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Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. IAQ can be affected by gases (including carbon monoxide, radon, volatile organic compounds), particulates, microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), or any mass or energy stressor that can induce adverse health conditions. Source control, filtration and the use of ventilation to dilute contaminants are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings. Residential units can further improve indoor air quality by routine cleaning of carpets and area rugs. EPA has guidelines for frequency of cleaning based on traffic, number of household members, pets, children and smokers. Carpets and rugs act like an air filter and must be cleaned.
Determination of IAQ involves the collection of air samples, monitoring human exposure to pollutants, collection of samples on building surfaces, and evaluation of air flow inside buildings. |
What is lead-based paint? Lead is a highly toxic metal that may cause a range of health problems, especially in young children. Lead can be found in paint on homes built prior to 1978. When lead is absorbed into the body, it can cause damage to the brain and other vital organs, like the kidneys, nerves and blood.
Lead may also cause behavioral problems, learning disabilities, seizures and in extreme cases, death. Some symptoms of lead poisoning may include headaches, stomachaches, nausea, tiredness and irritability. Children who are lead poisoned may show no symptoms. Both inside and outside the home, deteriorated lead-paint mixes with household dust and soil and can become tracked in. Children may become lead poisoned by putting their hands or other lead-contaminated objects into their mouths, eating paint chips found in homes with peeling or flaking lead-based paint, or by playing in lead-contaminated soil. |
Asbestos is a dangerous carcinogen. It is a fibrous material consisting of minerals derived from various types of rock that can cause lung cancer, asbestosis, and mesothelioma. Asbestos was added to building materials to make them more durable and fire resistant. Demolition, repair, or improper attempts to remove asbestos can release these fibers into the air, where they pose the highest health risk.
Asbestos can be found in a multitude of building materials including vinyl flooring and associated mastics, insulation, caulks, window glaze, sealants, drywall and joint compound, plaster, siding, roofing materials, cement board, peg board, and many, many more. Samples of suspect asbestos-containing materials must be laboratory tested to determine whether or not they contain asbestos. Structures built before 1990 may contain asbestos-containing building materials. |