| Materials used in building construction and conditions resulting from property damage, or even poor maintenance and upkeep, can result in indoor air pollution that could jeopardize a person's health. Many of the sources of Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) problems (i.e. formaldehyde, mold, radon, etc.) can be easily prevented and corrected by simple measures. Therefore, to help homeowners and business owners recognize and correct problems they may be experiencing, the following sources have been pulled together for easy access to useful information and answers to solve indoor air pollution. The information consists of guidance on most IAQ issues, links to home testing kits, and associations of professional consultants should these services be desired or needed. Authorization and resources do not allow the MDEQ to visit homes and businesses to test for indoor pollution, but the agency is striving to be of assistance through the information it is making available here. mold mold mold mold mold mold mold mold mold. |
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 Information on Pollutants & Their Sources
Information on Pollutants & Their Sources
 Asbestos
Asthma & Allergies
Biological contaminants
Household Cleaning Chemicals and Sprays
Carbon Monoxide (CO)
CO is a colorless, odorless gas that interferes with the delivery of oxygen throughout the body. CO detectors are widely available.
Formaldehyde
Note on FEMA travel trailers and Emergency housing cottages:
http://www.cdc.gov/nceh/ehhe/trailerstudy/assessment.htm
The Centers for Disease Control (CDC) test results showed that levels of toxic formaldehyde in the remaining FEMA trailers were on average five times as high as normal due to building materials and poor ventilation. Formaldehyde is a common ingredient in pressed-wood products, including particle board, and can cause eye, nose, and throat irritation, wheezing and coughing, fatigue, skin rashes, headaches, nosebleeds, and severe allergic reactions.. Formaldehyde levels are generally much higher in the warmer months. Good ventilation can dilute and reduce levels quite a bit. The CDC is recommending that Katrina storm survivors be moved out. Most have been vacated. Families who live in travel trailers and mobile homes should do the following: spend as much time outdoors in fresh air as they can, especially if the family includes children, elderly people,or those with chronic diseases such as asthma; open windows as much as they can to let in fresh air; try to keep the temperature indoors at the lowest comfortable setting; not smoke, especially indoors; and see a doctor or another medical professional if they have health concerns. The Sierra Club in Mississippi is concerned that formaldehyde levels in the cottages could also be higher than normal if adequate ventilation and temperature control is not used.
Lead
Please visit MDEQ’s webpage on lead paint. Paint containing Lead and Cadmium can become airborne if sanded. Fine particles can be distributed and settle throughout the house via air ducts.
http://www.deq.state.ms.us/MDEQ.nsf/page/Air_Lead-BasedPaint?OpenDocument
Safe paint products with Green Seal approval can be found at the following site: http://www.greenseal.org/findaproduct/paints_coatings.cfm
Test Kits for Lead
For more information on detecting lead in your home and various do-it-yourself test kits, review the following study from Consumer Reports:
http://www.consumerreports.org
Insulation
Mold
Air Ducts
Pesticides
Radon
Smoke (Tobacco Smoke and Second hand smoke)
Aside from adding a decade to appearance, graying and wrinkling skin, becoming a gruff baritone, morning coughing, staining, stinching, and other annoyances, smoking can have some devastating health affects on everyone in the house especially if combined with other types of air pollution. Refer to the following sites for more information.
Air Cleaners
Ozone Generators
http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/ozonegen.html.
Vapor Intrusion
Fireplaces, Wood stoves, Wood heaters, Wood boilers
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General IAQ Resources & Organizations
EPA Resources
EPA IAQ website http://www.epa.gov/iaq/
EPA IAQ publications http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/index.html
Mold Recourse Library http://www.epa.gov/mold/moldcourse/resourcelibrary.html
"The Inside Story: A Guide to Indoor Air Quality": http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/index.html#insidestory
Indoor airPLUS : Design & Building Specifications for the EPA Indoor airPLUS program for homes
http://www.epa.gov/indoorairplus/index.html
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency
National Service Center for Environmental Publications (NSCEP)
P.O. Box 42419
Cincinnati, OH 45242-0419
Website: www.epa.gov/nscep
Phone: 1-800-490-9198
Fax: (301) 604-3408
E-mail: nscep@bps-lmit.com
Note: NSCEP operates a Toll-free phone service for EPA Publication Assistance with live customer service representative assistance Monday through Friday from 9:00am-5:30pm eastern time.
EPA Indoor Air Quality Information Line: Call toll-free number 1-800-438-4318
Publications on Multiple IAQ Topics
Organizations
Books
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| Consultants and Laboratories |
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| Related IAQ Topics |
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For More Information Contact Bryan Williams 601.961.5799
Or IAQ Staff |
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601-961-5799
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