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Indoor Air Quality Information

We inhale 33 lbs. of air each day compared to ingesting only 5.5 lbs. of liquid and 1.5 lbs. of food. We spend up to 90% of our time indoors. Good air quality is of vital importance to our health.  Chances are you have indoor air quality concerns and problems. Most homes suffer from various contaminants such as dust, mold spores, dust mites and animal dander. There may be various toxic odors associated with cigarette smoking, cooking or using cleaning products and outgassing from building products and furnishings. Air quality equipment can help reduce your family's exposure to hazardous substances and discourage the development of asthma and allergies. A variety of equipment is available to improve your indoor air quality by providing healthy humidity levels and removing unwanted air particles, allergens and gasses in the home. Please read more detailed information on Indoor Air Quality and various air purification systems in our Indoor Air Quality section of the Education Center. 

 

We can develop strategies for the reduction and removal of indoor air pollutants.  The primary methods for improving indoor air quality include:

 

Source Control

Source control is a method used to eliminate the contributor to the indoor air quality problem. We can provide sealed combustion appliances and heating systems to eliminate the potential of combustion gasses leaking into our homes. We can take out building materials that out gas toxic fumes or buy appropriate building materials and household products that do not emit dangerous volatile organic compounds. We can remove materials that contribute to the development of particulate matter that can become airborne and cause respiratory problems. We can use use cleaning systems that eliminate mold and mildew and use household products that prevent the proliferation of allergens.

 

For example - Carpeting is susceptible to constant wear and the development of particulate matter.  It also is a good breeding ground for a variety of biological contaminants and is known to outgas many volatile organic compounds. The removal of existing carpeting or the use of optional flooring materials will assist in source control of many potentially hazardous contaminants.

Ventilation

Ventilation is a method to dilute concentrations of pollutants, uncomfortable or unhealthy indoor air. Indoor air may be exhausted to the exterior and/or less contaminated outdoor air is brought into the indoors. Good ventilation assists in the removal and/or the dilution of  indoor air pollutants.  A ventilation system will reduce moisture levels in most circumstances which will assist you in the control of biological organisms, and the growth of mold and mildew.  Ventilation will also remove or dilute concentrations of various gasses. However, ventilation alone does little to control particulate matter.  A ventilation system can be combined with air filtration to control both particulate matter and gasses.

Air Purification

This method of controlling indoor air pollutants can handle both particulate matter and to some degree, gasses. It is important to understand the configuration of the air filter equipment to know its function and capability to handle particulate matter and gasses.  An air filter unit can be part of the whole house heating/cooling system or an integral part of the whole house ventilation only system.  Portable HEPA Room Air Cleaners can be used to reduce/remove indoor air pollutants in living spaces when a whole house system is unavailable or when meeting the specific needs of a nursery or an allergic individuals room. 

For the purpose of discussing air purification and filtration, we can place pollutants into two categories:

Particles

This matter is composed of very small solid or liquid substances that are light enough to float in the air and also lie on household surfaces. These particles can include organic and inorganic substances and biological organisms.  

 

The most common particulate matter includes:

Particle size can determine the effect of the pollutants on health.  Small respirable particles can penetrate deep into the lungs where they may stay a long time and cause acute or chronic illness. Larger particles may not penetrate as deep as small particles but can cause allergic reactions and other health problems. Allergic reactions to particulates can include runny nose, watery eyes, sore throat, sneezing, coughing, skin rashes, asthma, headaches, upper respiratory discomfort, and an increased risk of developing an allergy.

Large particles can lead to reduced lung function, restricted breathing and an obstructed airway. Heavy metal exposure can lead to toxin levels in the bloodstream. These health effects from exposure to particulate matter in the air depends on the type and amount of particulate, the frequency and duration of exposure and the sensitivity of the individual.

Gasses

Gasses in the indoor air are developed from combustion and the release of chemicals into the air. There are hundreds of gasses that can be detected in the home.

 

Volatile Organic Compounds (V.O.C.'s) are the chemicals that are part of the products we use and are released into the air when the products are drying, aging and deteriorating. The most notable volatile organic compound is formaldehyde. Other V.O.C.'s exist in plastercizers, stabilizers, solvents and fillers incorporated into the conventional products in our homes such as pesticides, building materials, household cleansers, and personal care items.

 

Combustion Gasses come into the indoor air from poorly vented appliances, heaters and fireplaces, during cooking with open flame, vehicle exhaust from attached garages and if backdrafting should occur from pressure differentials inside and outside the home forcing air down your chimney and flue and spilling combustion gasses into your indoor air. The combustion gasses include carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxides and various other compounds.

 

Radon is a radioactive gas which permeates out of the decay of radioactive rock and enters the home through the lowest level of the building, in water exiting plumbing fixtures, from the use of natural gas and in some building materials.

These gasses enter our lungs and bloodstream and can cause a variety of health problems including dizziness, blurred vision, respiratory tract irritation, coughing, headache, fatigue and flue symptoms. The severity of unwanted levels of these gasses can lead to cancer, loss of consciousness and death.