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Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) refers to the air quality within and around buildings and structures, especially as it relates to the health and comfort of building occupants. Understanding and controlling common pollutants indoors can help reduce your risk of indoor health concerns.
Scope
The two main causes of indoor air quality problems are indoor pollution sources and improper ventilation. Common pollutants found in the workplace include tobacco smoke, asbestos, formaldehyde, cleaning agents, air fresheners, mold, radon, carbon monoxide, paints, pesticides, and adhesives — just to name a few. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant levels by not bringing in sufficient outside air to dilute emissions from indoor sources, and by not carrying indoor pollutants outside of the facility. High temperatures and humidity levels can also increase concentrations of certain pollutants.
In addition, poorly located vents can even pull in outdoor air pollutants such as diesel exhaust, boiler emissions, or fumes from dumpsters. Dirty ventilation systems can harbor biological indoor air pollutants such as molds, germs, and other contaminants, and they can circulate dirt and soot throughout the workplace.
Regulatory citations
- None
Key definitions
- Building related illness (BRI): A specific illness that has been diagnosed and attributed directly to airborne building contaminants.
- Secondhand smoke: The smoke inhaled involuntarily by people around a smoker.
- Sick building syndrome: Any number of symptoms or illnesses that are caused by exposures to unidentified contaminants in indoor air.
- Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): Organic chemical compounds whose composition makes it possible for them to evaporate under normal indoor atmospheric conditions of temperature and pressure.
Summary of requirements
- Conduct an assessment of your facility’s indoor air quality.
- If need be, hire the services of an industrial hygienist or other professional who can take measurements and offer recommendations.
- Locate dumpsters, smoking areas, chemical storage, and other sources of odors or emissions away from building air intakes.