Why should indoor air quality concern me?
What contributes to poor indoor air quality?
What contaminants contribute to poor Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?
Does my Home or Office have an Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problem?
What are the primary sources of air pollution?
Why is controlled ventilation essential?
Can ozone be dangerous?
Why is ozone so dangerous for my health?
What does MCS mean?
What does VOC means?
Can houseplants purify your indoor air?

Q: Why should indoor air quality concern me?
A: Today’s modern homes are sealed tight to insulate us from the cold and heat as a result air circulation is kept to a minimum. Our indoor air meanwhile, contains minute particles such as dust, pet dander, pollen and mold spores that can aggravate asthma, allergies and other respiratory problems. In addition, many of today's cleaning products, furniture, carpets and building materials release chemicals, which also end up in the air we breathe. What’s most sobering is that fact that while our bodies have natural defenses against air borne particles, we have no natural defense against airborne chemicals! These, in fact, can go straight into the blood stream! A high efficiency air cleaner can help neutralize airborne particles, chemical and odors. AllerAir

Source: ENERGY STAR

1. Study up - Find out about license and insurance requirements for contractors in your state. And before you call a contractor, know the model of your current system and its maintenance history. Also make note of any uncomfortable rooms. This will help potential contractors better understand your heating needs.

2. Consider certified professionals - Look for a contractor who employs technicians certified by Source: NATE (North American Technician Excellence) , the leading industry-supported testing and certification program.

SOURCE American Lung Association

-- Control pollution at its sources. Do not allow smoking inside your
home. Test your home for radon, a radioactive gas that is the
second leading cause of lung cancer deaths. If the radon levels are
high, install a radon ventilation system. Check you home's smoke and
carbon monoxide alarms regularly. Replace batteries at least every
six months. If you are allergic to dust mites, slip a mite-barrier
mattress cover and pillow case on your bed and wash your bedding in

Source: U.S. Newswire

4/4/2005

YONKERS, N.Y. April 4 /U.S. Newswire/ —- The May issue of Consumer Reports (CR) presents new concerns about ionizing air cleaners: among five models that did a poor job of cleaning the air, several can expose users to potentially harmful ozone levels. Months of unbiased testing and expert investigation demonstrate why the five ionizing models with poor performance, including those with relatively high ozone generation, are "Not Recommended".

Ozone from ionizing air cleaners is a growing concern as sales increase. People with asthma or respiratory allergies are especially sensitive to indoor ozone, an irritant that can worsen asthma, deaden sense of smell, raise sensitivity to pollen and mold, and may cause permanent lung damage.

Source: The University of Arizona Department of Risk Management & Safety

Poor indoor air quality is more likely to be present during construction and renovation activities. Dust and odors migrating out of the work area and into occupied spaces can disrupt normal building operations, degrade the facility and, under worst case scenarios, cause injury or illness to occupants. The mere presence of detectable dust or odors from a project, even at harmless levels, may trigger occupant concerns based on perceived hazards.

When performing or coordinating construction or remodeling activities, follow these common sense guidelines to minimize indoor air quality complaints.

Source: Global Direct Services

You Need an Air Purifier for Allergen, Virus, Odor and Gas Control.

Your choice of air purifier depends on what you are trying to achieve. For instance, if your main
goal is to clear the air of allergens, you should choose an air purifier which would remove the large particulates such as pollen with a pre-filter, but also smaller allergens, which would be particulates from 0.3 to 5 microns in size. An air purifier with a pre-filter can remove smaller allergens which include mold, bacteria, animal dander, fumes, and house dust mite allergens. A Hepa filter air purifier would trap particulates of this size and remove them from the air in your room. However, it is important to note that more than 90% of all particulates are 0.3 of a micron and smaller in size.

Source: air-purifiers-101.com

Lets start at the beginning before we discuss ozone air purifiers and what to watch out for. Ozone is a normal trace element that exists in the Earth's atmosphere. Activated oxygen, another name for ozone, is a three-atom form of pure oxygen (which has two atoms). When ozone comes into contact with pollutants it loses one of its atoms and "oxidizes" the pollutant, thereby destroying it.
Ozone air purifiers use electricity to produce ozone and then release into into the air to "seek and destroy" pollutants. Sounds great, but there are some important drawbacks to consider.

All Reviews of the top 10 air purifiers available on the market today publised at air-purifiers-101.com

Now, on to the list...

Top 10 Air Purifiers:

1. Oreck Super Air 8
2. Sharper Image Ionic Breeze GP
3. Friedrich C-90A
4. Sharper Image Ionic Breeze Quadra
5. Blueair 601
6. Bionaire BAP1300 Quietech HEPA
7. Honeywell HEPA 50250
8. Hunter Quietflo 30400
9. Vornado AQ535
10. Hunter HEPAtech 30375

All of these factors were considered when experts tested and compiled the list of the 10 best air purifiers available today.

Source: Air Quality Sciences: IAQ resource center

The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that indoor air can be as much as 100 times more polluted than outdoor air. The following briefly describes the types of pollutants that can be found in commercial buildings. Articles on specific indoor pollutants can be accessed via the navigation menu on the right side of this page.

Volatile Organic Compounds

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are the most prevalent of indoor air pollutants, and their levels may be ten to thousands of times higher in indoor environments than found in the outdoor air. . They also are the most studied of all indoor pollutants. Results of various studies have found that there may be anywhere from 50 up to hundreds of individual VOCs in the indoor air. The majority of VOCs are found to emit from indoor materials and processes. Some may produce odors at very low levels that some building occupants may consider objectionable. Many VOCs are irritants and can cause headaches and eye, nose and throat irritation, and dizziness. At high concentrations, some VOCs are toxic. Formaldehyde and toluene are the most prevalent of all VOCs

Source: RPF Associates

National television, magazine and newsprint retell the many stories of buildings contaminated with molds. Frequently these buildings require costly decontamination to restore them for public use. Whether a single-family home, condominium complex or multimillion dollar high-rise office building, mold can cause significant outcry, sick occupants, unfavorable publicity and costly repairs for building contractors and building owners. Many of these stories are from the southern and mid-west US where humidity levels, rain or flooding are more likely to create environments where mold can proliferate. However, indoor air quality (IAQ) and sick building syndrome cases related to mold are becoming more and more common throughout New England.