Project Category: IAQ Pollutants

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering [...]

The Basics Molds are microscopic fungi that can be found almost anywhere, both indoors and outdoors. Mold can grow anywhere that satisfies four primary conditions: Presence of mold spores – spores are everywhere, and it is very difficult if not impossible to remove them completely. Appropriate growth surface or nutrient source – molds are adaptable [...]

Formaldehyde is a colorless, flammable, strong-smelling (pickle-like odor) chemical that is present both indoors and outdoors (occurring naturally). Formaldehyde is volatile, and will readily convert to a gas from a solid or liquid state.   It is released into the air from many products inside the home. When an item gives off formaldehyde, it is released [...]

There’s more to dust than dust mites The average home collects 40 pounds of dust every year; and it isn’t just small particles of dirt. How much dust you have in your home depends on several factors including where you live, the season, how many people live in your home, whether you have pets, and [...]

What is Secondhand Smoke? Tobacco smoke contains more than 7,000 chemicals, including hundreds that are toxic and about 70 that can cause cancer. Secondhand smoke is smoke from the burning end of tobacco products, such as cigarettes, cigars, or pipes; and smoke that has been exhaled, or breathed out, by the person smoking. Particles from [...]

Environmental Factors Today, we spend ~90% of our time indoors, either at home or in the workplace. This move towards a sedentary indoor lifestyle may contribute towards the increase in asthma seen in Western societies over the past 30 years. Allergy is the price we pay for this comfortable lifestyle. The changes that we have [...]