Indoor Allergies & Asthma Triggers Identified with IAQ Index

Asthma is a disease that affects the lungs and is one of the most common long-term diseases of children.  Adults can also suffer from asthma and the relentless wheezing, breathlessness, chest tightness, and coughing that it can bring during an attack.
 
When an asthma attack occurs the body’s airways become smaller as they swell.  Less air makes its way to the lungs and the body’s own mucous can further clog the airways.  An asthma attack can happen when a susceptible individual is exposed to an “asthma triggers.” These triggers can vary among asthma suffers.
 
According to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), one of the common asthma triggers is mold.  The CDC states, “Breathing in mold can trigger an asthma attack. Get rid of mold in your home to help control your attacks. Humidity, the amount of moisture in the air, can make mold grow. An air conditioner or dehumidifier will help you keep the humidity level low. Get a small tool called a hygrometer to check humidity levels and keep them as low as you can—no higher than 50%. Humidity levels change over the course of a day, so check the humidity levels more than once a day. Fix water leaks, which let mold grow behind walls and under floors.”
 
In addition to being an asthma trigger, mold is also a known allergen.  Homes that have suffered water damage or elevated humidity levels can quickly become infested with mold spores.  Often times the mold grows in places not seen by the building occupants, such as behind walls, in ceiling cavities, or under flooring.
 
To help people identify elevated mold levels in their homes, schools and places of business, IAQ Index has developed a scientifically backed sampling system that provides people with concise information about mold in their indoor environments.  Bruce Jacobs, CIH, President of IAQ Index, developed the kit and reporting system.  “People who suffer from asthma and indoor allergies should not be spending time in indoor environments with high levels of mold,” he reported.  “The IAQ Index test kit allows people to quickly and affordably test for mold.  This information allows people to take corrective actions that can mean the difference between an asthma attack and another day without a medical emergency.”
 
To learn more about testing for mold, please visit IAQ Index at http://www.IAQIndex.com, email info@IAQIndex.com or call (888) 259-3883.
 
About IAQ Index
IAQ Index was developed by a Certified Industrial Hygienist with decades of experience dealing with indoor air quality issues.  IAQ Index was developed as a health-based, easy-to-understand, air quality index that is calculated from data generated for various parameters commonly measured during IAQ surveys.  The approach is similar to the EPA’s Air Quality Index that has been used historically to communicate the risks posed by common pollutants in the ambient air.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail