Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Some risks are simply unavoidable. Some we choose to accept because to do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead our lives the way we want. What are the risks we could choose to avoid if we had the opportunity to make an informed choice? Indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.

NH COSH has been involved with bringing the principles of the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Indoor Air Quality “Tools for Schools” program (www.epa.gov/iaq/schools) to schools since 1995. We have facilitated the development of IAQ teams in over a hundred schools throughout the state. Our one-on-one assistance brings common sense and order to indoor air quality issues that can be handled in-house. We continue to offer our help and wisdom through our consultation services. We can be reached Monday through Friday from 9 am to 4 pm at (603) 226-0516.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) www.epa.gov has prepared and maintained many materials that are free to the public on issues around or connected to indoor air quality in homes, schools, buildings, and work places. This information was developed with the consumer in mind to help you decide whether to take action to reduce the level of indoor air pollution in your surroundings.

In the last several years, growing scientific evidence has indicated that the air within homes, schools, and other buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air even in the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their time indoors. For many people, the risk to health may be greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.

Groups at risk include children, the elderly, and the chronically ill, especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular disease.

Pollution sources vary from building to building. They can include combustion sources such as oil, gas, kerosene, coal, wood, and tobacco products. Deteriorating building materials and furnishings, asbestos, damp carpets, pressed wood products, household cleaning and maintenance products, industrial cleaners, personal care products, and hobby products all can contribute to indoor air pollution. Heating, cooling, and dehumidification systems, as well as outdoor sources such as pesticides and diesel exhaust, can add pollution to our buildings. Some pollutants can be released over a long period of time. Other sources can be released and dissipate quickly. Adequate ventilation will help reduce the amount of pollution entering the home, school or work place. Ventilation also helps in diluting any build-up of pollutants within a building.

Rain, especially heavy rain, brings a higher risk of mold growth in our homes, schools and buildings. It is important before closing up our homes, schools, and buildings for the winter months that we check moist areas for mold growth. See NH Department of Environmental Services factsheet “Mold in the Home – Common Sense Steps for Clean-up.”

With a little research you can gain information that will help you make informed choices for your environment whether it be your home, your children’s school, or your work place. Most require only common sense actions. The choice is yours.