Indoor Air Quality Sampling

Common and Uncommon Reasons for Indoor Air Quality Sampling

Understanding Indoor Air Quality

The three most common reasons for indoor air quality sampling include radon, mold, and volatile organic compounds. But, there are a number of other contaminants that you may not be aware of.

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs) encompass a large range of chemicals that are found in many products of which are used on a daily basis. VOC’s include petroleum-based products, solvents, cleaners and degreasers. According to the EPA, VOC’s are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOC’s include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short or long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOC’s are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOC’s are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.

Chemicals byproducts are widely used as ingredients in many household products. Paints, primers, varnishes and sealants all contain volatile solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, and degreasing. All of these products can admit gases into the atmosphere conditions while you are using them.

Pre-Sampling Inspection

A pre-sampling inspection should be performed prior to each sampling event to identify conditions that may affect or interfere with the proposed testing. The inspection should evaluate the type of structure, floor layout, physical conditions, and airflows within the structure.

Potential sources of chemicals of concern should be evaluated within the structure by conducting a product inventory. The primary objective of the product inventory is to identify potential air sampling interference by characterizing the occurrence and use of chemicals and products throughout the structure, the goal of the investigation is to identify site specific contaminants of concern. It is not necessary to provide detailed information for each individual container of like items. However, it is necessary to indicate the volume of chemicals that were present within each container. This information is used to help formulate the indoor environment profile.This is important because even products stored in another area of a building can affect the air of the room being tested.

Category – 1 Contaminates

Category – 2 Contaminates

ASBESTOS
CARBON MONOXIDE (CO)
LEAD PARTICLES
MOLD
NITROGEN DIOXIDE (NO2)
RADON
SEWAGE GAS

SOOT, SMOKE, FURNACES, FIREPLACES AND AC
CARPET FUMES
DRY CLEANING
FORMALDEHYDE FUMES IN FURNITURE
ARTS AND CRAFTS
TOXINS IN NONSTICK POTS AND PANS
SECONDHAND SMOKE

RADON

Radon is a naturally-occurring radioactive gas that can cause lung cancer. Radon gas is inert, colorless and odorless. Radon is naturally in the atmosphere in trace amounts. Outdoors, radon disperses rapidly and, generally, is not a health issue. Most radon exposure occurs inside structures. Radon gas becomes trapped indoors after it enters structures through cracks and other holes in the foundation. Indoor radon can be controlled and managed with proven, cost-effective techniques.

Breathing radon over time increases your risk of lung cancer. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States. Nationally, the EPA estimates that about 21,000 people die each year from radon-related lung cancer. Only smoking causes more lung cancer deaths.

You can take steps to reduce and control the amount of radon in your structure. Testing is the only way to determine radon levels. Have your structure tested, either by a professional or with a do-it-yourself structure test kit. If radon levels are high, contact a certified radon service professional to review your options. EPA guidance suggests mitigating if levels are at or above 148 Bq/m³ (4 pCi/L). Usually, radon problems are fixed using an underground ventilation system or by increasing the rate of air changes in the structure.

ASBESTOS

Asbestos is a mineral fiber that naturally occurs in rocks and soils. Because of its fiber strength and heat resistance it has been used in a variety of building construction materials for insulation and as a fire-retardant. Asbestos has been used in a wide range of manufactured goods, mostly in:

Building Materials
- Roofing Shingles
- Ceiling & Floor Tiles
- Paper Products

Friction Products
- Automobile Clutch
- Automobile Brakes
- Seals & Gaskets

Heat-Resistant Fabrics
- Piping Insulation
- Heating Duck Work
- Coatings

Elevated concentrations of airborne asbestos can occur after asbestos-containing materials are disturbed by cutting, sanding or other remodeling activities. Improper attempts to remove these materials can release asbestos fibers into the air in structures, increasing asbestos levels and endangering people living in those structures.

BIOLOGICAL CONTAMINANTS

Biological contaminants include bacteria, viruses, animal dander and cat saliva, air born dust, mites, cockroaches, and pollen. There are many sources of these pollutants. By controlling the relative humidity level in a structure, the growth of some sources of biologicals can be minimized. A relative humidity of 30-50 percent is generally recommended for structure. Standing water, water-damaged materials or wet surfaces also serve as a breeding ground for molds, mildews, bacteria and insects. Air born dust and mites are the source of one of the most powerful biological allergens, grow in damp, warm environments.