Indoor Air Quality Experts Educate the Public about Common IAQ Pollutants

For most people, the vast majority of their day is spent indoors.  Whether at home, in the office, or attending school, many people spend up to 90% of their time in indoor environments.
 
With so much of their day indoors, the quality of the air they breathe is vital to their health.  In many homes and buildings, there are numerous potential pollutants that can cause health concerns or even result in various illnesses.  Some of these pollutants are primarily found in older structures, but others can be a problem in brand new buildings.
 
A few of the most common indoor air quality pollutants include the following:
 
Mold – In buildings that have suffered water damage or elevated humidity levels, mold can begin to grow in as short as 24 to 48 hours.  Mold can cause respiratory issues, allergies, infections, trigger asthma in some people and expose people to mycotoxins.
 
Bacteria – Many types of bacteria can be found on surfaces and even at times in the air we breathe.  From Legionella, to a growing number of drug-resistant superbugs, such as MRSA and C. diff, many pose potential health concerns.
 
Allergens – Everything from pollen and mold spores to latex and dust mite allergens are frequent contributors to indoor air quality issues.
 
Radon – In many parts of the country, radon can be found and is a potential invisible threat. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer after smoking and is odorless, colorless and tasteless.
 
Formaldehyde and other VOCs – Many building materials, furnishing and products used indoors emit formaldehyde and other volatile organic compounds, commonly referred to as VOCs.  VOCs can be emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids, some of which may have short and long-term adverse health effects.
 
Asbestos - Asbestos was added to many building products in the past to strengthen them and to provide heat insulation and fire resistance.  Exposure to asbestos fibers can cause various types of lung cancer, sometimes decades after exposure.
 
Lead – Many buildings built 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 which could put building occupants at risk for lead poisoning.
 
For almost 25 years, Clark Seif Clark has been helping people identify both common and uncommon IAQ pollutants.  “The air we all breathe is a critical component to a healthy life,” reported Franco Seif, President of Clark Seif Clark.  “Every day CSC gets calls about indoor air quality issues that people suspect they may have.  CSC’s IAQ experts provide solutions to identifying problems and ways they can be resolved so that people are living and working in healthy indoor environments.  We have sponsored an educational video about common IAQ pollutants to help educate people about some of the most frequent reasons for poor indoor air quality.”
 
To view the video about common IAQ pollutants, please visit:
http://youtu.be/MM14B6dzYYg
 
To learn more about indoor air quality issues and testing services or other health and safety issues, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118. 
 
About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address environmental, IAQ, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail