TRIBHUVAN UNIVERSITY

INSTITUTE OF ENGINEERING
CENTRAL CAMPUS PULCHOWK

AN ASSIGNMENT
ON
ENVIRONMENT AND POLLUTION CONTROL
SUBMISSION DATE: 2021/07/28

SUBMITTED BY:
SHISHIR BHANDARI (074/BME/640)
SRIJAN SATYAL (074/BME/641)

SUBMITTED TO:
DR. NAWARAJ BHATTARAI

DEPARTMENT OF MECHANICAL AND AEROSPACE ENGINEERING

PULCHOWK CAMPUS

JULY, 2020
2075 Chaitra
List the major indoor pollutants and discuss the way of controlling them.
Answer:
The major indoor pollutants are:
• Asbestos
• Biological Pollutants
• Carbon Monoxide (CO)
• Cookstoves
• Formaldehyde/Pressed Wood Products
• Lead (Pb)
• Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)
• Pesticides
• Radon (Rn)
• Indoor Particulate Matter
• Secondhand Smoke/ Environmental Tobacco Smoke
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Wood Smoke
The way of controlling them are listed below:
a. Source emission management
• Radon: Before construction of new houses the techniques to minimize the radon
entry are, (i) Selection of sites with less permeable soil, (ii) modifications of
sites by removing high radium containing subsoil and (iii) designing house with
minimum radon exposure. Similarly, for existing houses it can be minimized by
certain modifications such as (i) use of diffusion barrier/sealants made of
nonpermeable materials to seal cracks to prevent pressure-driven inflow of
radon, (ii) use of suction fans to exhaust soil gas from beneath building and
substructure to prevent radon entry into the basement, and (iii) house
pressurization to create outward airflow direction.
• Environmental tobacco smoke: Banning smoke in homes or public can be
effective measures. The physical separation of smokers and non-smokers in
common air space may reduce exposure of non-smokers to environmental
tobacco smoke.
• Combustion products in home: Source control measures for combustion
appliances include (i) source modifications, (e.g., use cleaner fuels and cleaner-
burning devices), (ii) optimization of operation and maintenance of appliances,
and (iii) proper flue gas system installation to vent out smoke. Use of electrical
appliances for cooking and space heating produces a much cleaner indoor
environment than oil and gas stoves or woodstoves.
• Asbestos: Source control appears to be the only applicable measure for
asbestos. If ACMs are present in a building and in good conditions, they will
not release asbestos fiber. Thus, it is usually the best to leave undamaged ACMs
alone and, to the extent possible, prevent them from being damaged, disturbed,
 or touched. Overtime, the ACM (containing friable asbestos) ages, becomes
damaged, or may loosen the adhesion to the substrate to which it was applied.
b. Ventilation: Ventilation allows outdoor air to dilute indoor air pollutants and supplies
sufficient oxygen for normal respiration. It also removes pollutants emitted from indoor
sources by venting them out. Incoming outdoor air for ventilation also pressurizes
houses, hence reducing the infiltration of soil gas.
c. Indoor air cleaning: Two major categories of indoor air pollutants are typically
considered in air-cleaning discussions: gaseous pollutants and particulate matters (PM).
Air cleaners are normally designed to control PM or a group of gaseous pollutants.
Certain air cleaners can remove particles and some gaseous pollutants. They cannot be
applied to control all indoor airborne pollutants. Control techniques of gaseous and PM
follow the general principles. Physical, chemical, and physical–chemical processes are
commonly used. Some air cleaners are designed to generate charged ions or oxidizing
agent (O3) to control target indoor air pollutants.

2074 Chaitra
What are the sources of Indoor Pollutant? Explain the method to control indoor
air pollution in the household design aspects.
Answer:
The sources of Indoor Pollutants are tabulated as:
Pollutants Indoor sources
Radon Earth, soil beneath building materials,
well water
Asbestos, mineral fiber, synthetic fiber Deteriorating, damaged or disturbed
ACM; fire retardant, acoustic, thermal or
electric insulation
Organic pollutants; Volatile organic Building materials, furnishings, and
compounds, HCHO interior finishes; tobacco smoke;
disinfectants, air freshners; dry-cleaned
clothing; fuel combustion; metabolic
activity
Pesticides Products for household pest controls;
products for lawn and gardens
Respirable particles Products for household pest control;
products for lawn and gardens
Biogenic particles Wet or moist places indoors; carpets;
poorly maintained humidifiers,
dehumidifiers, and air conditioners;
household pests
NOx Unvented kerosene and gas cookstoves
and space heaters; tobacco smoking
 CO Unvented cookstoves; space heaters;
tobacco smoking; automobile exhaust
from attached garages
CO2 Unvented cookstoves; space heaters;
tobacco smoking; metabolic activity
Ammonia Cleaning products; metabolic activities
Lead Lead-based paints; contaminated soil;
dust from outdoor

2072 Kartik
Discuss engineering technique to control indoor air pollutants.
The engineering techniques to control indoor air pollutants are:
1. Open Windows
Adequate ventilation is key to promoting healthy indoor air, and opening windows
(when it’s not too cold or the pollen count isn't too high, of course) is an easy way to
encourage a good exchange of indoor and outdoor air.
2. Use Exhaust Fans
Run fans in the kitchen to remove cooking fumes and in bathrooms to remove steam.
Also be sure that your dryer vents to the outside to minimize lint. To reduce the level
of pollen in the air on days it’s not possible to open the windows, run your window air
conditioner on the fan setting with a clean filter.
3. Change Filters
If you have a forced-air heating and cooling system, change the air filters more often
when there's more smoke or pollen in the air.
4. Skip Fires
Flames dancing in a fireplace look delightful, but they release soot and smoke into the
air.
5. Use a Microfiber Dusting Cloth
It will capture more dust than a cotton rag.
6. Store Chemicals Safely
Store solvents, glues, and pesticides away from living areas. And when possible, use
homemade cleaning products, such as a mixture of white vinegar and water.
7. Try an Air Purifier
An air purifier alone won't remove all the impurities in your indoor air. But if you’ve
gone to the effort to keep allergens and other pollutants out of your home, an air purifier
could help to reduce them further. And running one in the bedroom of a child who
suffers from asthma certainly won’t hurt and may even be of some benefit.
2071 Chaitra
How does household smoke pollution affect to the residents?
Answer
The household smoke pollution affects to the residents in following ways:
• Various health problem such as pneumonia, stroke, ischaemic heart diseases,
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease, long cancer are caused due to household
smoke pollution. It causes premature death of several people.
• Fuel gathering increases the risk of musculoskeletal damage, consumes
considerable time for women and children, limits other productive activities (such
as income generation) and takes children away from school. In less secure
environments, women and children are at risk of injury and violence during fuel
gathering.
• Many of the fuels and technologies used by households for cooking, heating and
lighting present safety risks. The ingestion of kerosene is the leading cause of
childhood poisonings, and a large fraction of the severe burns and injuries
occurring in low- and middle-income countries are linked to household energy use
for cooking, heating and/or lighting.
• The lack of access to electricity for 1 billion people (many of whom then use
kerosene lamps for lighting) exposes households to very high levels of fine
particulate matter. The use of polluting lighting fuels introduces other health risks,
such as burns, injuries, poisonings, and constrains other opportunities for health
and development, like studying or engaging in small crafts and trades, which
require adequate lighting.

