Concern
about indoor air quality (IAQ) the study
of indoor environmental issues is a fairly recent phenomenon. Most
of the early IAQ studies focused on the
comparison of indoor air to outdoor air. Outdoor pollution was a
primary concern and the goal was to ensure that indoor air was of a
better quality than the outdoor air. As the research increased
other causative factors emerged, adding more complexity to the
issues. The World Health Organization (WHO) estimated that more than 30 percent of all
commercial buildings have significant IAQ
problems. Some of these issues may be caused by energy efficiency,
new construction practices and building materials, photocopiers,
fax machines, computers, as well as pollutants generated by the
occupants
These
potentially adverse conditions are further complicated by the fact
that people are spending more time than ever indoors, up to 90
percent according to estimates by the U.S. Environmental Protection
Agency (EPA). It is easy to understand
why there is a growing concern about the quality of the air we
breathe. The bottom line is that IAQ can
and does impact productivity, personal comfort, building
maintenance costs and occupant health and safety, either positively
or negatively depending on how the air quality is managed.
Different people react differently to different levels of different
substances. There is no universal reaction to a measured amount of
a particular material. People simply have different tolerance
levels. It is difficult to assign standards or even guidelines to
set acceptable versus unacceptable levels of literally thousands of
airborne pollutants, including mold. Typical symptoms caused by air
quality problems vary according to an individual's sensitivity, but
may include chills, sweating, eye irritation, allergies, coughing,
sneezing, nausea, fatigue, skin irritation, breathing difficulty
and others. In extreme cases, personal reactions actually reach the
point incapacity where an individual simply cannot function.
Unfortunately, there are virtually no Federal regulations governing
exposure levels in non-industrial indoor environments. Indoor air
quality is a growing concern and gaining attention. It is prudent
to take a proactive approach and address any issues that could
potentially have adverse affects on indoor air quality.
Controlling Sources of Pollutants
In a typical building or home, pollutants fall into two source
categories: those that enter the building from the outside and
those generated within the building itself. Both categories include
a wide variety of pollutant types and sources. Pollutant sources
must be located and controlled to ensure good indoor air quality.
Both the sources and pathways are essential components that must be
understood for effective resolution. Pathways are created as
pollutants travel by air movement through even the smallest of
openings. Once the pollutant source is identified a strategy to
mitigate can be designed. Various solutions may include:
• Removing the source
• Repairing the source so it no longer produces pollutants
• Isolating the source with a physical barrier
• Isolating the source using air pressure differential
• Minimizing the time people are exposed
• Diluting pollutants and removing them from the building with
increased ventilation
• Increasing filtration to clean the air and remove pollutants
Investigating Indoor Air Quality
A typical IAQ assessment generally
involves the following steps:
• Planning the assessement
• Gathering data
• Analyzing the data
• Reporting the findings
• Providing recommendations for resolution.
Conclusion
While investigating any indoor air quality situation, one should
try to stay focused on the entire picture. Many parameters can
contribute to the overall problem and must be considered and
checked. Also, it is not uncommon to find multi-layered problems,
making it difficult to get to the root cause. AnIAQ assessment is often like the peeling of an
onion; as each layer is removed, another is exposed.
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