Identifying Common Exposure Hazards Lurking in Indoor Environments across Puerto Rico

Whether at home, school or in the office, it is estimated that most people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. This makes indoor environmental quality (IEQ) an important issue for the health and safety of families and building occupants. Unfortunately, there are a number of common hazards and indoor pollutants that cause issues in far too many homes and buildings.
 
Harry Pena, the President of Puerto Rico’s Zimmetry Environmental shared the following list of substances that are the source of concerns regularly uncovered by their building science and indoor environmental professionals. While not all inclusive, the list does make up a significant percentage of IEQ issues they encounter on a weekly basis. The list includes: 
 

• Carbon Monoxide – This odorless and colorless gas can build up indoors and poison people who breathe it. It is the result of combustion and comes from sources such as fireplaces and stoves, furnaces, generators, water heaters and lanterns powered by fossil fuels.

• Mold – In buildings that have suffered water damage or elevated humidity levels, mold can begin to grow in as short as 48 hours. Mold can cause respiratory issues, allergies, infections, trigger asthma in some people and potentially expose people to mycotoxins.

• Bacteria – Many types of bacteria can be found on surfaces and even at times in the air. From E. coli and Legionella, to a growing number of drug-resistant superbugs, such as MRSA and C. diff, many can cause serious health issues.

• Allergens – Everything from pollen and mold spores to latex, rodent, cockroach and dust mite allergens are frequent contributors to poor indoor air quality (IAQ) and can cause respiratory problems for building occupants.

• Radon – In some parts of the islands, elevated radon levels can be found indoors making it a potential invisible threat. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. after smoking, and is odorless, colorless and tasteless.

• Formaldehyde and other Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) – Many building materials, furnishing and products used indoors emit VOCs. A number of these compounds may have short- and/or long-term adverse health effects due to exposure to elevated levels.

• Asbestos - This mineral fiber was added to many building materials and products in the past to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance. Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause lung cancer, asbestosis and mesothelioma, sometimes decades after exposure.

• Lead – Many homes and buildings constructed before 1978 contain lead-based paints. As these materials age and degrade, or during renovation, remodeling and demolition activities, they can become airborne and settle on surfaces as dust, which could put people at risk for lead poisoning. Lead can also sometimes be found in water due primarily from it leaching from plumbing materials and fixtures that were used in the past that contained the heavy metal.

 
Zimmetry Environmental provides testing and consulting services for these and other IEQ issues throughout Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean. The company recently sponsored an educational video about these indoor contaminants and pollutants that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/u7K8RVwbRAQ
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their indoor air quality, environmental, occupational, building science, and compliance consulting and testing services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail