chemicals have been used in great quantities in industry, for refrigeration and air conditioning, and in consumer products. CFCs and their relatives, when released into the air, rise into the stratosphere, a layer of the atmosphere high above the Earth. In the stratosphere, CFCs and their relatives take part in chemical reactions which result in reduction of the stratospheric ozone layer, which protects the Earth's surface from harmful effects of radiation from the sun. The 1990 Clean Air Act includes provisions for reducing releases (emissions) and eliminating production and use of these ozone-destroying chemicals.

Clean fuels -- Low-pollution fuels that can replace ordinary gasoline. These are alternative fuels, including gasohol (gasoline-alcohol mixtures), natural gas and LPG (liquefied petroleum gas).

Combustion -- burning. Many important pollutants, such as sulfur dioxide, nitrogen oxides, and particulates (PM-10) are combustion products, often products of the burning of fuels such as coal, oil, gas and wood.

Control technology; control measures -- equipment, processes or actions used to reduce air pollution. The extent of pollution reduction varies among technologies and measures. In general, control technologies and measures that do the best job of reducing pollution will be required in the areas with the worst pollution. For example, the best available control technology/best available control measures (BACT,BACM) will be required in serious nonattainment areas for particulates, a criteria air pollutant. A similar high level of pollution reduction will be achieved with maximum achievable control technology (MACT) which will be required for sources releasing hazardous air pollutants.

Criteria air pollutants -- a group of very common air pollutants regulated by EPA on the basis of criteria (information on health and/or environmental effects of pollution). Criteria air pollutants are widely distributed all over the country.

Dander - Minute scales of skin. Dander also may contain hair or feathers.

Emission -- release of pollutants into the air from a source. We say sources emit pollutants. Continuous emission monitoring systems (CEMS) are machines which some large sources are required to install, to make continuous measurements of pollutant release.

Hazardous air pollutants (HAPs) -- chemicals that cause serious health and environmental effects. Health effects include cancer, birth defects, nervous system problems and death due to massive accidental releases such as occurred at the pesticide plant in Bhopal, India. Hazardous air pollutants are released by sources such as chemical plants, dry cleaners, printing plants, and motor vehicles (cars, trucks, buses, etc.)

HEPA filter - High-efficiency particulate air filter. Extended surface mechanical air filter having a minimum particle removal efficiency of 99.97 percent for all particles of 0.3 µm diameter, with high efficiency for both larger and smaller particles.

HVAC - Heating, ventilating, and air conditioning.

Material safety data sheets (MSDS) -- product safety information sheets prepared by manufacturers and marketers of products containing toxic chemicals. These sheets can be obtained by requesting them from the manufacturer or marketer. Some stores, such as hardware stores, may have material safety data sheets on hand for products they sell.

MERV - Minimum efficiency reporting value.

Nitrogen oxides (NOx) -- a criteria air pollutant. Nitrogen oxides are produced from burning fuels, including gasoline and coal. Nitrogen oxides are smog formers, which react with volatile organic compounds to form smog. Nitrogen oxides are also major components of acid rain.

Oxygenated fuel (oxyfuel) -- special type of gasoline, which burns more completely than regular gasoline in cold start conditions; more complete burning results in reduced production of carbon monoxide, a criteria air pollutant. In some parts of the country, carbon monoxide release from cars starting up in cold weather makes a major contribution to pollution. In these areas, gasoline refiners must market oxygenated fuels, which contain a higher oxygen content than regular gasoline. Some gasoline companies started selling oxyfuels in cities with carbon monoxide problems before the 1990 Clean Air Act was passed.

Ozone -- a gas which is a variety of oxygen. The oxygen gas found in the air consists of two oxygen atoms stuck together; this is molecular oxygen. Ozone consists of three oxygen atoms stuck together into an ozone molecule. Ozone occurs in nature; it produces the sharp smell you notice near a lightning strike. High concentrations of ozone gas are found in a layer of the atmosphere -- the stratosphere -- high above the Earth. Stratospheric ozone shields the Earth against harmful rays from the sun, particularly ultraviolet B. Smog's main component is ozone; this ground-level ozone is a product of reactions among chemicals produced by burning coal, gasoline and other fuels, and chemicals found in products including solvents, paints, hairsprays, etc.

Paints are composed of resins (film formers), dilutents (solvents), pigments (color), and additives. The paint products category also includes coatings such as varnish, shellac, polyurethane, and stains. Paints are generally categorized on the basis of the solvent. The two main categories are oil based and water based (latex) paints. Depending on the type of paint selected, other paint related products such as thinners and brush cleaners may be required. Latex and other water based paint products are the safest to use, require no organic solvents, dry quickly, and flow evenly.

Particulates particulate matter (PM-10) -- a criteria air pollutant. Particulate matter includes dust, soot and other tiny bits of solid materials that are released into and move around in the air. Particulates are produced by many sources, including burning of diesel fuels by trucks and buses, incineration of garbage, mixing and application of fertilizers and pesticides, road construction, industrial processes such as steel making, mining operations, agricultural burning (field and slash burning), and operation of fireplaces and wood stoves. Particulate pollution can cause eye, nose and throat irritation and other health problems. 


Pollutants (pollution) -- unwanted chemicals or other materials found in the air. Pollutants can harm health, the environment and property. Many air pollutants occur as gases or vapors, but some are very tiny solid particles: dust, smoke or soot.

Rhinitis - Inflammation of the mucous membrane lining of the nose.

Reformulated gasoline -- specially refined gasoline with low levels of smog-forming volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and low levels of hazardous air pollutants. The 1990 Clean Air Act requires sale of reformulated gasoline in the nine smoggiest areas. Reformulated gasolines were sold in several smoggy areas even before the 1990 Clean Air Act was passed.

Smog -- a mixture of pollutants, principally ground-level ozone, produced by chemical reactions in the air involving smog-forming chemicals. A major portion of smog-formers come from burning of petroleum-based fuels such as gasoline. Other smog-formers, volatile organic compounds, are found in products such as paints and solvents. Smog can harm health, damage the environment and cause poor visibility. Major smog occurrences are often linked to heavy motor vehicle traffic, sunshine, high temperatures and calm winds or temperature inversion (weather condition in which warm air is trapped close to the ground instead of rising). Smog is often worse away from the source of the smog-forming chemicals, since the chemical reactions that result in smog occur in the sky while the reacting chemicals are being blown away from their sources by winds.

Sulfur dioxide -- a criteria air pollutant. Sulfur dioxide is a gas produced by burning coal, most notably in power plants. Some industrial processes, such as production of paper and smelting of metals, produce sulfur dioxide. Sulfur dioxide is closely related to sulfuric acid, a strong acid. Sulfur dioxide plays an important role in the production of acid rain.

ULPA - Ultra low penetration air filter. Extended surface mechanical air filter having a minimum particle removal efficiency of 99.999 percent for all particles of 0.3 µm diameter, with high efficiency for both larger and smaller particles.

UV - Ultraviolet.

UVGI - Ultraviolet germicidal irradiation.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) -- Organic chemicals all contain the element carbon (C); organic chemicals are the basic chemicals found in living things and in products derived from living things, such as coal, petroleum and refined petroleum products. Many of the organic chemicals we use do not occur in Nature, but were synthesized by chemists in laboratories. Volatile chemicals produce vapors readily; at room temperature and normal atmospheric pressure, vapors escape easily from volatile liquid chemicals. Volatile organic chemicals include gasoline, industrial chemicals such as benzene, solvents such as toluene and xylene, and tetrachloroethylene (perchloroethylene, the principal dry cleaning solvent). Many volatile organic chemicals are also hazardous air pollutants; for example, benzene causes cancer.

U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
1200 Pennsylvania Avenue, NW
Washington, DC 20460
www.epa.gov

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What is "Off-Gassing"?
Off Gassing....is "the evaporation of volatile chemicals in non-metallic materials at normal atmospheric pressure. This means that building materials can release chemicals into the air through evaporation. This evaporation can continue for years after the products are initially installed which means you continue to breathe these chemicals as you work, sleep and relax in your home or office."

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has warned about the "off-gassing" of Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) such as paints, stains, varnishes, carpet, insulation, flooring, kitchen cabinets and counter-tops, plywood, particleboard, and paint strippers—so you learn more about what causes indoor air pollution here.

Another venue for off-gassing is your car.  Yep, as if that damn internal combustion engine wasn't doing enough to threaten all life on earth, Collin Dunn adds: "That 'new car smell' is the result of the steering wheel, dashboard, armrests, and seats (among other parts) off-gassing nasty things like chlorine, bromine, lead, mercury and other chemicals and toxins that are not good for breathing and not good for human health."

HealthyCar.org not only provides a contradiction in terms but it also offers a guide to toxic chemicals in cars.

Source: http://www.natureneutral.com/http://natureneutral.com/