When it comes to your home or business, you can never be too careful; especially when it involves the health of your family/employees/customers. Indoor air quality is often not something that we think about every day, but it is critical in ensuring the safety and health of those around us. Because pollutants are often very small in the air that we breathe, it is easy to miss them. It’s only through Indoor Air Quality Tests that we can see just what is going into our lungs. There are three main types of pollutants that IAQ tests measure:
Biological Pollutants
These pollutants include things like mold, pollen, and bacteria. The most notorious of these is mold. Mold is a broad term for a type of fungus that grows and spreads from microscopic spores floating in the air. Excessive mold growth in your home can lead to symptoms such as respiratory issues, coughing, and wheezing.
Pollen is another common biological pollutant that sees the highest activity in the spring, summer, and fall. Pollen exposure can be severely uncomfortable for people with allergies and for those without, can cause sneezing or hay fever.
Chemical Pollutants
Chemical pollutants are the second type of pollutants that IAQ tests measure. Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) are common chemical pollutants that include substances such as formaldehyde and can be found in common household items such as paints, cleaners and disinfectants, and wood preservatives. VOCs get their name because they include substances that easily become vapors and are organic (contain carbon) in their nature.
Radon is a radioactive substance that can make its way into your home by several means. This element can seep into your water supply, and eventually end up in your air, which if left untreated, can cause lung cancer. This substance requires a professional to remediate so it is always best to contact an experienced contractor if you suspect you have a radon problem.
Combustion Pollutants
These pollutants are substances that arise from combustion. A common combustion pollutant is environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) which is essentially secondhand smoke. This can be deadly in some cases as tobacco smoke contains over 7000 compounds with around 70 of them being carcinogens.
Another common combustion pollutant is carbon monoxide (CO). This gas is usually released from gas stoves and space heaters. The gas is colorless and odorless, making it difficult to detect without proper equipment. Although it can be hard to notice, carbon monoxide is extremely dangerous and can lead to death if exposed to high levels. Lower levels can produce symptoms such as dizziness and nausea.
Get Your Air Tested with Environmental Inspections Group LLC.
If you suspect that you may have some of these pollutants in your air, it may be time for an Indoor Air Quality Test. The team at Environmental Inspections Group are experts in your air quality and can make sure that you are breathing in the best air possible. Give us a call or fill out our contact form if you are interested in an IAQ test or asbestos services.