Indoor Air Pollution/Smoking Lab

Air is the ocean we breathe. Air supplies us with oxygen which is essential for our bodies to live.
Air is 99.9% nitrogen, oxygen, water vapor and inert gases. Human activities can release
substances into the air, some of which can cause problems for humans, plants, and animals.

There are several main types of pollution and well-known effects of pollution which are commonly
discussed. These include smog, acid rain, the greenhouse effect, and "holes" in the ozone layer.
Each of these problems has serious implications for our health and well-being as well as for the
whole environment.

One type of air pollution is the release of particles into the air from burning fuel for energy. Diesel
smoke is a good example of this particulate matter. The particles are very small pieces of matter
measuring about 2.5 microns or about .0001 inches. This type of pollution is sometimes referred
to as "black carbon" pollution. The exhaust from burning fuels in automobiles, homes, and
industries is a major source of pollution in the air. Some authorities believe that even the burning
of wood and charcoal in fireplaces and barbecues can release significant quantities of soot into
the air.

Another type of pollution is the release of noxious gases, such as sulfur dioxide, carbon
monoxide, nitrogen oxides, and chemical vapors. These can take part in further chemical
reactions once they are in the atmosphere, forming smog and acid rain.

Pollution also needs to be considered inside our homes, offices, and schools. Some of these
pollutants can be created by indoor activities such as smoking and cooking. In the United States,
we spend about 80-90% of our time inside buildings. We work, study, eat, drink and sleep in
enclosed environments where air circulation may be restricted. For these reasons, some experts
feel that more people suffer from the effects of indoor air pollution than outdoor pollution. The
California Air Resources Board estimates that indoor air pollutant levels are 25-62% greater than
outside levels and can pose serious health problems.

There are many sources of indoor air pollution. Tobacco smoke, cooking and heating appliances,
and vapors from building materials, paints, furniture, etc. cause pollution inside buildings. Radon
is a natural radioactive gas released from the earth, and it can be found concentrated in
basements in some parts of the United States. One of the most dangerous air pollutants is
cigarette smoke. Restricting smoking is an important key to a healthier environment. Legislation
to control smoking is in effect in some locations, but personal exposure should be monitored and
limited wherever possible.

Air pollution can affect our health in many ways with both short-term and long-term effects.
Different groups of individuals are affected by air pollution in different ways. Some individuals are
much more sensitive to pollutants than are others. Young children and elderly people often suffer
more from the effects of air pollution. People with health problems such as asthma, heart and
lung disease may also suffer more when the air is polluted. The extent to which an individual is
harmed by air pollution usually depends on the total exposure to the damaging chemicals, i.e.,
the duration of exposure and the concentration of the chemicals must be taken into account.

Examples of short-term effects include irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, and upper
respiratory infections such as bronchitis and pneumonia. Other symptoms can include
headaches, nausea, and allergic reactions. Short-term air pollution can aggravate the medical
conditions of individuals with asthma and emphysema. In the great "Smog Disaster" in London in
1952, four thousand people died in a few days due to the high concentrations of pollution.

Long-term health effects can include chronic respiratory disease, lung cancer, heart disease, and
even damage to the brain, nerves, liver, or kidneys. Continual exposure to air pollution affects the
lungs of growing children and may aggravate or complicate medical conditions in the elderly. It is
estimated that half a million people die prematurely every year in the United States as a result of
smoking cigarettes.

In this experiment we will be looking at accumulation of solids from tobacco smoke. Your
 in.structor will present you with separate instructions on use of the smoking Lab Apparatus. You
will compare the differences in accumulation from various types of cigarettes (filtered VS.
unfiltered), cigars and sidestream smoke.