Why should I be concerned about indoor air quality?
According to the World Health Organization, as many as one-third of the buildings in the United States may have some form of indoor air pollution which is potentially harmful to people. Since most Americans now spend more than 80% of their time indoors, it is important to be sure that the air they are breathing is not harming them. The Occupational Safety and Health Administration estimates that of the 70 million employees who work indoors in the United States, 21 million are exposed to poor indoor air.
Doesn’t the air conditioning system filter and purify the air inside buildings?
It does filter the air to some extent. It does not “purify” the air. The filters used in most heating, ventilating and air conditioning equipment can remove many, but not all of the contaminants in buildings. Some of the pollutants are so tiny that they pass right through the filters and are recirculated back into the air inside the building.
What kinds of pollutants are in the air inside of buildings?
There are three general categories: Chemical. Particulate. And Microbial. Chemical contaminants usually come from cleaning products and from building materials. Particulate pollutants come from smoke, fibers and dust originating inside the building or brought into it from the outside. Microbial contaminants account for about 85% of the harmful pollutants found inside buildings. They are the bacteria, viruses and spores from fungal colonies growing somewhere in the building.
How can they harm people?
Depending on the size and length of the exposure to indoor air contaminants, people may have a range of reactions from temporary, minor irritation of the eyes, nose and throat to permanent, conditions affecting the brain, lungs, and other vital organs.
How can I tell if there are indoor air pollutants?
The only way to diagnose indoor air with certainty is through scientific evaluation. The people who occupy the building, however, are also affected by the air inside it, and their physical symptoms can provide several important indications that the indoor may be contaminated. Conditions such as headaches; eye, nose or throat irritation; dry cough; dry or itchy skin; dizziness and nausea; difficulty concentrating and fatigue are all indicators that there may be contaminants in the air. Contact Assured today to schedule an evaluation of your building.
What can be done about it?
The first step is to determine whether there really is a problem. Most buildings do not have indoor air pollution. If they do, the most important thing is to locate and eliminate the source of the problem. Improved filtering and cleaning procedures can temporarily reduce the problem, but they can never eliminate it. The only way to fix an indoor air quality problem is to locate and remove the source.
Is this problem growing?
Yes. The energy crisis in the 1970s motivated owners and managers to make their buildings much tighter. Since that time, to conserve energy and save money on heating and air conditioning, less outside air is brought in. The inside air is recirculated and “reconditioned” through filters so that outside air does not have to be used. As a result, any contaminant trapped inside the building, which is too small for the filters to remove, is constantly recirculated throughout the building by the heating and air conditioning systems. When the building has a source for contaminants inside it, those pollutants build up until they affect the health and well-being of the people in the building.
How serious is it?
The National Institution for Occupational Safety and Health estimates the problem costs in the tens of billions of dollar when related health care, absenteeism, reduced worker productivity, building investigations and building improvements are taken into account. The incidence of Asthma has increased by 60% in the last 15 years. It is now the most common chronic childhood disease and the number one cause of school absences. Asthma accounts for more than 500,000 hospitalizations per year and 15 deaths per day.
How can I tell if the building is making me sick?
There are two kinds of illnesses people get from indoor air: Sick Building Syndrome is the term used to describe the kinds of symptoms people experience while they are in the building, but which diminish or disappear when they are away from the building for a while. Building Related Illness is a condition in which occupants contract a disease that is usually traceable to a specific cause and remains with the occupants once they leave the building.
What kind of illnesses can I get from a building?
Fungi, commonly known as mold or mildew, can cause infectious diseases, allergic diseases, and toxic diseases. Hypersensitivity pneumonitis is suspected to be caused by certain microorganisms, and Aspergillosis is caused by fungi in the Aspergillus family. Viruses cause infectious diseases such as colds and flu. Examples of infectious diseases caused by bacteria present in indoor air are Legionnaires’ Disease which is caused by the bacterium Legionella pneumophila; and tuberculosis which is caused by the bacterium Mycobacterium tuberculosis.
Why has so much attention been focused on schools?
There are many reasons why indoor air quality should be considered a top priority in school buildings. Children are still developing physically and are more likely to suffer the consequences of indoor pollutants. Allergic diseases such as nasal allergies, asthma and other allergies, account for one-third of all chronic childhood illnesses and affect 20% of all school children. Children up to age 10 have three times as many colds as adults. School facilities, by design, are densely populated, making the task of maintaining acceptable indoor air quality more difficult than many other types of buildings. The sole purpose of a school facility is to foster the learning process, which is directly impacted by the quality of the indoor air. Contaminated indoor air causes drowsiness, lack of concentration, headaches, difficulty in retaining detailed information, reduced comprehension, and diminished motivation.
How did our school facilities get in such poor condition?
