indoor environment: Colds, Sniffles, And Indoor Air Quality
- 02/13/11 01:49 PM
Colds, Sniffles, And Indoor Air Quality Just about everyone I know is either dealing with a cold, just got over a cold, or has someone in their house dealing with a cold. So, in honor of those of us on AR fighting off colds, the flu, and other nasty airborne problems, consider these facts from the National Institute of Health and from the International Indoor Air Quality Commission:
In winter, children with persistent cold-like symptoms (PCLS) have up to 3 times higher symptom scores directly related to the mold count in their homes. Respiratory infections are the leading cause of … (2 comments)
indoor environment: Health Dangers of Carbon Monoxide
- 01/23/11 03:37 PM
Health Dangers of Carbon Monoxide Carbon Monoxide (CO) is a colorless, odorless and tasteless gas that is a by-product of incomplete combustion of solid, liquid and gaseous fuels. In our homes, CO is produced most often by appliances that burn natural gas, liquefied petroleum (LP), oil, kerosene and even wood. CO is also produced (and in many cases introduced into the home) by our cars and burning charcoal. Carbon Monoxide is highly toxic, even at fairly low levels and obviously the symptoms of CO poisoning become more pronounced at higher levels. Since CO is colorless, odorless and tasteless it can only … (3 comments)
indoor environment: Can Humidity Levels Be Too Low?
- 01/23/11 03:30 PM
Can Humidity Levels Be Too Low? We often hear about controlling humidity in terms of too much humidity. We hear lots about strategies to keep humidity levels low. But can the humidity level get too low?Yes. If the relative humidity in the home gets too low, occupants will suffer problems with their air quality and comfort.Some common problems associated with low humidity levels include: Static electricity Damaged furniture Dry itchy skin and skin disorders Sore throats Nose irritation or bleeding Spread germs Viruses Bacteria Respiratory infections Uncomfortable living conditions In very dry environments the mucous membranes in the nose and throat … (0 comments)
indoor environment: Facts About Mold
- 01/16/11 03:40 PM
Facts About Mold Sometimes molds are not easy to recognize. They often look like a simple stain or smudge. Mold growths have a variety of appearances ranging in color from white, orange, green, gray, brown or black. An easy way to identify a mold is to dab suspected areas with a drop of chlorine bleach. If it changes colors or disappears, the stain is likely organic and probably mold. Molds can live for years in a dormant state. However, once there is enough moisture present (from increased humidity or moisture intrusion) and they have a food source, they once again can … (1 comments)
indoor environment: Types of Indoor Air Contaminants
- 01/16/11 03:23 PM
Types of Indoor Air Contaminants When dealing with indoor air quality, it is important to determine potential sources of air problems. Even though the presence of such sources does not necessarily mean there is an indoor air quality problem, being aware of the number of potential sources is an essential step in the analysis and determination of air quality problems. The importance of any of these sources depends on the amount released of a given pollutant and how hazardous it is.
… (1 comments)
indoor environment: Why Is Indoor Air Quality Such A Concern?
- 01/16/11 02:54 PM
Why Is Indoor Air Quality Such A Concern With So Many Agencies And Organizations? I've heard a lot of people ask that question. Since January has been designated National Radon Awareness Month, I've heard a lot of people (some of them real estate agents) talking that this is all hype. So, why is indoor air quality a big deal?
According the the EPA, most people spend more than 90% of their time indoors... with 65% of that spent at home. Since most of us spend so much time inside, indoor pollution concentrations (even if they are uniformly … (3 comments)
indoor environment: Reading The Tube On A Radon Mitigation System
- 01/08/11 05:43 AM
Reading The Tube On A Radon Mitigation System I was asked a question about reading a radon system a few days ago, and it gave me the idea for a post. After all, this is National Radon Awareness Month. Now how about an explanation about radon and how the detectors are SUPPOSED to work, and how the blue fluid is supposed to register...would be very interested to know b/c in my condo on the first floor they put in these things and not one person can tell me if the levels should both be at zero or what...thanks.
What The … (8 comments)
indoor environment: Taking A Deep Breath Of Radioactive Decay
- 01/07/11 03:06 PM
Taking A Deep Breath Of Radioactivity We all have heard about radon gas. It is colorless, tasteless and odorless, and produced courtesy of the decay of uranium and radium in the ground. But what exactly makes radon gas so dangerous? Radioactivity.
What does "radioactive" mean, anyway. Let's take a look at the element hydrogen. At the left, we have an electron and a proton... no problem, it is stable. In the middle picture, we add a neutron. Again, no big deal, the hydrogen is stable. But in the picture on the right, we add a second neutron, and … (5 comments)
indoor environment: Cleaning Your Indoor Air
- 01/02/11 02:12 PM
leaning Your Indoor Air If you have a forced air system, it sends heated air through the supply ducts and return the air back to the furnace through the return ducts. And during the warm months, the same ductwork handles the distribution of cool air. So, if you have the forced air system, you regularly change your filters, right?
Forced air systems can be one of the biggest contributors to indoor air quality contaminants if not maintained. On average, the HVAC system is responsible for 50%-60% of a building's indoor air quality problems.
