The Air You Breathe

The body is 90% water, that is why doctors the world over suggest that you drink 8-10 glasses of water a day

. Water is one of the most important substances to sustaining life. There is another substance that is just as important. When the body is deprived of this the result is death or severe brain damage. This substance is oxygen, or for our purposes air. The air we breathe is not pure oxygen; it is a mixture of chemicals, pollen, dust and other mold and bacteria. But what happens when the amount of one is raised higher than normal?

Poor indoor air quality can be compounded by poor ventilation from inadequate outside air, the inability to properly control internal building temperatures, recent renovations, and too low or high of humidity. Even the changes in the seasons affect the particulates in the air. If there is a bad storm with lots of wind dust can become a problem. Wildfires cause the air to fill with ash and in the spring pollen often times coats standing cars. This is typically outside air, but did you know that outside air can affect the air you breathe inside?

Indoor air is just as important. Simple office renovations if not properly sealed can create dust which can travel through the ventilation system. Air vents are perfect tools for spreading mold spores, fumes from harsh cleaning supplies, and other airborne pesticides. The ventilation system becomes a delivery system, by which the entire building is affected. Every floor and office can then be susceptible to endangering the employees by the spread of airborne pathogens.

The next obvious question becomes, How do I know if my office is infected? This a great question, and the answer is there is not checklist that will tell you. The only way to know for certain if an office space has mold or allergens at high levels is to test. There are tests that need to be performed and samples that need to be taken. OSHA does not have specific indoor air quality standards for office buildings, but the EPA has done studies that discuss the air quality in an office environment. However, OSHA does have very specific standards for ventilation systems and air contaminants that are involved in indoor air quality.

Indoor air quality is a catalyst for airborne pathogens and should be taken seriously within every office environment. An Industrial Hygienist is trained to look through buildings, new and old, for problem areas and quickly identify solutions. Complaints of headache or difficulty concentrating may be signs of poor indoor air quality. Dont just dismiss these indicators as stress or allergy symptoms, should be carefully scrutinized and documented to determine if there may be an underlying cause. To contact an Industrial Hygienist in your area, click here.

by: Libertyohm

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