Indoor air pollutants come from a wide variety of sources and exposure to these pollutants is a risk you don’t have to take. Air Quality Solutions can open a window of knowledge about the air you breathe. We provide information and testing on the contaminates that may be hiding in your air.
Many things can impact the comfort and saftey of the air we breathe indoors. Mold, Bacteria, VOC’s (Volatile Organic Compounds), Asbestos Fibers, Carbon Monoxide, Carbon Dioxide, Radon, Particulates (Airborne Dust, Smoke, Allergens), and even Temperature and Humidity levels can all affect our indoor air quality. You will find information below on some of the most common indoor air pollutants:
Mold – Click here to access our page dedicated to learning more about mold and fungal contaminations.
Bacteria (Legionella) – Many types of bacteria exist which can impact our indoor air quality. Legionella is one such bacterium which could result in serious health issues to exposed individuals. Legionellosis, or Legionnaire’s Disease, is caused by a the waterborne Legionella bacterium that grows best in slow moving or still, warm water. The primary route of exposure to building occupants is through the creation of an aerosol effect, most commonly from evaporative cooling towers or showerheads. A common source of Legionella in commercial buildings is from poorly placed or maintained evaporative cooling towers which often release water in an aerosol which may enter nearby ventilation intakes. Outdoor fountains near buildings or outdoor attractions have also been known to carry the Legionella bacteria.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) – Voc’s are emitted as gases, or “off-gases” from certain solids or liquids. Voc’s include a wide variety of chemicals, some of which may have both short and long term health effects on individuals exposed. VOC concentrations are consistently higher indoors than outdoors (up to ten times higher). There are a large variety of products that are known to emit VOC’s that we may be regularly exposed to within our homes and workplaces. Some examples of these products include paints, cleaning supplies, pesticides, building materials and furnishings, office equipment (such as copiers and printers), correction fluids, permanent markers, craft materials and adhesives.
Asbestos Fibers – The Canadian government has set standards for acceptable levels of asbestos fibers in indoor air. A dangerous carcinogen, asbestos has the potential, when airborne, to cause serious health concerns including lung cancer and mesothelioma. Many common building materials used before 1975 contain asbestos. Some of these “asbestos containing materials” are floor and ceiling tiles, taping muds, insulation materials and pipe wrap. Asbestos can be difficult to identify by eye, as it has often been mixed with other materials commonly used in home and building environments. It is important, in order to minimize exposure risks, to have any potentially asbestos containing materials investigated and properly tested by an accredited laboratory.
Carbon Monoxide – Carbon monoxide is one of the most acutely toxic indoor air contaminants. It is a colourless and odourless gas that is a by product of the incomplete combustion of fossil fuels. The most common sources of workplace and residential carbon monoxide are automobile exhaust, defective central heating furnaces, space heaters using fossil fuels and tobacco smoke. High levels of carbon monoxide can deprive the brain of oxygen and can ultimately lead to nausea, unconsciousness and death.
Carbon Dioxide – Carbon Dioxide is emitted by humans and it correlates with human metabolic activity. It is a surrogate for indoor pollutants. At levels that are unusually high indoors, Carbon Dioxide may cause drowsiness, headaches or a decreased level of functioning. Humans are the main indoor source of carbon dioxide and higher levels of carbon dioxide tend to accumulate when there are a large amount of people in a confined space. Typically, higher levels of indoor carbon dioxide are an indicator of a inadequate ventilation, or isues within the ventilation system.
Particulates – Particulates are solid or liquid matter with aerodynamic diameters ranging from .005 to 100um. Dusts, fumes, smoke and organisms such as viruses, pollen grains, bacteria and fungal spores are solid particulate matter, whereas mists and fog are liquid particulate matter. Indoor particles come from both indoor and outdoor sources and can be drawn into the building via infiltration and outdoor air intakes. Fibres, synthetic or natural, are also classified as particulates.
Radon – Radon is an invisible, radioactive atomic gas that results from the radioactive decay of radium. Radium may be found in rock formations beneath buildings or in certain building materials themselves. Radon is probably the most pervasive serious hazard for indoor air in Canada and Europe, and is likely responsible for many deaths from lung cancer each year.
Temperature & Humidity – Temperature and relative humidity are two of several parameters that affect thermal comfort. Thermal comfort is a state of mind in which a person feels satisfaction with the thermal environment. Satisfaction with the thermal environment can be influenced by such factors as radiant temperature, air velocity, occupant activity level and clothing. Low relative humidity levels are associated with increased discomfort and drying of the mucous membranes and skin, which can lead to chapping and irritation. Low relative humidity also increases static electricity, which causes discomfort and can hinder the operation of computers and paper-processing equipment. High humidity levels can result in condensation within the building structure and on interior or exterior surfaces and the subsequent development of mold and fungi.
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