environmental tobacco smoke and indoor air quality ...

9th International Conference on Engineering and Business Education (ICEBE) & 6th International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICIE)

ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE AND INDOOR AIR QUALITY IN GREEN BUILDINGS OF SMART CITIES Dr K N Sheth Director-Operations Adani Institute of Infrastructure- Engineering and Management Dean - Interdisciplinary Research, Gujarat Technological University Email: [email protected]

Abstract: Smart cities lay emphasis on green buildings. A building in order to get it rated as ‘Green Building’; need to ensure indoor air quality. The green building should ensure quality of air inside the building. USEPA has stated that indoor air pollution poses a greater risk-people spend 80-90% of their time indoors This paper is an attempt to present the Indoor air quality requirements in general with a specific thrust on second hand tobacco smoke and passive smokers. Innocent friends and wives do not know that they are inviting cancer by accompanying them as the second hand smoke does not have filter, the smokers have filters in the cigarettes. Exposure to environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) and mixtures of VOC may be an important cause of sick Building Syndrome (SBS). The symptoms include skin and eye irritation, chest tightness, fatigue, headache, lethargy, lack of concentration, odor annoyance. Though regulations have been made to prohibit the smoking in public place, it is not completely banned. This paper also incorporates how the indoor air quality can be improved using simple principles of technology Key Words: Green Building, ETS, Indoor Air Quality, 1. INTRODUCTION TO GREEN BUILDING Green building has become a hot and favorite word in last decade and more so after Hon’ble Prime Minister announced to undertake 100 smart cities projects in India. Green building design utilizes processes and techniques that are environmentally responsible. Green building is defined as a building which efficiently uses energy, water, and construction materials, while minimizing waste, pollution, and environmental degradation. In addition to reducing impact on the environment, green buildings promote occupant health and increase employee productivity by improved Indoor air quality. Smart Cities are efficient and therefore the smart cities use high performance buildings. These are sustainable buildings as they conserve the environmental resources. (Dr Sheth K N and Upadhyay Darshan M, 2016)

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“A green building is known as a sustainable building is a structure that is designed built renovated operated or used in an ecological and resource-efficient manner. Green buildings are designed to meet certain objectives such as protecting occupant’s health, improving employee productivity using energy, water and other resources more efficiently and reducing the overall impact on the environment.” “Green Building Basics” 2. INTRODUTION TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY If the pollutant is inhaled by breathing outdoor air, it is called the outdoor air and if the pollutant is inhaled by breathing indoor air, it is called Indoor air. Traffic generated emissions are responsible for causing outdoor air pollution and tobacco smoke or combustion products generated

Centre for Global Business Studies - Gujarat Technological University - India

9th International Conference on Engineering and Business Education (ICEBE) & 6th International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICIE)

by cooking food are the examples of indoor pollution. The basic philosophy as regards “Indoor Air Quality” is to ensure that the occupant’s area not exposed to indoor air pollutants. Hazardous substances should not be emitted from construction materials used in building construction. . The green building should ensure quality of air inside the building. The scientific evidence indicates that the air within the homes and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than outdoor air even in the largest and the most industrialized cities. USEPA has also stated that indoor air pollution poses a greater risk-people spend 80-90% of their time indoors (Yuand Boower 2013) Indoor air quality is important as most of the people spend their large time indoors. This space therefore must be free from any risk from air pollution. The entry to the air pollutant in human is through inhalation of indoor air. Thus the time the occupant inhales the pollutant when he is indoors and the concentration of the contaminant in the indoor air are important factors for his well­ being. Indoor air pollution is likely to affect more to the population group who have been exposed to sickness or are of old age. The quality of air inside the buildings is represented by concentration of pollutants and thermal environmental condition like temp and humidity. Factors that have negative effects on health and comfort in building could be because of the inadequate ventilation, presence of chemical as well as biological pollutants and physical environmental factors like insufficient lighting, noise, temperature and humidity depending upon the seasons. 3. INDOOR AIR POLLUTANTS Indoor concentrations of air pollutants are influenced by outdoor levels, indoor sources, the rate of exchange between indoor and outdoor air

