Building a new home provides the opportunity for preventing indoor air problems.
However, it can result in exposure to higher levels of indoor air contaminants if careful attention is not given to potential pollution sources and the air exchange rate.
Express your concerns about indoor air quality to your LEED architect or builder and enlist his or her cooperation in taking measures to provide good indoor air quality. Talk both about purchasing environmentally friendly building materials and furnishings that are low-emitting and about providing an adequate amount of ventilation.
The American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) recommends a ventilation rate of 0.35 ach (air changes per hour) for new homes, and some new homes are built to even tighter specifications. Particular care should be given in such homes to preventing the build-up of indoor air pollutants to high levels.
Here are a few important actions that can make a difference:
There are many actions a homeowner can take to select products that will prevent indoor air problems from occurring - a couple of them are mentioned here.
First, use exterior-grade pressed wood products made with phenol-formaldehyde resin in floors, cabinetry, and wall surfaces. Or, as an alternative, consider using structurally insulated panels(SIP) made from agricultural by-products
Secondly, if you insist on installing wall-to-wall carpet on concrete in contact with the ground, especially concrete in basements, make sure that an effective moisture barrier is installed prior to installing the carpet. Do not permanently adhere carpet to concrete with adhesives so that the carpet can be removed if it becomes wet.
...but you know how I feel about carpeting!!
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If you had your home tested for mold and found that your home has an elevated count of mold...
Who should do the mold remediation/cleanup???
This depends on a number of factors.
One consideration is the size of the mold problem. If the moldy area is non-toxic and less than about 10 square feet (less than roughly a 3 ft. by 3 ft. patch), in most cases, you can handle the job yourself, following the guidelines below. However:
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Health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later.
Immediate effects may show up after a single exposure or repeated exposures.
These include irritation of the eyes, nose, and throat, headaches, dizziness, and fatigue. Such immediate effects are usually short-term and treatable. Sometimes the treatment is simply eliminating the person's exposure to the source of the pollution, if it can be identified.
Symptoms of some diseases, including asthma, hypersensitivity pneumonitis, and humidifier fever, may also show up soon after exposure to some indoor air pollutants.
The likelihood of immediate reactions to indoor air pollutants depends on several factors.
Age and preexisting medical conditions are two important influences.
In other cases, whether a person reacts to a pollutant depends on individual sensitivity, which varies tremendously from person to person. Some people can become sensitized to biological pollutants after repeated exposures, and it appears that some people can become sensitized to chemical pollutants as well.
Certain immediate effects are similar to those from colds or other viral diseases, so it is often difficult to determine if the symptoms are a result of exposure to indoor air pollution.
For this reason, it is important to pay attention to the time and place the symptoms occur. If the symptoms fade or go away when a person is away from the home and return when the person returns, an effort should be made to identify indoor air sources that may be possible causes.
Some effects may be made worse by an inadequate supply of outdoor air or from the heating, cooling, or humidity conditions prevalent in the home.
Other health effects may show up either years after exposure has occurred or only after long or repeated periods of exposure.
These effects, which include some respiratory diseases, heart disease, and cancer, can be severely debilitating or fatal. It is prudent to try to improve the indoor air quality in your home even if symptoms are not noticeable.
While pollutants commonly found in indoor air are responsible for many harmful effects, there is considerable uncertainty about what concentrations or periods of exposure are necessary to produce specific health problems. People also react very differently to exposure to indoor air pollutants.
Further research is needed to better understand which health effects occur after exposure to the average pollutant concentrations found in homes and which occur from the higher concentrations that occur for short periods of time.
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For MOLD TESTERS, MOLD TESTING, MOLD TESTING COMPANIES near Greenwich CT ,Stamford CT, New Caanan CT, Darien CT, Norwalk CT, Wilton CT, Weston CT, Southport CT, Westport CT, Fairfield CT, Easton CT, Stratford CT, Redding CT, Ridgefield CT, Bridgeport CT, Newtown CT, Trumbull CT, Shelton CT, Danbury CT, Milford,CT, Fairfield CT, Southport CT, Westport CT, Greenwich CT, Monroe CT, Lakeville CT, Sharon CT, Washington CT, Brookfield CT, Roxbury CT, Warren CT, Sherman CT, Kent CT, Salsbury CT, Torrington CT, Goshen CT, Litchfield CT, Thomaston CT, Watertown CT, Winsted CT, New Milford CT, Bethal CT, Cos Cob CT, Ridgefield CT, Oxford CT, Seymore CT, Naugatuck CT, Derby CT, Ansonia CT, Shelton CT, Orange CT, Devon CT, New Haven CT, North Haven CT, East Haven CT, Branford CT, CALL 203-380-8009 or 860-364-4694 TODAY
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Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes.
Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from indoor sources and by not carrying indoor air pollutants out of the home.