Managing schools involves the combined responsibility of stewardship of public funds, pursuing high educational objectives, and championing child health and safety issues. Budgets are tight, and maintenance often receives the largest cuts during budget reductions. A large number and wide variety of heating, ventilating, and air conditioning systems place added strain on the maintenance staff. As schools expand, the new facilities usually introduce different designs, equipment, and operating challenges. Many schools use existing rooms, portable classrooms or buildings, which were not originally designed to service the unique requirement of schools. A typical school building has four times as many occupants as an office building with the same amount of floor space. The human traffic into and out of school buildings every day introduces and stirs an unusually high mix of indoor pollutants.
Can’t we solve the problem with better air conditioning, filtering and decontaminating equipment?
No. To solve the problem the source of the pollutants has to be discovered and removed. There may be more than one source. And there may be more than one pollutant. The heating, ventilating and air conditioning system is rarely the source of the problem, but it is almost always a contributor. Once harmful contaminants become airborne inside a building, the air conditioning system can move them to other parts of the building. That movement can bring them into contact with a larger number of building occupants, and it can bring them to new sources of water and food. But until the source of the problem is eliminated, it will always come back.
How can we prevent the problem from developing in the first place?
Several aspects are required in the design, construction, operation, and maintenance of a building to assure quality indoor air. Design considerations include site selection, roof design, vapor barriers, building materials, heating and air conditioning equipment, ventilation, humidity control, filtration efficiency, etc. Construction considerations must assure proper workmanship, sequencing of events and preventing contamination of the building materials. Operation of the building must assure proper operating schedules, proper chilled water temperatures, etc. The building must be maintained with the correct materials and supplies, frequency, thoroughness, and management. Any event which can trigger an indoor air contamination must be handled quickly and thoroughly. Those events might include water leaks, flooding, and warning signs such as visible growth of mold or trademark symptoms by the building occupants.
Just what is “good” indoor air quality?
At the core of the issue is the effect of indoor air components – microbiological, chemical or particulate – on the well-being and productivity of the occupants. It is well documented that poor indoor air quality may adversely affect both health and productivity. In this context, allergic reactions, exacerbation of asthmatic responses, and fatigue are clearly negative impacts. To achieve “good” indoor air quality, we must eliminate those elements from the indoor environment that contribute to making the occupants ill or unproductive.
I have been working in what has been described as a sick building. Have I been permanently harmed?
Evidence has not been presented suggesting permanent harm from “common” fungi. Typically those symptoms will disappear when you are away from the building.
What chemicals should I be alerted to?
Some of the “usual suspects” are formaldehyde, ozone, carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, nitrogen oxide, sulfur dioxide and other combustion products. The mix of numerous chemical constituents can make identification difficult. Typical concentration of chemicals in non-industrial environments are usually well below individual chemical standards developed for industrial workers.
Are all molds harmful to humans?
No. We share the planet with literally hundreds of thousands of kinds of molds, which are also known as mildew or fungi. Most are harmless to us. Some, like mushrooms, we eat. The organisms that are known to be harmful to us include Statchybotrys atra, Aspergillus versicolor, Penicillium chrysogenum, and Alternaria.
I have heard that Statchybotrys is the really dangerous “killer” or "toxic" mold. What is it? Stachybotrys atra is a greenish-black fungus that can grow on materials with a high cellulose and low nitrogen content such as fiberboard, gypsum board, dust, and lint if it becomes moist due to excessive humidity, leaks, condensation, or flooding. It can produce several toxic chemicals called trichothecene mycotoxins. These mycotoxins are known to be toxic to humans exposed to significant quantities. People who handle contaminated materials have developed dermatitis, blood and immune systems disorders. If Stachybotrys atra spores are inhaled by humans, they have developed allergic, respiratory and immunologic symptoms as well as asthma, hypersensitivity pheumonitis, allergic rhinitis, dermatitis, sinusitis, and conjunctivitis. Other symptoms include fatigue and an inability to concentrate. There have also been reports of people experiencing cold and flu symptoms, diarrhea, headaches, rashes, and other respiratory symptoms when they were exposed to Stacchybotrys atra.
I can see what looks like black mold growing in my child’s classroom. Is it Stachybotrys?
All molds can appear black. So the fact that it is black does not necessarily mean that it is Stachybotrys. However, we should not have molds of any type growing in our schools, workplaces or homes. You should ask to have it identified by a licensed professional mold assessment company.
What are the clues that it might be Stachybotrys?
If the material it is growing on has been persistently wet, and especially if it is cellulous, it may be this fungus. If the material is wet to touch, and has been that way for some time, chances are good that it may be Stachybotrys.
We have a report that shows the air to be “okay.” But Stachybotrys was identified as growing on surfaces and behind wall coverings. Is it “okay?”