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and the characteristics and furnishings of buildings. Indoor concentrations of air pollutants are subject to geographical, seasonal and diurnal variations. The residences have carbon based gaseous pollutants - VOC indoors could be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoors. Countries like Canada, Singapore, UK, Germany, USA, and China have framed IAQ standards Presence of air pollutants in indoor environment is a global issue due to adverse effects of human health (Tsakas, Siskos and Siskos, 2011). VOCs are chemicals that vaporize readily at room temperature. VOC emissions are from the volatile organic compounds which originate mainly from solvents and chemicals are attributed to aerosols, perfumes, hair sprays, furniture polish, glues, air fresheners, moth repellents, wood preservatives, cleaners, varnishes paints, and such other products, pesticides used in the house and others. The main health effect is the irritation of the eye, nose and throat. In more severe cases there may be headaches, nausea and loss of coordination. In the long term, some of the pollutants are suspected to damage to the liver and other parts of the body. Thus effects of VOC range from sensory irritation to behavioral, neurotoxic, hapatoxic and Genotoxic effects. Concentrations at which identified health effect occur are usually much greater than those measured in indoor air. (WHO, 2000) Formaldehyde the simplest of aldehydes is a colorless gas that is emitted from various building materials, household products or combustion processes. The sources of Formaldehyde in the indoor are pressed-wood products including particle board, fiber board paneling, wall board, textile such as carpet, fabrics, linens and ureaformaldehyde foam insulation, adhesives, paints, coatings and carpet shampoos It is interesting to note that hot and humid conditions usually cause

ISBN: 978-3-942100-43-4

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9th International Conference on Engineering and Business Education (ICEBE) & 6th International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICIE)

formaldehyde to outgas at a greater rate. The acute effects of HCHO include odor perception and irritation of eyes, nose and throat. Discomfort, lacrimation, sneezing, coughing nausea and dyspnea have been observed depending upon concentration of HCHO. (WHO, 2000) Asbestos is a silicate mineral fiber that is flexible, durable, and non-combustible and makes good electrical and thermal insulators. The sources of asbestos indoor are insulation for heating, water and sewage pipes and as fireproofing material, roof and floor tiles, corrugated paper. Once released from its binding material by erosion or vibration renovation or cleaning the fibers can remain air borne for quite a longer period. Asbestos and other mineral fibers may be a cause of lung cancer. Acute exposure to asbestos and glass fibers can cause severe skin irritation. Ozone is recognizable by its strong pungent odor. Indoor ozone is produced by electrostatic copying machines, mercury enhanced light bulbs and electrostatic air cleaners. Poorly ventilated offices and rooms housing photocopying machines can accumulate significant levels of ozone. (Environmental Engineer’s HB 1993) IGBC encourages the use of materials and systems with low VOC emissions so as to reduce adverse health impacts on building occupants specifically paints coatings including primer, adhesives used within interiors New wood furniture items such as work stations, chairs, tables, cabinets should not have lower concentrations of contaminants compared with IGBC specified maximum indoor air concentrations of chemical contaminants like TVOC, Formaldehyde, and total aldehydes and 4phenylcyclohexane. Tobacco smoke generates a wide range of harmful chemicals and is known to cause cancer. Passive smoking causes a wide range of problems

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to the passive smoker (the person who is in the same room with a smoker and is not himself/herself a smoker) ranging from burning eyes, nose, and throat irritation to cancer, bronchitis, severe asthma, and a decrease in lung function. Exposure to mixtures of VOC may be an important cause of sick Building Syndrome (SBS). More complex health effects are SBS and Building Related Illness (BRI). According to WHO(2000), SBS is the occurrence of specific symptoms with un- specified etiology and are experienced by people while working or living in a particular building but which disappear after they leave it. The symptoms include skin and eye irritation, chest tightness, fatigue, headache, lethargy, lack of concentration, odor annoyance and influenza symptoms. Many factors are responsible for such conditions: • Physical factors including temperature, relative humidity, ventilation rate, artificial light, noise and vibration • Chemical factors including Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), HCHO, VOC, pesticides, odorous compounds, CO, CO2 , NO2 and O3 • Biological (like fungi, bacteria, endotoxins , mycotoxins, radon) and psychological factors 4. ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE (ETS) Exposure to ETS is an important factor in the indoor air quality assessment. The impact that the smoker has due to tobacco smoking is called main stream smoke impact but the innocent persons found adjacent to him also getsimilar impact. The innocent by standers who suffer such health effect is called secondary stream or side stream smoke. ETS means second hand smoke also. Minesota Department of health has defined ETS as second hand smoke - is mix of chemicals that

Centre for Global Business Studies - Gujarat Technological University - India

9th International Conference on Engineering and Business Education (ICEBE) & 6th International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICIE)

results from burning tobacco - cigarettes, cigars, pipes) and from exhaled smoke. Environmental Tobacco Smoke ETS is composed of side stream smoke which is 80% released from burning tobacco in between puffs and from the exhaled smoke (20%) of the smoker. The side stream smoke is found to be more hazardous. The process of inhaling/exhaling tobacco smoke by the non-smoker is called passive smoking. ETS is known as human carcinogen it causes cancer. Side Stream Smoke (SS) is the smoke that enters the air directly from burning end of cigarette. The burning end of the cigarette is not hot enough to complete combustion of tobacco. Side stream contains higher concentration of several chemicals than the mainstream smoke in haled by smokers. As per World Health Organization WHO, there is no established threshold level for exposure of carcinogens which can develop lung cancer. No level of exposure is said to be safe. ETS can cause can lung cancer and heart disease in adults. ETS is especially hazardous to children (up to 19 years of child); it causes sudden Infant death, respiratory illness and middle year disease. Main stream cigarette smoke has about 109to 1010 particles/mL having aerodynamic dia 0.1 to 1pi, they get retained in the airways. The fraction of smoke retained is separated in particulate & gaseous phases. Filter tips of cellulose or tar acetate remove volatile nitrosamines and phenols respectively. The cigarette smoking is a major contributor of cardio vascular-pulmonary implicated as the main cause of almost 90% of deaths from lung cancer about 80% of deaths from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and about 20% of deaths from chronic heart diseases. (Dovel and Vaid, 2000). The casual relationship between tobacco smoking and lung cancer was established by

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epidemiological studies conducted in 1950 (Doll and Hill 1952). This is because of presence of more than 40 carcinogenic agents in the tobacco smoke. The carcinogens in tobacco smoke include poly aromatic hydrocarbon (PAH) Nnitrosamine, aromatic amines and other organic (benzene acrylonitrile) and inorganic arsenic acetaldehyde) compounds and polonium 210. (Dovel and Vaid, 2000). International Agency for Research in Cancer (IARC) 1986 confirmed that composition of smoke depend upon ambient conditions of smoking, the blend of tobacco leaf, filtration, paper wrapping etc. IARC has also confirmed that smoke produced by tobacco in pipes and cigars is harsh and alkaline.(IARC,1989). 5. LUNG CANCER IN NON SMOKERS In the report by Postmus, (1998) lung cancer is seen in non-smokers especially in females - 20% of women who developed lung cancer are non­ smokers. The second hand smoke has been found to contain all carcinogens identified in smoke inhaled directly by smokers. Smoke does not pass through filter; it contains hundred times the weight of carcinogens in main stream. In an autopsy study of non-smoking women who had smoker husband were severely affected. The relative risk in wives was increased by about 50% to 150% among those most heavily exposed to amounts of smoke by husbands. The study shows that there was an elevated risk of 25 to 30% among non-smoking wives of non-smoking husbands. In the respect of the National Research Council, it was concluded that about 20% of lung cancer occurring in non-smoking women and men smokers or 3000 cases per year may be attributable to exposure to ETS. In the context of lung cancer cases diagnosed each year in smokers

ISBN: 978-3-942100-43-4

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9th International Conference on Engineering and Business Education (ICEBE) & 6th International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICIE)

and non-smokers 2 to 3% may be attributable to ETS. (National Research Council, 1986).

“Wireless sensor networks for indoor air quality monitoring”, Dec, 2011 elseweir Inc.)

According to EPA, ETS is the third leading cause of lung cancer after cigarette smoking and exposure to Radon.

7. ENGINEERING CONTROL TECHNIQUES The basic control techniques to improve the quality of indoor air are source removal, ventilation, isolation, and air-cleaners

6. MEASUREMENT OF ETS AND CONTROL It is difficult to measure the exposure to ETS. The exposure varies according to the type and number of cigarettes, the number of smokers present, the rate and manner of smoking, the room volume vis-a-vis room ventilation rate and the percentage of the fresh air supplied. Exposure to ETS is measured as ‘cigarette equivalent’. It can be measured by determining carboxy-hemoglobin level in blood. Urine test measures the amount of cotinine in the body. Most of nicotine absorbed by the body is broken down into cotinine. Cotinine stays in the blood for 30 hrs and reaches high cancer in blood & urine. Hair nicotine level is another method which is a more accurate bio marker than urine. It is only recently that smoking in public building, schools, and hospitals and at workplace has been banned by Government regulations to take care of adverse effect. Indoor air quality monitoring system based on wireless and sensors network (WSNs) technology is frequently used in developed countries. Parameter adjustment, sensor nodes designed by referring to the IEEE 145.1 standard and calibration for sensitivity and accuracy are important features of WSNs. The scientific evidences have shown that the system helps in power consumption by 30%. (Tsang-Chu Yu etal,

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Source removal or Substitution This is a simple technique by which the source is modified, removed or replaced by low pollution substitute. Biological contaminants and VOC’s can be controlled by source removal. Substituting kerosene and gas space heaters with electric heaters can eliminate the exposure to CCT, CO and NOx. Ventilation It is important that the rate of ventilation is increased to remove pollutants like VOCs. Forced ventilation with window fans works the same as natural ventilation. The successful method for ventilation is to detect the CO2 - this can cause drowsiness when present in higher amount. If C02 is high it is possible that other pollutants are also present. Monitors are available that triggers ventilation system to bring in more fresh air when needed. Isolation Isolating the pollutants and preventing their emissions from entering the indoor environment is the most appropriate solution. Foam barriers are used for controlling HCHO, plywood coated with varnish, polymeric coating or other low diffusion barriers can be used. They can reabsorb by their source rather than released into the green building Air Cleaners Filter made up of charcoal, glass fibers and synthetic materials are used to remove particles. Pollen are relatively large particles are easily

Centre for Global Business Studies - Gujarat Technological University - India

9th International Conference on Engineering and Business Education (ICEBE) & 6th International Conference on Innovation and Entrepreneurship (ICIE)

trapped by most filters. High efficiency particulate air (HEPA) filters can remove particles larger than 0.3 micrometer. Adsorbents react with the molecules. The common adsorbents are activated carbon, activated alumina and silica gel. Adsorbents remove gases such as formaldehyde and ammonia. (Adapted from Environmental Engineer’s HB (1993)

HVAC HVAC stands for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning. It can maintain internal air quality, regulate internal temperature and regulate internal humidity. HVAC systems can be centralized in the buildings or it can be combined with heating ventilation and air conditioning. BIBLIOGRAPGY 1.

8. OTHER MEASURES 2.

Indoor Air Quality Improving Plants The study made by National Aeronautics and Space Administration NASA in association with the Associated Landscape Contractors of America (ALCA), suggest that certain common indoor plants may naturally help improving the indoor air quality pollutants. Some specific types of plant work as air filter. They include 10-15 types of different plants species. They are found to be pet and children friendly. Aloe Vera, Spider plant (Chlorophytum comosum) Snake plant (Sansevieria trifasciata ‘Laurentii’), Dracena (Dracaena deremensis ‘Wameckii’), Christmas Cactus-Boston, Fern Bromeliads, Bamboo palm, Yucca are few illustrations to justify the statement. Air Purifiers Many different types of air purifiers are available in the markets. Air purifiers remove or reduce the contaminants in the room including ETS. The simpler air purifiers available in India have the pre filter which removes dust particles, hair etc. It is then followed by packed activated carbon filter in hexagonal form which can remove dirty smell of pollutants, smoke and odor. The Air purifier has finally HEPA filter having international standards for air particle filter. It removes respirable particulate matter found in the indoor air.

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Doval D C and Vaid A K (2000) “Environmental Pollution and Lung Cancer “edited by Rajan K Bose, S Sunder, K S Nesamani. Tata Energy’ Research Institute, New Delhi Page 19-29 Dr Sheth K N and Upadhyay Darshan M (2016), “Environmental Awareness on Green Buildings among Builders and Civil Contractors in the State of Gujarat” Sankalpa: Journal o f Management & Research, Conference Issue - Feb 2016. Environmental Engineers Handbook edited by David H F Liu, Bela G Liptak and Paul A Bouis Lewis Publishers, New York, 1993 PP 436-444 IARC (1986) International Agency for Research on Cancer, ‘ Tobacco smoking : IARC monographs on the evaluation of carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans (m l 38) IARC (1989) International Agency for Research on Cancer , Diesel and gasoline exhausts and some nitro-arenes : evaluation of carcinogenic risk of chemicals to humans (m l 46) Indoor air pollution in India - A major Environmental and public health concern, ICMQ bulletin m l 131 no. 5 ISSN 03777 4910 May 2001 National Research Council (1986) ‘Environmental Tobacco Smoke’ Washington DC National Academic Press Postmus P E 1998 Epidemiology of lung cancer in pulmonary diseases and disorders edited by A P Fisherman,pp 1707-1717 (m l 2) (Third edition) New York Mcgraw Hill WHO, (2000) ‘Guidelines for Air Quality’ WHO, Geneva, 2000pp. 72-79

WEB LINKS 1. 2.

ISBN: 978-3-942100-43-4

“Environmental Tobacco Smoke” https://apps.health.state.mn.us/mndata/ets “How serious is COPD”: Lung health & Disease, American lung Association.

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www.lung.org/lunghealthanddisease/lungdis easelookup/copd/learnaboutCOPD/howseri ousis.copd.html ‘Passive Smoking’ http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/passive_smokin g Indoor air pollution : Edugreen.teri.res.in/explore/air/indoor.html Canadian Centre for Occupation Health and Safety OSH Answers fact sheet. http://www.cohs.ca/oshanswers/psychosocia l/ets_health.html Indoor Air Quality, http://edugreen.teri. res. in/explore/air/indoor .him) NASA Clean Air Study https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_Clean_ Air_Study How to Improve Indoor Air Quality Naturally http://wellnessmama.com/l2209/improveindoor-air-quality/

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Top 10 NASA Approved Houseplants for Improving Indoor Air Quality http://www.diyncrafts.com/4457/home/top10-nasa-approved-houseplants-improvingindoor-air-quality/2 10. HVAC https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/HVAC 11. Green Building Basics , http://wwwMalrecyclejca.gov/greenBuilding/ Basics.htm 12. Marios. P. Tsakas, Apostolos. P. Siskos and Panayotis. A. Siskoslndoor (2011) “Air Pollutants and the Impact on Human Health” Chapter 18, Chemistiy, emission control, Radioactive pollution and Indoor air quality’ page 447-484 www.intechopen.com

Centre for Global Business Studies - Gujarat Technological University - India