MDEQ - Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

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Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)

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)

Formaldehyde

Lead

Insulation

Symptoms from Fiberglass will typically go away after being removed or encapsulated. Fiberglass is not regulated and is widely used, but should not be breathed. There are some alternatives to fiberglass insulation (such as polyester and sheet foam). One technical paper concluded that wet spray-applied cellulose insulation (typically 30-40% water), when used in the walls of indoor environments, can become very moldy and result in unacceptable risk to occupants. It is recommended that fiberglass insulation be kept neatly contained (not hanging out) and use proper personal protective equipment to avoid exposure during installation or maintenance activities. Replace ceiling panels and repair disconnected ventilation ducts if needed.

Mold
Hayfever-like symptoms such as stuffiness, throat irritation, coughing or wheezing, eye irritation, or, in some cases, skin irritation may be the result of a high concentration of mold spores. In worse cases Mycotoxins from molds has been linked to symptoms like headaches, nasal irritation, dizziness, fatigue, and nausea.

Mold needs water and a food source (building materials) to grow. If one removes the water and moisture and keeps it dry, the mold cannot grow.

MS Department of Health http://www.msdh.state.ms.us/msdhsite/_static/43,0,230,331.html
Center for Disease Control site: http://www.cdc.gov/mold/default.htm
Information and fact sheets http://www.cal-iaq.org/mold/about-mold
"Mold Remediation in Schools and Commercial Buildings" http://www.epa.gov/mold/index.html
Mold Toxins (Mycotoxins) and Black Mold http://www.cdc.gov/mold/stachy.htm

Introduction to Molds http://www.epa.gov/mold/append_b.html

Free Training Course

PICTURE LIBRARY (Images available at this site give examples of trouble spots & cleanup apparatus)

Wall with Black mold

"Flood Cleanup: Avoiding Indoor Air Quality Problems": http://www.epa.gov/mold/flood/index.html

Book: "Clean Up Procedures for Mold In Houses", can be found at: EEBA Bookstore

Note on Mobile homes.
A few residents have complained about mold growth in their trailers; some of these were less than five years old. The growth was due to water leaking from the metal siding or roof (those that do not have shingles). Any exposed nail or screws in metal siding should be sealed so water does not seep into the wall cavities. Some walls have no barrier to resist moisture between the outer metal siding and inner dry wall sheeting. If a leak is suspected, it may be worthwhile to check the inner wall cavity for mold and correct any problems as soon as possible.

Air Ducts

Pesticides

Radon

Smoke (Tobacco Smoke and Second hand smoke)

Air Cleaners

Vapor Intrusion

Fireplaces, Wood stoves, Wood heaters, Wood boilers

^{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

A list of factors affecting indoor air quality can be found at: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/sec_2.pdf

Organizations

US Consumer Product Safety Commission, IAQ Publications: http://www.cpsc.gov/cpscpub/pubs/iaq.html
Centers for Disease Control: http://www.cdc.gov/niosh/pdfs/sec_2.pdf
California IAQ Program: http://www.cal-iaq.org/
The National Safety Council – Fact Sheet Library under resources > See “In the Environment”: http://www.nsc.org
National Center for Healthy Housing: (Formerly the National Center for Lead-Safe Housing): http://www.centerforhealthyhousing.org/index.htm (contains some information on HUD)
Healthy Child Healthy World: http://healthychild.org/
Alliance for Healthy Homes: http://www.afhh.org/
Coalition to end childhood lead poisoning: http://www.leadsafe.org/
California EPA Air Resource Board: http://www.arb.ca.gov/research/indoor/indoor.htm
The American Lung Association: (800) LUNG-USA : http://www.lungusa.org/
(For Industrial and Workplace Environments) The Occupational Safety & Health Administration (OSHA): http://www.osha.gov/SLTC/indoorairquality/index.html

Books

"Keeping Buildings Healthy: How to Monitor and Prevent indoor Environmental Problems", by James T. O'Reilly, Philip Hagan, Ronald Gots, Alan Hedge, a John Wiley & Sons Publication, 1998

Order from your local or online bookstore.

Books ordered online at the EEBA bookstore at: http://www.eeba.org

"CLEAN UP PROCEDURES FOR MOLD IN HOUSES"
"THE CLEAN AIR GUIDE: How to Identify and Correct Indoor Air Problems in Your Home"
"BUILDING MATERIALS For the Environmentally Hypersensitive"
"INDOOR ENVIRONMENT QUALITY"

^{Consultants and Laboratories}

^{Related IAQ Topics}

For More Information Contact Bryan Williams 601.961.5799
Or IAQ Staff


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