Māris kļaviņŠ, azamat azizov, JĀnis zaļoksnis environment, pollution, development: the case of uzbekistan

Table 7.8. 
Typical contaminants in the environment of human life
Pollutant
Source of substance
Formaldehyde
Particle board (chipboard), smoking, heat 
insulation materials 
NO
2
Natural gas heating
CO
Stoves, car exhaust fumes 
Polyaromatic hydrocarbons
Wood, coal, gasoline combustion
SO
2
Combustion of fuels
Cl
2
Bleaches, chlorinated water
Evaporable organic substances Paints, household chemicals, polymers
Dust and aerosols
Combustion of fuels, food preparation, heat 
insulation materials, carpets, smoking
Microorganisms, viruses
The development of mould, pets
Radon
Buildings, soil, water
A  significant  group  of  environ mental  pollutants  are  living 
organisms. They can be a source of air pollution, a cause of 
disease, and they can also damage materials used in living environ-
ment. Pollutants of biological origin and living organisms may be 
transported by air currents, they are invisible and often quite 
difficult to determine. 
Clearly, in any room inhabited by people some of these 
pollutants will be found. Often it is the presence of nutrients and 
moisture that triggers the development of biological contamination. 
Allergic  reactions  cause  common  human  health  problems  and 
these can be instigated by animal hair fragments (such as dog and 
cat hair), as well as by dust mites, fungi and their spores, and pollen. 
According to their consequences, allergic reactions vary from mild 
discomfort to life-threatening asthma attacks. 
Typical living organisms, 
which determine biologi‑
cal contamination, are:
 
Œ microscopic animal, 
feather, skin, hair