High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants.
Pollutant Sources
There are many sources of indoor air pollution in any home. These include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products; building materials and furnishings as diverse as deteriorated, asbestos-containing insulation, wet or damp carpet, and cabinetry or furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for household cleaning and maintenance, personal care, or hobbies; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.
The relative importance of any single source depends on how much of a given pollutant it emits and how hazardous those emissions are. In some cases, factors such as how old the source is and whether it is properly maintained are significant. For example, an improperly adjusted gas stove can emit significantly more carbon monoxide than one that is properly adjusted.
Some sources, such as building materials, furnishings, and household products like air fresheners, release pollutants more or less continuously. Other sources, related to activities carried out in the home, release pollutants intermittently. These include smoking, the use of unvented or malfunctioning stoves, furnaces, or space heaters, the use of solvents in cleaning and hobby activities, the use of paint strippers in redecorating activities, and the use of cleaning products and pesticides in housekeeping. High pollutant concentrations can remain in the air for long periods after some of these activities.
Amount of Ventilation
If too little outdoor air enters a home, pollutants can accumulate to levels that can pose health and comfort problems. Unless they are built with special mechanical means of ventilation, homes that are designed and constructed to minimize the amount of outdoor air that can "leak" into and out of the home may have higher pollutant levels than other homes. However, because some weather conditions can drastically reduce the amount of outdoor air that enters a home, pollutants can build up even in homes that are normally considered "leaky."
How Does Outdoor Air Enter a House?
Outdoor air enters and leaves a house by: infiltration, natural ventilation, and mechanical ventilation. In a process known as infiltration, outdoor air flows into the house through openings, joints, and cracks in walls, floors, and ceilings, and around windows and doors. In natural ventilation, air moves through opened windows and doors. Air movement associated with infiltration and natural ventilation is caused by air temperature differences between indoors and outdoors and by wind. Finally, there are a number of mechanical ventilation devices, from outdoor-vented fans that intermittently remove air from a single room, such as bathrooms and kitchen, to air handling systems that use fans and duct work to continuously remove indoor air and distribute filtered and conditioned outdoor air to strategic points throughout the house. The rate at which outdoor air replaces indoor air is described as the air exchange rate. When there is little infiltration, natural ventilation, or mechanical ventilation, the air exchange rate is low and pollutant levels can increase.
What If You Live in an Apartment?
Apartments can have the same indoor air problems as single-family homes because many of the pollution sources, such as the interior building materials, furnishings, and household products, are similar. Indoor air problems similar to those in offices are caused by such sources as contaminated ventilation systems, improperly placed outdoor air intakes, or maintenance activities.
Solutions to air quality problems in apartments, as in homes and offices, involve such actions as: eliminating or controlling the sources of pollution, increasing ventilation, and installing air cleaning devices.
Often a resident can take the appropriate action to improve the indoor air quality by removing a source, altering an activity, unblocking an air supply vent, or opening a window to temporarily increase the ventilation; in other cases, however, only the building owner or manager is in a position to remedy the problem.
You can encourage building management to follow guidance in EPA's IAQ Building Education and Assessment Model (I-BEAM). I-BEAM updates and expands EPA's existing Building Air Quality guidance and is designed to be comprehensive state-of-the-art guidance for managing IAQ in commercial buildings.
This guidance was designed to be used by building professionals and others interested in indoor air quality in commercial buildings. I-BEAM contains text, animation/visual, and interactive/calculation components that can be used to perform a number of diverse tasks.
You can also encourage building management to follow guidance in EPA and NIOSH's Building Air Quality: A Guide for Building Owners and Facility Managers
TURTLE CLAN ENVIRONMENT TESTING INC. is comprised of a team of EXPERTS with over 100 years intellectual capital to bring to our clients.
We are A CERTIFIED 3RD PARTY MOLD TESTING COMPANY, MOLD TESTERS, MOLD TESTING WITH OFFICES IN CONNECTICUT and NEW YORK serving the Greater Tri State Area and all of Fairfield County Connecticut, Litchfield County Connecticut, New Haven County Connecticut, Middlesex County Connecticut, Hartford County Connecticut, Westchester County New York , Duchess County New York, Putnam County New York, Orange County New York
For MOLD TESTERS, MOLD TESTING, MOLD TESTING COMPANIES near Greenwich CT ,Stamford CT, New Caanan CT, Darien CT, Norwalk CT, Wilton CT, Weston CT, Southport CT, Westport CT, Fairfield CT, Easton CT, Stratford CT, Redding CT, Ridgefield CT, Bridgeport CT, Newtown CT, Trumbull CT, Shelton CT, Danbury CT, Milford,CT, Fairfield CT, Southport CT, Westport CT, Greenwich CT, Monroe CT, Lakeville CT, Sharon CT, Washington CT, Brookfield CT, Roxbury CT, Warren CT, Sherman CT, Kent CT, Salsbury CT, Torrington CT, Goshen CT, Litchfield CT, Thomaston CT, Watertown CT, Winsted CT, New Milford CT, Bethal CT, Cos Cob CT, Ridgefield CT, Oxford CT, Seymore CT, Naugatuck CT, Derby CT, Ansonia CT, Shelton CT, Orange CT, Devon CT, New Haven CT, North Haven CT, East Haven CT, Branford CT, CALL 203-380-8009 or 860-364-4694 TODAY
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The pollutants listed in this guide have been shown to cause the health effects mentioned.
