Symptoms of poor IAQ are as seeming simple as an odd smell in the air, to more extreme, where bad air may make people sick.
It can be very difficult to pin point the cause of the air quality degradation due to the wide variety of causes and the different immunity and sensitivity levels of people.
Some of the common reasons for air problems are carbon monoxide, mold, and fabrics.
The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) did a study and found that in 500 cases, the top reasons for IAQ problems were: Inadequate ventilation, an indoor contamination, and outdoor contamination, microbial contamination, and contamination from building fabric.
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Hi, we have a tenant who is 65, has had a heart bypass about 5-6 years ago and now is having health problems, such as dizzy spells, headaches, lack of appetite etc… he thinks it might be the air in the house, he thinks that there is mold spores floating around, I need to do a simple air quality test, to find out if there are spores in the air. Is there a container I can get take samples and send them away to find out if anything is in the air? One company around here wants to come and do a 7-800$ home evaluation, all I need to know is if there is mold spores in the air, can you point me in the right direction. Thank-you, Nadine
We had a bad fire extinguisher in the office and it has been rwmoved. There is a odor over the last 3 weeks that has mad e everyone sick..symptoms…odor absorbed into fpod in a zip loc bag. Sever headaches..numbness on tongue..coughing burning in the back of the throat..poor energy..bodyaches…nausea.. could this stem from what was leaking. they had the carpets clwaned but the smell is still there. They were really offended that we were making a big deal out pf thia but they have not gotten anyone in to test rhe air quality on the office. She told is that whatever it was was not harmful in small doses ..i am concerned for my health..i have had alot of dizzy spells and lightheadedness. I feel fine at homw until i get to work and smell that odor. It almost smells like tonor from an ink cartraige but the fire extinguisher had been leaking to what do we
do
We’ve had a problem with an odor for a few years now in a retail bank branch. Comes and goes, some days really bad – others not so. Not as much a sewer gas smell, more of an organic type. Branch is in between two restaurants (Both which are kept fairly clean and no odors present). Seems to be in the front portion of the space most of the time but has drifted occasionally. I thought it was associated to weather but cant really pinpoint if it’s worse when it rains, windy, or just hot & still outside.
In an effort to locate that cause, we have done the following (and made corrections if felt it might be a cause):
Camera all vent stacks
Pour water down all drains
Enclosed the return air plenum (previously was plenum return, now closed ducted).
Fresh air intakes have been ducted toward the front of the building away from any vent stacks or exhaust fans
Stafford county jetted all exterior lines.
Air quality test showed “something” in the air – but no solution as to what/where.
Peppermint test on lines
Smoke test on lines
Opened walls to see if cavity had signs of it – nothing.
No signs of any mold/mildew growth or buildup.
At a loss as to what the source could be or it’s location. Running out of ideas or options and do not know who to bring in next.
Thoughts?
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