Air pollution & your health
- We spend approximately 90% of our lives indoors. While a large portion of this is spent at home, a considerable amount of our time is also spent at the workplace.
- The recirculation of air in most professional and industrial buildings causes accumulation of toxic pollutants; the level of indoor pollutants can be 25% – 62% higher than outdoor levels.
- Indoor air pollutants have been scientifically linked to causing cancer, heart disease, and serious respiratory illnesses.
Air Quality
Indoor air quality testing is an important part of determining how healthy your surroundings are. The recirculation of air in most buildings causes accumulation of pollutants such that the level of indoor pollution can be 100 times higher than outdoor levels. Since most people spend the bulk of their time indoors, it is imperative that air quality is closely monitored to ensure a healthy environment.
Chemicals (cleaners, cosmetics, personal care products, paints, solvents, pesticides, nicotine, glue, etc.), bacteria, dust, mold, and other unwanted matter circulate amongst your indoor air continuously. Heavy concentrations of these materials can irritate your eyes, nose, and throat; trigger headaches, cause loss of coordination and nausea. In addition, your liver, kidneys, and central nervous system can also be permanently impacted. Children and the elderly are particularly vulnerable, as are pets. In fact, pets are often the ones who show signs of illness first.
For a number of years, Respiratory Therapists have noted a dramatic increase in respiratory diseases; not only in children and the elderly but also in healthy adults. Polluted indoor air is a major culprit.
Our Air Quality Inspector will provide you with a comprehensive written report on the test findings. He will also make recommendations on how you can improve the indoor air quality of your home or office.
Our indoor air quality and mold testing specialists are both thorough and professionally trained. We continuously upgrade our industry knowledge and maintain the most current certifications.
Mold
Mold spores not only result in major property damage; they also contain toxins that can cause severe allergic reactions and other respiratory diseases. Inspection Channel mold inspectors are trained and equipped to detect mold and prevent its further spreading, protecting you and your family from breathing in harmful toxins.
Asbestos
Asbestos was used in pipe insulation, roofing and siding shingles, textured paint patching compounds and vinyl floor tiles up until the 1970s. Since then, asbestos has been linked to lung cancer and other pulmonary complications. Not knowing if your house has asbestos. Let Inspection Channel home inspectors conduct a comprehensive asbestos test.
Bacteria
Environmental bacteria can cause harmful health issues. Since bacteria are present virtually everywhere, it is important to have a sound understanding of bacteria categories and the respective tests for each type. Inspection Channel home inspectors test for harmful bacteria by analyzing: air samples, bulk samples, surface swabs, duct samples and water samples
Indoor pollutants such as gases, mold, pollen, and chemicals like radon and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are released into the working environment every hour of every day. While the obvious culprits – gasoline, pesticides, tobacco smoke, coal, and other harsh chemicals are usually forbidden at indoor workplaces, less conspicuous pollutants found in building materials, household products, furniture, central heating/cooling systems, even caulking on window frames, are often overlooked and continuously emit pollutants into the air that you and your coworkers breathe.
- Biological contaminants such as mold, bacteria, mildew, dust mites, and other insects can transmit illnesses such as the flu and even measles. They can also trigger allergic reactions and cause digestive problems.
- Formaldehyde is found in office furniture. It irritates the eyes and the mucous membranes of the ear, nose, and throat, and can cause asthma and impair the central nervous system.
- Chemicals found in common household cleaning products can irritate the respiratory tract, cause headaches, dizziness, and vision impairment. They may also affect memory function and have been linked to cancer.
- Indoor radon exposure is the second-leading cause of lung cancer in the U.S. Radon enters your workplace through the building foundation and is then dispersed by centralized heating and cooling systems.
The US Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) claims that health effects from indoor air pollutants may be experienced soon after exposure or, possibly, years later. Such sicknesses are commonly classified as
Building-Related Illnesses- divided into two subcategories: short-term and long-term illnesses.
Short-term Illnesses
These may arise after a single exposure or after a small number of repeated exposures. In most cases, the symptoms disappear when the worker leaves the building.
- Symptoms include:
- Headache
- Nausea
- Allergies
- Eye, nose, throat and skin irritation
- Dizziness
- Muscle pain
- Fatigue
Long-term Illnesses
These may not be diagnosed until years after exposure, or they may arise from repeated exposure over a prolonged period of time. The ailments involved are
usually much more serious than those displayed in short-term illnesses as they can lead to severe incapacitation, and in some cases, even death.
Related illnesses include:
- Cancer
- Respiratory diseases
- Heart diseases
- Central nervous system degeneration
Pollutants are circulating through your office air vents. The health hazard level of pollutants ranges from low to extremely high. Because pollutants can be colourless, odourless and airborne, they are simply not detectable with the naked eye and nose. Hence, you need an accurate assessment of the quality of your indoor air in order to ensure the safety and wellbeing of your employees.
Inspection Channel will make sure that your work environment is safe. We use the latest diagnostic technology to perform Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) analysis, air sampling, odour testing, HVAC assessments and duct-work analysis. If an airborne hazard is found, we take immediate and professional steps to remedy the cause.
At the end of your assessment, we will issue your company an Air Quality Testing certificate which can be permanently displayed for all clients and employees to see.