Chapter 16, Problem 16.1CTDQ

To determine

The measures to be taken for the improvement of indoor air quality, if the government should mandate such changes and the values or world views represented by different sides of the given debate.

Answer to Problem 16.1CTDQ

To improve indoor air quality every individual should follow some strategies like monitoring of all the coal and oil based appliances and increasing ventilation.

Explanation of Solution

The indoor air quality might be improved by adopting the strategies stated below.

1. Source control

2. Improved ventilation

3. Air cleaners

Source Control is the most effective way to improve the indoor air quality. The gas or poor air releasing sources like gas stoves, refrigerators, air conditioners, and so on should be checked time to time. If any of them is not working properly, it should be changed or repaired. Inside the house, coal and oil burners should not be used in any case.

The second most important approach to improve the indoor air quality is to increase the amount of outdoor fresh air into the house by ventilation. Ventilation improvement is also important to compensate the short-term hobby activities like painting, welding, soldering, and so on.

The third approach to improve air quality is the use of air cleaners. Air cleaners are the devices to collect the indoor polluted air and draw it outside. The effectiveness of an air cleaner depends on how well it collects pollutants from indoor air and how much air it draws through the cleaning or filtering element.

Government should mandate such changes because a large number of populations suffer with the air borne diseases like asthma, silicoses, mercury poisoning and so on.

The cost of the air cleaners should not be reduced so that it would be affordable for all. If the cost would be very high the large number of population would not adopt such amendment. This is one of the different sides of this debate.