However, it is not necessarily true that the effects noted occur at the pollutant concentration levels typically found in the home. In many cases, our understanding of the pollutants and their health effects is too limited to determine the levels at which the listed effects could occur.
RADON:
Sources: Earth and rock beneath home; well water; building materials.
Health Effects: No immediate symptoms. Estimated to contribute to between 7,000 and 30,000 lung cancer deaths each year. Smokers are at higher risk of developing radon-induced lung cancer.
Levels in Homes:Based on a national residential radon survey completed in 1991, the average indoor radon level is 1.3 picocuries per liter (pCi/L). The average outdoor level is about 0.4 pCi/L.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
Source: Cigarette, pipe, and cigar smoking.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches; lung cancer; may contribute to heart disease. Specifically for children, increased risk of lower respiratory tract infections, such as bronchitis and pneumonia, and ear infections; build-up of fluid in the middle ear; increased severity and frequency of asthma episodes; decreased lung function.
Levels in Homes: Particle levels in homes without smokers or other strong particle sources are the same as, or lower than, those outdoors. Homes with one or more smokers may have particle levels several times higher than outdoor levels.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Biologicals
Sources: Wet or moist walls, ceilings, carpets, and furniture; poorly maintained humidifiers, dehumidifiers, and air conditioners; bedding; household pets.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; shortness of breath; dizziness; lethargy; fever; digestive problems. Can cause asthma; humidifier fever; influenza and other infectious diseases.
Levels in Homes: Indoor levels of pollen and fungi are lower than outdoor levels (except where indoor sources of fungi are present). Indoor levels of dust mites are higher than outdoor levels.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
Sources:Unvented kerosene and gas space heaters; leaking chimneys and furnaces; back-drafting from furnaces, gas water heaters, woodstoves, and fireplaces; gas stoves. Automobile exhaust from attached garages. Environmental Tobacco Smoke.
Health Effects: At low concentrations, fatigue in healthy people and chest pain in people with heart disease. At higher concentrations, impaired vision and coordination; headaches; dizziness; confusion; nausea. Can cause flu-like symptoms that clear up after leaving home. Fatal at very high concentrations.
Levels in Homes: Average levels in homes without gas stoves vary from 0.5 to 5 parts per million (ppm). Levels near properly adjusted gas stoves are often 5 to 15 ppm and those near poorly adjusted stoves may be 30 ppm or higher.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Nitrogen Dioxide(NO2)
Sources:Kerosene heaters, unvented gas stoves and heaters. Environmental tobacco smoke.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation. May cause impaired lung function and increased respiratory infections in young children.
Levels in Homes:Average level in homes without combustion appliances is about half that of outdoors. In homes with gas stoves, kerosene heaters, or unvented gas space heaters, indoor levels often exceed outdoor levels.
Steps to Reduce Exposure: Same as steps used for carbon monoxide.
Organic Gases
Sources: Household products including: paints, paint strippers, and other solvents; wood preservatives; aerosol sprays; cleansers and disinfectants; moth repellents and air fresheners; stored fuels and automotive products; hobby supplies; dry-cleaned clothing.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; headaches, loss of coordination, nausea; damage to liver, kidney, and central nervous system. Some organics can cause cancer in animals; some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.
Levels in Homes: Studies have found that levels of several organics average 2 to 5 times higher indoors than outdoors. During and for several hours immediately after certain activities, such as paint stripping, levels may be 1,000 times background outdoor levels.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Respirable Particles
Sources:Fireplaces, candles, woodstoves, and kerosene heaters. Environmental tobacco smoke.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; respiratory infections and bronchitis; lung cancer. (Effects attributable to environmental tobacco smoke are listed elsewhere.)
Levels in Homes: Particle levels in homes without smoking or other strong particle sources are the same as, or lower than, outdoor levels.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Formaldehyde
Sources:Pressed wood products (hardwood plywood wall paneling, particleboard, fiberboard) and furniture made with these pressed wood products. Urea-formaldehyde foam insulation (UFFI). Combustion sources and environmental tobacco smoke. Durable press drapes, other textiles, and glues.
