Anomalous And Unique Properties of Water
By H.S. Jeon, Ph.D
Mount Kisco, NY
Water is so simple, so beautiful, and so unique!
It is such a simple and small molecule, but it has very unique as well as anomalous chemical and physical properties. The chemical structure of a single water molecule is shown in Fig. 1. Two hydrogen atoms bound to one oxygen atom to form a ‘V’ shape with the hydrogen atoms at an angle of 104.5°. The hydrogen atoms have positive charges, and the oxygen atom on the opposite side has two negative charges. The net interaction between the covalent bond and the attracting and repulsion charges produces the ‘V’ shape of the molecule.
The Air We Breathe – Part 2
This two-part article examines indoor air quality, its health effects, its common sources, and how we can improve the quality of the air we breathe indoors. Part 1 provides an overview of indoor air quality, its main pollutants and common sources. Part 2 discusses the health effects of indoor air quality and what we can do to mitigate the ill effects of poor air quality. – Ed.
By John E. Jernstad
Mount Kisco, NY
Effects of Indoor Air Quality
The health concerns of poor indoor air quality (IAQ) are numerous and diverse, ranging from discomfort to irritation to chronic diseases. Common effects include odor; irritation of eyes, nose and respiratory organs, and skin; neurological symptoms such as nausea, dizziness, headache, fatigue and loss of concentration; immunological reactions including inflammations and allergic reactions; cancer; and an overall susceptibility of various disorders as well as aggravation of preexisting conditions such as asthma[2]. These are also the symptoms most commonly cited by those who suffer from the so-called “sick building syndrome” or “new house syndrome”.
The Air We Breathe – Part 1
This two-part article examines indoor air quality, its health effects, its common sources, and how we can improve the quality of the air we breathe indoors. Part 1 provides an overview of indoor air quality, its main pollutants and common sources. Part 2 discusses the health effects of indoor air quality and what we can do to mitigate the ill effects of poor air quality. – Ed.
By John E. Jernstad
Mount Kisco, NY
The development of civilized societies has driven people indoors. While the problems associated with burning fossil fuels for cooking and heating indoors have been noted for thousands of years, industrial development and the call for energy efficiency has created buildings with heavy insulation and poor ventilation[1]. The result has been indoor air quality levels that can easily become more seriously polluted than outside air. While ambient air pollution is always a hot topic in both policy and public discussion, indoor air quality (IAQ) has been steadily declining as more people spend more time indoors and office technology development continues to expand the sources of indoor air pollution.