38 Questions
What is the main cause of lung cancer and leukaemia due to indoor air pollution?
Radon exposure
Which construction material, commonly found in buildings, contributes significantly to lung diseases like asbestosis and lung cancer?
Asbestos
What is the average radium concentration in building materials?
100 Bq/kg
Which type of cancer is almost exclusively caused by exposure to asbestos?
Mesothelioma
How are humans exposed to radon and its decay products that can lead to lung cancer?
Through inhalation of atmospheric air
What are some specific hazards in confined spaces as mentioned in the text?
House dust mites and other mites
How can pathogens be transmitted in the 'home' environment?
Via direct human-animal contact
Which of the following is a common pathogenic bacteria mentioned in the text?
Legionella sp.
What can be sources of chemical compounds affecting air quality in confined spaces?
Volatile organic compounds from refrigerating units
Which of the following is NOT a factor contributing to building-related illnesses as mentioned in the text?
Moisture
What is a key factor contributing to increased resistance of bacteria and/or fungi in biofilms to chemical agents?
Production of a protective extracellular substance and enzymes
Which of the following is NOT a characteristic of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)?
Symptoms are specific and easily linked to one factor
What term is used to describe a set of symptoms associated with physical and mental discomfort experienced in a building?
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
Why are biofilms associated with increased resistance to chemical agents?
Mutual protectionist interactions among species
What percentage of users must attribute their malaise symptoms to a building for it to be classified as a 'sick building'?
20%
What is the consequence of inhalation of air with a concentration of 0.16% volumetric CO?
Tissue hypoxia leading to death
What can cause the formation of carbon monoxide (CO) during combustion processes?
Incomplete combustion of fuels like wood and oil
What is a characteristic of radon (Rn) that makes it a concern for indoor air quality?
It is a naturally occurring noble gas
How can radon from the ground enter indoor environments?
Through gaps in floors or walls
Why is it particularly dangerous to have closed or sealed windows in apartments during the winter?
Lack of fresh air supply can lead to harmful indoor pollutants
What are some symptoms related to staying indoors according to the text?
Dry eyes and throat, skin irritation, headache
What contributes to the symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) as per the text?
Operation of electromagnetic fields
How can the diagnosis of SBS be established according to the text?
Based on immediate resolution of symptoms after leaving the building
What is an important observation in the diagnosis of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) based on the text?
Similar symptoms among individuals sharing the same space
What environmental problems contribute to Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) based on the text?
Presence of mites, insects, fungi, bacteria, and chemical agents
What are the first symptoms of short-term exposure to ozone?
Throat irritation and cough
Which of the following long-term effects can result from exposure to low ozone concentrations?
Extensive changes in the lungs
What are the symptoms of acute poisoning due to ozone exposure?
Lung edema and death
In chronic exposure to ozone, which symptoms are commonly observed?
Eye irritation and tearing
Which group of fungi is known for causing infections in smooth skin, hairy skin, hair, and nails?
Dermatophytes
What distinguishes building-related illnesses (BRIs) from sick building syndrome (SBS)?
BRIs are less common and more serious in prognosis than SBS.
Which of the following is NOT classified as a building-related illness (BRI)?
Bacterial pneumonia
How is medical diagnosis of building-related illnesses usually carried out?
Based on symptoms observed in patients
What is the characteristic of carbon monoxide that poses a threat to health and life?
It forms a stable combination with hemoglobin.
What is the affinity of carbon monoxide for hemoglobin compared to oxygen?
$250$ times greater
Why does carbon monoxide threaten health and life?
It forms carboxyhemoglobin, reducing oxygen transport in the blood.
Which of the following symptoms may be associated with building-related illnesses?
$ ext{Breathing difficulties}$
What is the significance of a long latency period in building-related illnesses?
$ ext{It suggests an asymptomatic phase before clinical symptoms appear.}$
Study Notes
Abiotic Factors
- Unfavourable abiotic factors in the external environment include temperature, moisture, solar radiation, noise, dusts, and chemical pollution of air
- In the "home" environment, there is an inter-individual transmission of pathogens - direct (droplet path, direct human-human or human-animal contact) or indirect (dusts carrying pathogens, common items, sanitary utensils, etc.)
Biological Factors
- Microscopic fungi, such as Penicillium, Aspergillus, Cladosporium, Alternaria, and dermatophytes, are common in humid rooms
- Dermatophytes can cause infections of smooth and hairy skin, hair, and nails, and are recognized by about 40 species representing the group of dermatophytes
- Important genera of dermatophytes include Microsporum, Trichophyton, and Epidermophyton
Chemical Factors
- Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colourless and odourless, highly poisonous gas that can threaten health and life
- CO forms carboxyhaemoglobin, which is more stable than oxyhaemoglobin, and has an affinity for haemoglobin about 250 times greater than oxygen
- Carbon monoxide can cause death in concentrations above 0.16% volumetric after two hours of inhalation
- Radon (Rn) is a naturally occurring, colourless and odourless noble gas that can penetrate into basements of buildings through gaps in floors or walls and installation leaks
- Radon and its products can cause lung cancer and leukaemia
Building-Related Illnesses (BRIs)
- BRIs are less common than Sick Building Syndrome (SBS) and by definition are more serious in prognosis than mere discomfort
- BRIs include diseases caused by toxic factors (carbon monoxide poisoning, exposure to radon - lung cancer), infectious diseases (Legionnaires' disease, Pontiac fever, humidifier fever), and allergic diseases (asthma, hay fever, hypersensitivity pneumonitis)
- Medical diagnosis based on clinical investigation of symptoms is the usual method for recognizing BRIs
- BRIs generally require a prolonged recovery time or may become a chronic problem for a patient, even when they are no longer exposed to the aetiological factor
Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
- SBS is a set of symptoms of physical and mental discomfort that cannot be associated with any specific factor
- Symptoms of SBS include dryness and irritation of the mucous membranes of the eyes, throat, and skin, headache and dizziness, nausea and heartburn, among others
- SBS is recognized by identification of indoor air quality (IAQ) environmental problems or higher combined symptom rates among a group of building occupants
- There are no clinical tests available to establish the diagnosis of SBS
Test your knowledge on the effects of ozone exposure, from short-term irritations to long-term lung damage and acute poisoning. Learn about the symptoms and potential risks associated with different levels of ozone concentration.
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