INDOOR AIR QUALITY AN OVERVIEW
The term "indoor air quality" (IAQ), refers to the environmental characteristics inside a building that may affect human health, comfort, or work performance. IAQ characteristics include the concentrations (amounts) of pollutants in the indoor air such as Volitile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Airborne Particulate Matter (PM2.5 & PM10), Allergens (dust & pet dander), Mold (Spores), as well as air temperature and humidity. Concentrations of indoor pollutants on surfaces that may be contacted by people, as well as indoor lighting and acoustic (noise) conditions are also often considered aspects of IAQ. Sometimes, the rate of outdoor air supply to a building, i.e., the ventilation rate, is treated as an IAQ condition because the ventilation rate has a strong influence on the concentration of many indoor air pollutants.
When people are indoors they are exposed to air pollutants generated by indoor sources, and air pollutants that enter the building with the outdoor air that is brought in by ventilation systems. Examples of indoor-generated air pollutants include gases and particles produced by molds and bacteria that grow indoors on damp surfaces, and VOCs such as Formaldehyde, which are emitted by building materials, paints, new furnishings, and some cleaning products. People are also sources of indoor air pollutants, for example, odorous gases also fall into the indoor air pollutants category. Car exhaust fumes and Ozone, a reactive gaseous constituent of outdoor air pollution, are examples of outdoor air pollutants that enter a building with the outdoor air that ventilation systems bring inside.
Poor IAQ can affect your comfort, health, work, and schoolwork performance. A broad range of negative health effects have been associated with indoor pollutant exposure. Some of them have been found to increase the risk of some cancers and other serious ailments. Allergies, asthma, the common cold, and influenza are also a common result of chronic indoor pollutant exposure. Compromised indoor air quality contributes to eye, nose, skin and throat irritations, coughs, wheezing, headaches, as well as fatigue. These symptoms are often associated with what is known as sick building syndrome (SBS), or building related symptoms (BRS).
It is for the above mentioned reason that if a significant amount of building occupants have complaints or concerns with the indoor air quality of the building, it is highly recommended that a indoor environmental professional be brought in to determine if building related issues could be the cause.