The Stachybotrys spore is heavy and falls out of the air quickly. It is very rare that you will find this organism with today’s sampling methods. In the case of Stachybotrys, it is the toxin it produces that is of concern, and, so far, this has been difficult if not impossible to detect.
What should I do if I think I have found Stachybotrys growing somewhere?
First, do not panic. Like everything else, human response has a relationship to exposure levels. Please select the Contact Us button available on the bottom menu. Complete the form or just give us a call and we will assist you in determining your next step.
How do I know what indoor air pollutant is bothering me?
There are “signatures” associated with some components that cause problems. Knowing your symptoms and the conditions around you at the time they appear can be of great value to an IAQ investigator.
Are there any “warning signs” that indoor air problems are developing?
Yes. There are a number of indicators that signal the potential presence of indoor air quality problems. The occupants of the building will probably provide the first clues. If they are experiencing headaches, fatigue, shortness of breath, sinus congestion, coughing, sneezing, eye/nose/throat irritation, skin irritation, dizziness or nausea with any consistency or regularity, you should have the building evaluated for indoor air problems. Other indicators include visible growth of molds or mildew, or persistent odors from molds or mildew; fumes or other chemical odors; water standing in and around the building or the heating and air conditioning equipment; visible contamination in the outdoor intake of the heating and air conditioning system; or any persistent source of moisture such as leaky roofs or pipes, condensation, or water coming into the building from an outside source.
Do you have training programs about indoor air quality?
We have two programs. The first deals with assisting our clients in creating and managing an indoor air quality program within their own organization. This is usually done at the clients’ place of business.
The second deals with training our network of associates. It is part of an accredited continuing education program. Typically the program is conducted at the Texas Tech University Health Sciences Center. However, it can also be presented at other locations.
What is your consulting role?
We prefer to work with our clients and their customary consultants and advisors. We have developed design criteria and specifications for use by our clients’ design professionals. We have helped qualify companies to accomplish specific remediation tasks that are outside the traditional approach.
Do you do the actual repair work on buildings?
No. Our primary role is to diagnose buildings for indoor air quality problems. If we detect indoor contaminants, we use our “tool kit” of sequential investigative procedures to identify the specific pollutants and to locate their source. We work with our clients and the contractors of their choosing to eliminate the source, and we help them develop an indoor air quality plan to assure that the problem does not return.
But can’t the problem just be fixed using things like decontaminants, filters, ultraviolet lights, and air purifiers?
No. The source must be identified and eliminated before a building can return to “normal.” Attempts to destroy the fungal colonies with so-called decontaminants usually produce hardier strains of the fungi, which are resistant to the chemical previously used on them. Most filters cannot trap the tiny and light-weight microbial spores circulating in a building. Ultraviolet light can kill some microbial spores, but it is very difficult to get enough light on them for a long enough time to destroy them. For these types of reasons, most so-called air purifiers are a sham. Ion generators, ozone generators, ozonators, and similar products cannot eliminate the sources of indoor air contaminants.
Are illnesses related to indoor air quality a basis for workers’ compensation claims?
Employees who believe they may have been made ill by their working environment must report their situation to their employer. Employers, in turn, are required to report the situation to their workers’ compensation insurance carrier, self-insurance administrator, or self-insurance department. It is not the employer’s responsibility to determine whether the claim is “justified” or not. Employers are required to report promptly all claims made by employees. An employer’s failure to report a claim made by an employee may incur heavy fines to the employer.
Who determines whether the indoor air quality workers’ compensation claim is valid?
The claims administrator. In most states, it is the employees’ responsibility to show a connection between their work environment and the illness they believe it has caused. In other words, the burden of proof rests with the employees in their dealings with the claims administrator.
What should employees do when they believe the indoor air is causing them health problems?
Seek medical attention. If there is a connection between their medical condition and the indoor air in the workplace, the medical provider will need to explain to the claims administrator the link between the working environment and the employees’ medical condition. If the claim is denied, employees have the right to appeal the decision through the proper channels.
Does homeowners’ insurance cover indoor air quality in a private residence?
The air inside a building is rarely insured. Poor indoor air quality, however, is usually the result of a structural or mechanical failure in the building. It is important to understand why the air inside a structure is contaminated and what the source of the contamination is. Often the source of the contamination is covered by insurance. But until all the facts are known (e.g. Is there a contaminant? What is it? Where is it coming from?), a clear determination of insurance coverage cannot be made. For more details, please see the article from Claims magazine (http://claimsmag.com/issues/Aug00/mold.asp).
Did you have a question that was not covered in this section? If so, please give us a call at 214-855-0222 or toll free at 1-888-535-0222 and one of our represenatives will be glad to answer it for you.
