Why Should We Worry About Indoor Air Quality?

Air quality levels are determined by measuring the number of contaminates suspended in the air we breathe. The quality of our indoor air is definitely becoming questionable, as research by many major organizations reveal unfavorable levels of pollution can be found in homes, offices and public buildings. Over the years, increased interest and use of energy efficient procedures in structures constructed throughout the United States has resulted in "tight" building construction practices. While these methods reduce energy consumption, they also increase the number of pollutants and particulates trapped inside a building.

Indoor air pollution comes from a variety of manufactured products, chemicals, particulates, gases and by-products released into the air we breath, which can build up over time and can become toxic. Many building materials, furnishings, major appliances, and cleaning supplies are contributors. Some of the main culprits include gas stoves, dryers, fireplaces and furnaces. And, excessive moisture, high humidity, leaks or flooding create breeding grounds for allergens, fungi and mold.

Stale, contaminated air can be exchanged in buildings through mechanical ventilation systems, infiltration through cracks in walls, doors, ceilings, roofs and foundations or open windows and doors. A ventilation "exchange rate" refers to the amount of time it takes a volume of outdoor air entering a structure to completely replace the same volume of indoor air, and in many buildings it is often inadequate.

Contaminates are often not seen or smelled, tasted or felt, but they can be inhaled, ingested, eaten or absorbed through skin, creating a multitude of relatively minor or extremely serious health problems including fatalities. These include: irritability, forgetfulness and mental confusion, headaches, dizziness, muscle twitching, weakness, fatigue, lethargy, sneezing, skin irritations, burning sensations in the nose and throat, stuffy nose, watery eyes, allergic reactions, asthmatic attacks, nausea, impaired vision, respiratory irritation, influenza, humidifier fever, hyper-sensitive pneumonities, irregular heart functions, lung cancer, and chromosome damage. Individuals with allergies, heart aliments, asthma, children and the elderly may be particularly susceptible. Symptoms may be immediate or, unfortunately, they may not appear for years and it may be difficult to pinpoint the specific culprit or multiple factors. While one containment may not represent a threat, multiple sources of a wide variety of exposures may result in significant risks to your health.

Indoor air pollutants fall into several categories including asbestos, disinfectants, biological contaminates, combustion products, formaldehyde, particulates, radon and volatile organic compounds. Below is a listing of many contaminates and sources of indoor air pollution. Many are directly linked to the interior design finishing, furnishing and equipment specification and supply process.

Adhesives -· Acoustical Materials -· Aerosol Sprays -· Air Conditioners -· Air Fresheners -· Allergens -· Ammonia -· Appliances -· Asbestos -· Animal Dander -· Automobile Products -· Bacteria -· Bedding -· Benzene -· Building Materials -· Candles -· Carbon Monoxide -· Caulking (some types) -· Carpet & Carpet Tiles -· Ceiling Tiles -· Central Heating and Cooling Systems -· Cigarette and Cigar Smoke -· Clothing -· Coal -· Cockroaches -· Combustion -· Contaminated Ventilation Systems -· Cooking Sprays -· Cosmetics & Powders -· Disinfectants -· Dust -· Dust Mites -· Draperies -· Dry Cleaned Products -· Fabrics & Textiles -· Fabric Protectors -· Feathers -· Fiber Glass -· Fireplace Back-draft -· Formaldehyde -· Fungus -· Furnaces -· Furniture -· Garbage -· Gasoline -· Household Chemicals -· House Dust -· Hot Tubs -· Humidity -· Humidifiers -· Infections -· Insulation -· Kerosene -· Kerosene Heaters -· Lack of Proper Maintenance and Venting -· Lead -· Laundry Detergent -· Methylene Chloride -· Moisture - Mold Mildew · Myiotoxins -· Mercury -· Nitrogen Dioxide -· Odors -· Office Equipment -· Oil -· Organic Gases -· Ozone Generating Air Cleaners -· Outdoor Air Pollution -· Paint -· Paint Strippers -· Particulates -· Pesticides -· Pet Saliva -· Pollen -· Pressed Wood Products -· Resilient Flooring -· Soil -· Solvents -· Space Heaters -· Radon -· Viruses -· Vermiculite -· Wall Paneling -· Wax -· Well-water -· Wood Stoves

This is a staggering list. So what can we do to improve our indoor air quality?

