Are your allergies acting up, but not sure why? Everyone in Seattle knows the air outside is bad, but is the air inside safe?
Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) is a term used to describe the quality of the air breathed by occupants of an indoor or enclosed environment, including buildings and vehicles of transport, such as planes, trains, ships and buses. Good IAQ is air that has no unwanted gases or particles in it that will adversely affect someone. Poor IAQ occurs when gases or particles are present and affect the health of occupants.
Occupants of buildings with poor IAQ report a wide range of short- and long-term health problems, including asthma, respiratory tract infections, allergic reactions, headaches, congestion, eye and skin irritations, coughing, sneezing, fatigue, dizziness and nausea. People generally notice their symptoms after several hours and feel better after they have left the building or when they have been away from the building for a weekend or a vacation. However, many of these symptoms may also be caused by other health conditions including common colds or the flu, and are not necessarily due to poor IAQ. This fact can make identifying and resolving IAQ problems difficult.
Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in enough outdoor air. High temperature and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of some pollutants. Other sources of indoor air pollution include: combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood and tobacco products; asbestos-containing insulation; wet or damp carpet; furniture made of certain pressed wood products; products for cleaning and maintenance; central heating and cooling systems and humidification devices; and outdoor sources such as radon, pesticides, and outdoor air pollution.
If you suspect that your office has an IAQ problem, please visit the Environmental Protection Agency's (EPA) web site on IAQ in offices.
Information on the EPA's IAQ Tools for Schools Program, which reduces exposure to indoor environmental contaminants in schools through the voluntary adoption of indoor air quality management practices, is also available.
You may also wish to view the following information:
Finally, information on outdoor air quality and the Air Quality Index is also available.