Indoor Air Quality
Indoor
air has always contained natural and man-made impurities such as bacteria, viruses,
fungi, radon, and combustion by-products from burning. In recent years, additional
contaminants such as asbestos, formaldehyde, and other organic chemicals have been
identified in indoor air. Mold has also become a common problem. Energy efficient
homes and commercial buildings are popular today to reduce heating and cooling costs.
However, if they are not properly designed and constructed, the resulting indoor
air contaminants could affect the comfort and health of the occupants.
Poor indoor air can affect people in many ways. One person in the household could
be allergic to mold while another occupant may have a problem with formaldehyde.
Unfortunately, it is sometimes difficult to determine the cause of the problem.
Why do I get headaches or a sore throat when I get home at night when I felt good
at work all day? Why do my eyes become irritated when I get to work when I felt
fine at home? Why does the air in my home feel stuffy or smell stale when I enter
from the outside? These are common problems and questions today. Sometimes the answer
is medically related or a common allergy and other times the answer is the air quality
of the building or home in which you experience the problems. Usually, it is not
simple to determine the cause of the problem.
If you are experiencing any of these problems the first thing you may think of is
to run a test of the air in your home. Testing the air is not as easy as it sounds,
it can get expensive, and often is not necessary. First of all, there does not exist
one test to determine an indoor air problem. Testing the air usually requires a
series of tests to narrow down a problem (if one exists). This can be time consuming
and get expensive with no guarantee of an answer. In order to test indoor air, you
have to have some idea of the source of the problem. For example, if you suspect
radon, you can run a radon test. However, you can not run one test to find out why
you get watery eyes when you sit in your living room. Most indoor air problems can
be resolved by someone experienced with indoor air problems through investigation
that starts with a visual inspection and being informed with a background of the
problem. With any health related problem, it is best to consult a doctor first to
help diagnose the problem and then determine if indoor air is causing or contributing
to the problem.
Detecting Indoor Air Problems
Any health related issue should be discussed with a physician first to determine
the cause, but there are also some simple ways to check for poor indoor air quality.
Health effects that occur only in the home and disappear after the person leaves
the home can indicate a problem. Health effects may occur immediately after moving
into a home, or after refurnishing or remodeling. New carpeting or new furniture
are prime sources of indoor air contaminants that can release gases or particles
into the air.
Newer homes are more tightly built, and older homes are being weatherized to reduce
the cost of heating and cooling the house. As a result, if too little outdoor air
enters the home, pollutants from indoor sources can build up to levels that can
cause discomfort or health effects. To prevent this buildup, the sources or pollutants
must be controlled or more fresh air provided.
Additional indications of poor indoor air include moisture condensation on windows
or walls and signs of water leaks. Sometimes lifestyle choices can contribute to
indoor air quality problems. Pets, tobacco smoke, cooking habits, household product
use, and hobbies can affect contaminant levels in a home.
Some air pollutants (such as radon and carbon monoxide) can not be smelled or seen.
Formaldehyde is a colorless gas with a distinct odor at higher concentrations. Asbestos
fibers are so small they can be in the air yet invisible to the human eye.
As a result some indoor air problems can be obvious, while others are not. If you
suspect an indoor air problem at home or at work, there are numerous resources over
the internet that can help you solve your dilemma. The links located in this webpage
list several helpful websites.
A trained Indoor Air Specialist is available by telephoning the Department at (336)
703-2440. Simply state that you have an indoor air question/problem, and you will
be referred to someone that can help solve your problem. Many times, however, the
indoor air question is too complicated to solve over the phone. This may include
a house/business inspection or referral to another City/County Department that may
specialize in your problem.