Many of you know that awful feeling... the sneezing, the runny nose, the watery eyes, the... well, you get the idea. Allergies are a common disorder here in the United States. In fact, around 50 million Americans suffer from either seasonal or chronic allergies, including about 2.5 million people right here in Michigan. Nationwide, they cost the health care system about $18 billion a year. Allergies are caused by oreign substances (typically small proteins) that are most often eaten or inhaled. These substances come from a number of sources like molds, dust mites, animal dander and pollen. … (5 comments)
indoor environment: Preventing (Or Dealing With) Ice Dams On Michigan Roofs
- 12/26/10 12:18 PM
Preventing (Or Dealing With) Ice Dams On Michigan Roofs Most ice dams form at the edge of the roof, where it is colder. Approaching the top of the roof, the temperatures rise, heated by the warm air rising through the house, into the attic. In a house, heat moves through the ceiling and insulation by conduction (heat energy going through a solid) through the ceiling. In many homes, there is little space in regions like this for insulation, so it is important to use insulations with high R-value per inch to reduce heat loss by conduction. Convection (rising air) heat contributes … (0 comments)
indoor environment: Reducing Radon Levels in Michigan Well Water
- 12/26/10 10:25 AM
Reducing Radon Levels in Michigan Well Water A few days ago, I wrote about radon in Michigan drinking water... specifically, well water. As promised, here is the information on reducing radon -- if you have a dangerous amount in your tested sample.
U.S. Standards and Michigan Standards The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has a danger level for radon levels in a house: 4.0 pCi/L. (If this pCi/L scale doesn't make sense, please read this brief explanation to get up-to-speed.) Unfortunately, the EPA has not issued a similar danger level for public water supplies (although standards are in the works) -- … (0 comments)
indoor environment: Radon in Michigan's Drinking Water
- 12/22/10 03:31 PM
Radon in Michigan's Drinking Water We are all familiar with radon gas and the problem it presents in certain homes... but did you know it can be in the drinking water as well?
Radon -- A Quick Primer Radon gas has no color, odor, or taste and comes from the natural radioactive breakdown of uranium in the ground. Most of the radon in indoor air comes from soil underneath the home. They way we usually see it, at least here in Metro Detroit, is that uranium breaks down, forming radon gas and seeping into the house. Radon from soil can … (7 comments)
indoor environment: The Long-Term Effects Of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning
- 12/19/10 08:52 AM
The Long-term Effects of Carbon Monoxide Poisoning Why is carbon monoxide, also known as CO, such a potentially deadly gas? Why can it have devastating short-term and long-term effects upon your life? Assuming, of course, that it doesn’t kill you. One reason is that CO is the silent killer. We can't taste CO, smell CO, or see CO. Unless you have a special instrument to detect the gas, you won't know there is a problem -- unless you are alert to the symptoms of CO poisoning.
Now For The Really Bad News A person may suffer short-term effects, long-term … (2 comments)
indoor environment: Reducing Exposure To VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds)
- 12/19/10 08:37 AM
Reducing Exposure To VOCs (Volatile Organic Compounds) Exposure to VOCs (volatile organic compounds) can cause on health issues. Once people understand the potential dangers of excessive exposure, they begin to wonder: What Can I Do To Reduce My Exposure? The first piece of advice is to contact an indoor air quality professional. Although home screening kits are available to measure total volatile organic compound (TVOC) levels, they are of limited use and won’t correct volatile organic compounds problems. IAQ Professionals will conduct an inspection of your home or office for the sources of VOCs, then offer solutions to reduce your exposure. … (0 comments)
indoor environment: Michigan Homes And Sewer Gases
- 12/15/10 05:19 PM
Michigan Homes And Sewer Gases Did you ever have a yucky smell coming from your drain? You just might have a problem with sewer gases.
When waste in sewer or septic systems decompose, they create sewer gases, which can have a really nasty impact on a resident's health. Sewer gas is a complex mixture of toxic and non-toxic gases that can be present at varying levels depending upon the source. It is formed during the decay of household and industrial waste. Highly toxic components of sewer gas include hydrogen sulfide and ammonia. Sewer gas also contains methane, carbon dioxide, sulfur … (2 comments)
But quality air is just as important as warm air. Many of us see that humidistat on the furnace and wonder what to set it at. How do we make sure our air is both healthy and comfortable?
Step One: No Leaking Ductwork But, before we get into the right humidity level for our houses, let's look at one thing that will defeat our efforts to … (2 comments)
indoor environment: Carbon Monoxide: Staying Safe During Winter
- 12/12/10 12:21 PM
Carbon Monoxide: Staying Safe During Winter Carbon monoxide is an odorless, colorless and toxic gas. And since it is impossible to see, taste or smell the toxic fumes, it can kill you before you are aware it is in your home. CO gets into the house by incomplete combustion of gases -- which means that furnaces and water heaters are common culprits. So are stoves and leaking chimneys. Even auto exhaust from the garage.
CO And The Body Carbon Monoxide enters the body through the lungs, where it combines with blood hemoglobin (the substance that carries oxygen to our cells) … (4 comments)
indoor environment: Michigan Children and Lead Poisoning
- 11/21/10 02:48 PM
Michigan Children and Lead Poisoning Here in the Detroit area, we have quite an issue with our children and lead poisoning. Occasionally news stories turn up talking about the dangers of lead poisoning... but how can we avoid the lead in the first place? Where is lead likely to be a hazard?
Paint Chips & Dust Lead from paint chips (which you can see) and lead dust (which you can't) are serious hazards. Adults suffer most poisoning from working around lead dust, or carrying the dust home from a worksite to share with the family. Children are notorious for putting … (3 comments)
indoor environment: What Makes Radon Gas So Dangerous In Michigan Homes?
- 11/21/10 01:34 PM
What Makes Radon Gas So Dangerous In Michigan Homes? We all have heard about radon, the colorless, tasteless, odorless gas produced by the decay of uranium and radium. But what makes it so dangerous? And how likely is it to be a problem in the typical Michigan house?
Radioactivity The basic problem is this: radon is radioactive.
Take a look at the pictures above. This is hydrogen. At left we have an electron and a proton... no problem, it is stable. In the middle picture, we add a neutron. Again, no big deal, the hydrogen is stable. … (3 comments)
Colds, Sniffles, And Indoor Air Quality
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