Health Effects: Eye, nose, and throat irritation; wheezing and coughing; fatigue; skin rash; severe allergic reactions. May cause cancer. May also cause other effects listed under "organic gases."
Levels in Homes:Average concentrations in older homes without UFFI are generally well below 0.1 (ppm). In homes with significant amounts of new pressed wood products, levels can be greater than 0.3 ppm.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Pesticides
Sources:Products used to kill household pests (insecticides, termiticides, and disinfectants). Also, products used on lawns and gardens that drift or are tracked inside the house.
Health Effects: Irritation to eye, nose, and throat; damage to central nervous system and kidney; increased risk of cancer.
Levels in Homes: Preliminary research shows widespread presence of pesticide residues in homes.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Asbestos
Sources: Deteriorating, damaged, or disturbed insulation, fireproofing, acoustical materials, and floor tiles.
Health Effects: No immediate symptoms, but long-term risk of chest and abdominal cancers and lung diseases. Smokers are at higher risk of developing asbestos-induced lung cancer.
Levels in Homes: Elevated levels can occur in homes where asbestos-containing materials are damaged or disturbed.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Lead (Pb)
Sources: Lead-based paint, contaminated soil, dust, and drinking water.
Health Effects:Lead affects practically all systems within the body. Lead at high levels (lead levels at or above 80 micrograms per deciliter (80 ug/dl) of blood) can cause convulsions, coma, and even death. Lower levels of lead can cause adverse health effects on the central nervous system, kidney, and blood cells. Blood lead levels as low as 10 ug/dl can impair mental and physical development.
Steps to Reduce Exposure:
Where to Go for Additional Information on Indoor Air Quality
Federal Information Sources for Indoor Air Quality
Federal agencies with indoor air quality information may be contacted as follows:
U. S. Environmental Protection Agency (U.S. EPA)
EPA supports the following hotlines to best serve consumers with radon-related questions and concerns.
- 1-800-SOS-RADON (767-7236)* Purchase radon test kits by phone.
- 1-800-55RADON (557-2366)* Get live help for your radon questions.
- 1-800-644-6999*Radon Fit-It Hotline. For general information on fixing or reducing the radon level in your home.
- 1-800-426-4791 Safe Drinking Water Hotline. For general information on drinking water, radon in water, testing and treatment, and standards for radon drinking water. Operated under a contract with EPA
* Operated by Kansas State University in partnership with EPAKansas State University (KSU)
Web site: www.sosradon.org
Phone: (785) 532-6026
Fax: (785) 532-6952
E-mail: Radon@ksu.eduAs a partner in the Midwest Universities Radon Consortium, conducts National Radon Program Services, including the National Radon Poster Contest, National Radon Hotlines, and Referrals to State Radon Programs, Radon Test Kit Coupons, Radon Mitigation Promotion and other outreach activities.
National Radon Hotline
(800) 767-RADON
[(800) 767-7236]
Information recording operates 24 hours a day.National Lead Information Center
1-800-424-LEAD (5323)
Operates 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Callers may order an information package and/or speak to an information specialist. Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. EST.National Pesticide Information Center (NPIC)
EPA sponsors the NPIC (800) 858-PEST/800-858-7378 to answer your questions about pesticides and to provide selected EPA publications on pesticides. See their web site at - http://npic.orst.edu/ or, read their brochure - http://npic.orst.edu/brochure.pdf Operates Monday to Friday from 6:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. Pacific Time. Provides information about pesticides to the general public and the medical, veterinary, and professional communities. Medical and government personnel may call 800-858-7377.
RCRA/Superfund Hotline
National toll-free number: (800) 424-9346
In Washington, DC area: (703) 412-9810
Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 7:30p.m. EST. Provides information on regulations under both the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (including solid and hazardous waste issues) and the Superfund law.Safe Drinking Water Hotline
(800) 426-4791
Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. EST. Provides information on regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act, lead and radon in drinking water, filter information, and a list of state drinking water offices.TSCA Assistance Information Service
(202) 554-1404
Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. EST. Provides information on regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act and on EPA's asbestos program.
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) [www.cpsc.gov/]
Washington, DC 20207-0001
Product Safety Hotline: (800) 638-CPSC
Teletypewriter for the hearing impaired (outside Maryland): (800) 638-8270;
Maryland only: (800) 492-8104.
Recorded information is available 24 hours a day when calling from a touch-tone phone. Operators are on duty Monday to Friday from 10:30 to 4 EST to take complaints about unsafe consumer products.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development [www.hud.gov/]
Office of Energy and the Environment, Washington, DC 20410
HUD USER National toll-free number: (800) 245-2691
In Washington, DC area: (301) 251-5154
TURTLE CLAN ENVIRONMENT TESTING INC. is comprised of a team of EXPERTS with over 100 years intellectual capital to bring to our clients.
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