NAECB Environmental Control 3 — Questions and Answers
Question 1: Which cleaning method is RECOMMENDED for reducing dust mite allergen on hard floors in a home with asthma patients?
- Dry sweeping to disturb and remove debris
- Damp mopping or damp dusting (Correct answer)
- High-speed dry vacuuming without a filter
- Compressed air blowing
Correct answer: Damp mopping or damp dusting
Damp mopping and damp dusting capture allergen particles rather than dispersing them into the air, as dry methods can do.
Question 2: A patient asks whether gas stoves contribute to asthma symptoms. What is the CORRECT response?
- Gas stoves only affect patients with chemical sensitivities, not asthma
- Gas stoves produce nitrogen dioxide, a known asthma trigger, especially in poorly ventilated kitchens (Correct answer)
- Gas stoves are safer than electric stoves for people with asthma
- Gas stove emissions are not significant indoors if the flame is blue
Correct answer: Gas stoves produce nitrogen dioxide, a known asthma trigger, especially in poorly ventilated kitchens
Gas stoves emit nitrogen dioxide and other combustion byproducts that can reach irritating concentrations indoors and worsen asthma, particularly without ventilation.
Question 3: Which strategy MOST effectively reduces exposure to secondhand smoke for a child with asthma whose parent smokes?
- Parent smokes in the kitchen with the window open
- Parent smokes outside the home and changes clothes before re-entering (Correct answer)
- Parent uses electronic cigarettes indoors instead
- Parent smokes only while the child is at school
Correct answer: Parent smokes outside the home and changes clothes before re-entering
Smoking outside and changing clothes minimizes thirdhand smoke residue brought indoors; smoking anywhere near the home still exposes the child to harmful particles.
Question 4: Which indoor plant characteristic is relevant to asthma management?
- All houseplants are asthma triggers and should be removed
- Overwatered plants can promote mold growth in soil, worsening asthma (Correct answer)
- Flowering plants indoors are the primary source of indoor pollen
- Houseplants always improve air quality enough to reduce medication need
Correct answer: Overwatered plants can promote mold growth in soil, worsening asthma
Overwatered houseplant soil is a common site of mold growth, which can release spores and worsen asthma symptoms.
Question 5: A school reports a student's asthma worsens every Monday. What environmental cause should be investigated FIRST?
- Weekend diet changes
- Volatile organic compounds from weekend cleaning products not yet aired out (Correct answer)
- Increased physical activity on Mondays
- Change in medication schedule over the weekend
Correct answer: Volatile organic compounds from weekend cleaning products not yet aired out
Weekend cleaning with VOC-containing products in a closed building can leave elevated chemical concentrations that peak when students return Monday.
Question 6: What is the PRIMARY rationale for recommending zippered allergen-proof pillow encasements for dust mite allergy?
- They prevent pillow discoloration
- The face spends many hours in close proximity to pillows, maximizing allergen inhalation risk (Correct answer)
- They are required by federal housing regulations
- They prevent nighttime coughing through mechanical support
Correct answer: The face spends many hours in close proximity to pillows, maximizing allergen inhalation risk
Because patients sleep with their face near pillows for 6–8 hours nightly, pillow encasements significantly reduce high-level, prolonged allergen inhalation.
Question 7: Which weather condition is MOST likely to worsen outdoor mold spore counts?
- Cold, dry, sunny days in winter
- Warm, wet conditions following rain, especially in autumn (Correct answer)
- High pressure systems with low humidity
- Snowfall covering vegetation
Correct answer: Warm, wet conditions following rain, especially in autumn
Warm, moist conditions after rainfall promote mold growth on decaying vegetation, causing spore counts to spike, particularly in autumn.
NAECB Environmental Control 3
Which cleaning method is RECOMMENDED for reducing dust mite allergen on hard floors in a home with asthma patients?