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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.