Below are many suggestions to help begin analyzing the situation and taking steps to make a difference in minimizing the indoor air pollution in homes, schools, or places of business.

Become informed and demand safe, environmentally conscious properties in all the products you use.
Work to identify sources of the contamination and eliminate them.
Weatherize, install storm windows and seal cracks in floors, walls, ceilings and ductwork in crawl spaces.
Control humidity levels and install mechanical ventilation systems.
Eliminate all moisture problems, such as, leaks and standing water immediately.
Change heating and cooling air filters regularly.
Clean humidifiers daily with chlorine bleach.
Check gas or oil furnaces and exhaust systems regularly.
Use exhaust fans vented to the outside, especially in kitchens and baths.
Eliminate space heaters and gas appliances not vented to the outside.
Hire professionals to tune-up central heating and air-conditioning systems, repairing leaks to insure optimum efficiency.
Use non-ozone producing air cleaners to remove particles and other pollutants.
Reduce or eliminate the use of building materials with formaldehyde.
Purchase homes with ENERGY STAR certification.
Use solvents and paints outside, when feasible, otherwise ventilate and dispose of partially used containers properly.
Treat existing formaldehyde products with vinyl flooring, polyurethane, vinyl wallpaper or formaldehyde-absorbent paint.
Replace carpeting or furniture emitting high levels of formaldehyde.
Remove carpeting saturated with water for over 24 hours.
Eliminate carpet or sheet vinyl when possible and use non-polluting options, such as wood and stone.
Do not disturb asbestos materials; have them removed by a professional.
Hire professionals to test for Radon.
Use pesticides less frequently in well-ventilated areas.
Follow directions and storage instructions on all pesticide and chemical labels.
Restrict the use of contaminating products and equipment.
Dispose of all chemicals properly and use non-chemical alternatives whenever possible.

The entire interior design industry including interior designers, product designers and manufacturers, distributors and suppliers are in a position to advise consumers regarding the selection of environmentally conscious interior design finishes, furnishings, fixtures and equipment. It is extremely important for interior designers to become well informed regarding contaminates, which may be present in the products we recommend, specify or supply to our clients. The consequences of poor indoor air quality also reinforce the necessity for hiring educated and licensed professionals for major interior projects including restoration, renovation, and remodeling or new construction of commercial, retail, hospitality and institutional projects to insure health, safety and welfare issues are addressed.

With the onset of "killer mold" and "fatal fungi" incidents becoming major health, liability and insurance issues you may have already witnessed the devastation that discovery of contaminates can create in the lives of clients, family, friends or co-workers. Not only can individuals be exposed to harmful pollutants; they can also be displaced from homes, schools or offices for months at a time, when toxic levels are discovered. Consider the cost of dislocating a family from their home for months on end, providing them with temporary housing and furnishings, while remediation efforts proceed. These efforts often require tearing out, replacing or cleaning all affected exterior and interior surfaces including stucco, siding, sheetrock, plumbing, cabinetry, flooring, lighting, upholstery, bedding, and draperies. It all adds up to a very "pretty penny" and becomes a major setback for those who must live through it. It may even make re-selling property or obtaining insurance substantially more difficult. If you suspect a problem with indoor air quality consider hiring an expert to conduct a thorough investigation. They can determine the existence of potential problems or poor air quality.

All of us need to take active steps to minimize exposure to harmful chemicals and pollutants for ourselves, for those we love and for the earth.

The United States Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) offers assistance with a comprehensive publication titled "The Inside Story - A Guide to Indoor Air Quality." This 31 page document can be downloaded from their Website located at www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html

EPA's IAQ Information Clearinghouse, ; . P.O. Box 37133, Washington, DC, 20013-7133. Multiple copies may be purchased from the Government Printing Office. Call or send check or money order for $44.00 (25 per package) to: Superintendent of Documents, P.O. Box 371954, Pittsburgh, PA, 15250-7954. Include the stock number 1-2.

- Dezignaré

Additional Information:

Mold and the Indoor Air Quality Crisis in Public Schools