Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the effect, good or bad, of the contents of the air inside a structure, on its occupants. Usually, temperature (too hot or too cold), humidity (too dry or too damp), and air velocity (draftiness or motionlessness) are considered "comfort" rather than indoor air quality issues. Unless they are extreme, they may make someone unhappy, but they won't make a person ill.

The usual clue is that people feel ill while inside the building, and the symptoms go away shortly after leaving the building, or sometimes, when away for the building for a period of time (as on weekends away from work, or a vacation). This doesn't necessarily work in cases of BRI (sections 2.3, 2.4), where it may take medical testing and investigation of the building to determine whether the building is the source of the problem.

No building is perfectly sealed and so the air inside ultimately originates outside. Air pollution present in the outdoor environment will therefore enter into the building as well. Generally, pollutants present in the outdoor environment are present at a somewhat lower concentration than outside (probably 10 to 90% in most cases). There are several reasons for this. Some pollutants are absorbed by materials in the building. Others deteriorate or react chemically and so disappear.

Look over this FAQ. Find the material most related to what seems to be going on. In most cases there are suggestions as to things that can checked in to. Some of these can be checked by anyone; others require an expert (medical doctor, HVAC service company, IAQ investigator, etc.).

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has declared Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) the nation's worst environmental health problem, even worse than outdoor air pollution. A significant increase in asthma and hay fever corresponds to an increased level of allergens and irritants in our homes and offices as a result of poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ).

The first step toward better indoor air is to identify the types of pollutants present in the home. The best way to do this is to schedule an in-home air-quality test. Routine cleaning and housekeeping helps reduce indoor air pollutants, but these simple fixes are not cure-alls. Some contaminants are so small that they may escape through the vacuum or never land on a surface.

Today’s homes are sealed tight to shelter us efficiently from the heat or cold and this results in low circulation of air and infrequent changes. Our indoor air contains minute particles such as dust mites, pet dander, pollen and mold spores that can cause health isues such as asthma, allergies and other respiratory difficulties. To add to this, many of today's cleaning products, furniture, carpets and building materials release chemicals, which are hazardous to health.

Unfortunately, quite severe. The EPA has ranked indoor air pollution as the nation's worst environmental health problem, calling it 2 to 10 times worse than outdoor air pollution.

Yes. An all-electric heat pump system produces no products of combustion and therefore no indoor air pollutants are possible. Conventional gas and propane systems require chimneys to vent away harmful carbon monoxide and other dangerous gases.

There are three basic strategies for improving indoor air quality. Usually the most effective way to improve indoor air quality is to eliminate individual sources of pollution or to reduce their emissions. Another approach is to lower the concentration of indoor air pollutants in your home by increasing the amount of outdoor air coming indoors. The third is the purchase and installation of air cleaning equipment.

Indoor air pollutants pose serious environmental exposures to people. Because Americans spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors, this has become a major concern. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) says that IAQ is one of the top five environmental health risks of our time and indoor air pollution is one of the greatest risks to human health.

quot;the air within homes can be more polluted than outdoor air in even the largest cities... the risks to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors rather than outdoors." EPA Document #402-K-93-007, April 1995.

Given the sheer number of potential sources that contribute to poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ), it is very likely that you have a moderate IAQ problem and not even notice it. Surprisingly, homes or offices built in the last 20 years, are more likely to have a severe IAQ problem. In an effort to increase energy efficiency in our houses and buildings, engineers and builders have sealed the "leaks" that allowed the constant mixing of cleaner outdoor air with our indoor air.

Household cleansers, laundry detergents, air fresheners, aerosols, insecticides, insects, pet hair, dander, contents from litter boxes, cigarette smoke, food, dust (dust mites), people (dead skin, hair, perfume, etc.), carpet, construction materials, just to name a few. The best air purifier we have found, hands down, that reduces the most symptoms people experience with asthma is the IQair HealthPro or the IQair HealthProPlus.

There is a broad spectrum of health effects from poor indoor air quality. There may be no effect or significant effects for some individuals, as well as multiple variations in between. The effect on any one individual will be determined by the type of contaminant in the air, the quantity of contaminant, the duration of the exposure, and the individual's unique physiological response to the contaminant. Poor indoor air quality can be implicated in a variety of health related symptoms.

Homes are usually built today with an aim to be energy efficient which in turn captures the air inside a house not letting it escape and be replaced with fresher air from outside. The purpose of which is to avoid loss of heat in the winter and heat gain during the summer months. Whilst this benefits your energy bills it is not so good for your indoor air quality and thus your health.

Good question. As an insulation installer, I know homes today are built tighter than ever. It’s GREAT that houses are well insulated because it boosts energy efficiency. However, it’s not so great for the occupants if the home is too tight to permit proper ventilation.” Studies show that we are actually more likely to get sick from poor indoor air quality at home than from outdoor pollution.