Indoor Air Quality Testing and Inspections

The air we breathe has a direct link to our health with the US EPA ranking indoor air quality in the top five environmental risks to people. The air quality in your home or workplace may be the cause of a number of health effects including headache, fatigue, allergies, sinus, nausea, dizziness and dryness of the eyes, skin, nose and throat and even leading to more chronic diseases?

The Department of Sustainability, Environment, Water, Population and Communities released the State of Knowledge Report in 2001 titled Air Toxics and Indoor Air Quality in Australia in which indoor air pollutants are recognized as causing a wide range of health effects and the National Health and Medical Research Council (NHMRC) have set a number of interim national indoor air quality goals as a result.

The pollutants to come under NHMRC scrutiny include Carbon Monoxide (CO), Formaldehyde, Ozone, Particles and Total Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) all of which can be found in the buildings we live and work in every day.

There are very few studies to indicate the combined effects of many chemicals to human health. Health effects sometimes take years of constant low level exposure to appear and when they do appear are often extremely hard to recover from and can be associated with multiple chemical sensitivity (MCS) or chronic fatigue syndrome.

Indoor Air Quality in the Home

The home environment is often under estimated in terms of the potential for causing sickness. The position of the home to traffic routes, industrial activity and the wind patterns for the area will often determine the level of pollutants that can be introduced from the outside air, but the main air pollution sources for homes comes from within the home itself.

Volatile Organic Compounds and specific VOC’s such as formaldehyde are found in such a wide array of building materials and products used indoors that they pose one of the greatest sources of indoor air quality concern.

Other forms of VOC’s include items we use everyday such as household cleaning products, insect sprays used inside, cosmetics and any type of product that has used glues or plastics will release VOC’s adding to the total concentration.

The other major indoor air pollutant is from the use of natural gas for cooking and heating. This poses a significant concern when the byproducts of gas combustion such as carbon monoxide, nitrogen dioxide and particulates aren’t vented to the outside by a flue and toxic concentrations build up in tightly sealed buildings. Closeness to major roads is also a factor in exposing building occupants to further byproducts from vehicle exhaust including particulate matter and carbon monoxide.

Dust mites are around 2 to 300 microns long and live in a fine layer of dust that is constantly settling on household items. The dust mite allergen is particularly exposed to humans through faecal matter and thrive in warm, humid environments.

The other major factor for indoor air quality in homes is the growth of mould and other bacteria. Mould spores are all around us but require excess moisture to proliferate and can then grow on any organic material including painted surfaces, in carpet and on furniture. The higher the level of mould spores in a home the higher the probability of adverse health effects to the occupants.

Home Indoor Air Quality Audit

The envirodetox home consult involves a cost effective analysis with a focus on identifying any of the parameters suspected of causing health problems.

•  Moisture source identification through using a protimeter for the indoor and outdoor surfaces of the home and trained observation.

• Measurement of the parameters of the home including relative humidity and temperature.

•  Measurement of Carbon Monoxide Levels using a portable carbon monoxide meter model DY 881.

• Detailed room by room analysis for evidence of dust and dust mites, VOC’s, mould and bacteria, chemicals and toxic gases.
• If any areas are identified as a major concern further testing can be carried out with any of the methods listed in the work place audit service.
  
  

Indoor Air Quality in the Workplace

Mechanically ventilated office buildings often fail to meet ventilation guidelines and create stuffy indoor air that can cause of headache, drowsiness and irritancy.

The well documented sick building syndrome is a consequence of poor indoor air quality which is associated with the following syndromes;

• Irritated, dry or watering eyes
• Irritated, runny or blocked nose.
• Dry or sore throat.
• Dryness, itching or irritation of the skin, occasionally with rash.
• Headache, tiredness or lethargy.

Section 8.24 of OH&S Code of Practice Part 8 – Indoor Air Quality states: ‘An employer, whether the controller of the air system or not, has a duty of care under section 16 of the Act to do all that is reasonably practicable to ensure that the indoor air quality in the workplace is clean and without risk to the health and safety of employees and others.’

Workplace Indoor Quality Audit

The following indoor air quality testing services are offered by Envirodetox for any commercial or public premises including offices, hotels, restaurants and retail outlets;

• Assessment of general indoor air quality parameters including relative humidity, temperature and carbon dioxide and an understanding of ventilation flow rates due to natural and mechanical ventilation (HVAC systems).

• Specific Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s) can be tested for comparison to TWA and STEL guidelines obtained from national exposure standards. These results are obtained by active sampling that can then be analysed in the lab. This is intensive sampling that normally requires a minimum of 8 hours per sample in the test area.

• Total VOC concentrations are measured instantaneously by using a Photo Ionisation Detector (PID). This is a direct sampling technique that enables many multiple readings to gauge if there is a potential problem pertaining to VOC’s.

• Combustion gas analysis can be provided to ensure levels  associated with natural gas combustion and vehicle exhaust are not surpassing dangerous concentrations.
  

• Ultrafine Particulates are measured directly by using the P-TRAK Ultrafine Particle Counter. Ultrafine particulates have an aerodynamic diameter of less than 0.1 microns (100nm) and can penetrate deeply into the lungs.

• Mould and bacteria is detected using bioaerosol sampling. The sample is then analysed in a certified laboratory for mould spore and bacteria levels and specific cultures present. Moisture sources for mould are also measured using a protimeter in all relevant building substrates.

     Potential sources of dust mites, pollens, heavy metals and chemicals are also identified through observation.

These parameters can all affect the indoor comfort levels and contribute to adverse health effects. An important aspect of indoor air quality is what air is being introduced from the external environment. The two main areas of external introduction of pollutants are through the external air conditioning intake valve(s) and building openings such as windows and doors. This is especially relevant if these external points for the building are located close to high traffic roads, exhaust fans, train lines and any other pollution source.

In assessing the potential exposure to building occupants it is important to compare the concentrations obtained against officially recognised standards (where applicable) and building biology standards. The majority of parameters for indoor air quality are not officially standardised for interiors, but there are several guidelines that are used including the American Society for Heating, Refrigeration and Air-conditioning Engineers ASHRAE 55-2004 and National Occupational Health & safety Commission (NOHSC).