2070 Chaitra
Describe the sources of the following Indoor Air Pollutants, and the ways to
control or minimize them:
i. Formaldehyde
ii. Carbon dioxide
iii. Particulate matter
iv. Biological agents
v. Radon

i. The sources of Formaldehyde are:

Sources of formaldehyde in the home include building materials, smoking, household
products, and the use of un-vented, fuel-burning appliances, like gas stoves or kerosene
space heaters.
The ways to control Formaldehyde as indoor air pollutants are:
1. Use "exterior-grade" pressed wood products (lower-emitting because they contain
phenol resins, not urea resins).
2. Use air conditioning and dehumidifiers to maintain moderate temperature and reduce
humidity levels.
3. Increase ventilation, particularly after bringing new sources of formaldehyde into the
home.

ii. The sources of carbon dioxide are:

There are both natural and human sources of carbon dioxide emissions. Natural
sources include decomposition, ocean release and respiration. Human sources come
from activities like cement production, deforestation as well as the burning of fossil
fuels like coal, oil and natural gas.
The ways to control formaldehyde as air pollutants are:
1. Forests:
Photosynthesis removes carbon dioxide naturally — and trees are especially good at
storing carbon removed from the atmosphere by photosynthesis. Expanding, restoring
and managing forests to encourage more carbon uptake can leverage the power of
photosynthesis, converting carbon dioxide in the air into carbon stored in wood and
soils.
2. Replacing diesel and gasoline-powered vehicles with electric vehicles.
3. Eliminating uncontrolled diesel emissions.
4. Preventing crop burning.

iii. The sources of particulate matter are:

These particles come in many sizes and shapes and can be made up of hundreds of
different chemicals. Some are emitted directly from a source, such as construction sites,
unpaved roads, fields, smokestacks or fires. Most particles form in the atmosphere as a
result of complex reactions of chemicals such as sulfur dioxide and nitrogen oxides,
which are pollutants emitted from power plants, industries and automobiles.
The ways to control particulate matter as pollutants are:
1. Stop smoking; if you do smoke, do not smoke indoors
2. Mulch Garden refuse instead of burning it
3. Limit the use of fireplaces and wood stoves. When using these appliances, make sure
that wood is burned properly. Use wood that is well seasoned instead of wet or green.
4. Switch to cleaner burning appliances. For example, pellet stoves produce less
particulate matter than traditional wood stoves
5. Take action to reduce wildfires. Practice safe backyard burning and careful use of
campfires.

iv. The sources of biological air pollutants are:

1. pollens, which originate from plants
2. viruses, which are transmitted by people and animals
3. mold
4. bacteria, which are carried by people, animals, and soil and plant debris
5. household pets, which are sources of saliva and animal dander (skin flakes)
6. droppings and body parts from cockroaches, rodents and other pests or insects
7. viruses and bacteria
8. The protein in urine from rats and mice is a potent allergen. When it dries, it can
become airborne.
9. Contaminated central air handling systems can become breeding grounds for mold,
mildew and other sources of biological contaminants and can then distribute these
contaminants through the home
The ways to minimize biological agents as air pollutants are:
1. Install and use exhaust fans that are vented to the outdoors in kitchens and bathrooms
and vent clothes dryers outdoors.
2. Ventilate the attic and crawl spaces to prevent moisture build-up.
3. If using cool mist or ultrasonic humidifiers, clean appliances according to
manufacturer's instructions and refill with fresh water daily.
4. Thoroughly clean and dry water-damaged carpets and building materials (within 24
hours if possible) or consider removal and replacement.
5. Keep the house clean. House dust mites, pollens, animal dander and other allergy-
causing agents can be reduced, although not eliminated, through regular cleaning.
6. Take steps to minimize biological pollutants in basements.

v. The sources of Radon (Rn) are:

The main source of radon gas exposure by air is through the decay of uraniferous rocks
and soils present under and/or adjacent to the foundation of a home or building. Many
homes built on uranium bearing soil will have cracks or fractures in the foundation,
which allows for the pressure-driven seepage of radon gas from the relatively cool air
of the soil to the warmer air present within the buildings.
The ways to minimize Radon gas as indoor pollutants are:
Ventilating the basement sub-flooring though the installation of a small pump, which
will draw the radon from below the foundation and allow it to become diluted in the
outside air before it has a chance to concentrate in the home. One can also increase the
ventilation mechanically by means of a heat recovery ventilator (HRV). In addition to
this, sealing all cracks and fractures present in the foundation walls, drains, and water
system inlets/outlets will stop radon gas from seeping into the home and reduce
concentrations in the air.