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The indoor environment contains many different contaminants. An often overlooked contaminant, however, is dust. Dust can contain a multitude of allergens including dust mites, animal dander, and mold spores. Carpet is a major reservoir for collecting and holding dust. The ACGIH lists carpet as one of the nine potential sources of biological agents in occupied spaces. Collecting dust for lab analysis can be an important test in an IAQ assessment.

A number of allergens are present indoors. Cat and dog allergens are present in the majority of buildings, including buildings where these animals have never been present and at levels that, in some cases, exceed proposed threshold levels to cause sensitization. Studies performed in several major U.S. inner cities have linked exposure to cockroach, rat and mouse allergens with asthma, and indicate that these allergens account for 95 percent of the indoor allergens present in some cases.

Dust and dirt are often looked at as an Asthmatic’s enemies. However, cleaning them may cause even greater problems. Harvard researchers found that common household cleaners can cause asthma attacks. Asthmatics are 2 – 6 times more likely to suffer an attack on days they used bleach, degreasing sprays or air fresheners.

Indoor air quality is a concern today as most newer homes are being built "tighter" to be more energy efficient. Existing structures have also been "tightened-up" with better insulation, weather-stripping, upgraded windows and high quality exterior doors. Unfortunately, making homes more energy efficient exacts and unexpected price. Indoor air quality suffers as the exchange of indoor and outdoor air is limited. Indoor air pollutants get trapped inside and can build up to harmful levels. These pollutants can range from dust to chemicals to radon.

Homeowners
Indoor air pollution and its health implications are a rapidly growing concern for families in today’s society. You want your family to be safe from the air pollution problems found in the outside environment, yet you may be unaware that indoor air pollution can have a major effect on your family’s health, comfort, and safety as well.

Indoor air pollution contributes to:

Hypersensitive Diseases

• Allergy
• Asthma
• Humidifier Fever
• Pneumonitis

Infections Diseases

• Pontiac Fever
• Legionnaire Disease

Contagious Diseases

• Cold
• Flu
• Measles
• Chicken Pox
• TB....

Things that must be done to help prevent Building Related Illness

An Overview of Different Types of Indoor Pollutants

Every home contains a certain amount of unhealthy gases from a variety of sources — building materials, the earth under your home, your heating and cooling system, and even people, who breathe out carbon dioxide.

• Eye Irritation
• Dry or Scratchy Throat
• Headache
• Fatigue
• Sinus Congestion
• Shortness of Breath
• Stuffiness
• Cough
• Dizziness
• Nausea