Indoor Air Quality can be a major factor in how we feel in our home or business. Many factors can contribute to symptoms you or your family are experiencing. Strategic Environmental works closely with our clients to determine suspect areas in your home or business. We have the experience, knowledge and tools to assess poor indoor air quality. If there is an indoor air quality issue related to mold or other indoor air contaminates, we start by understanding what the compliant is, odor, illness or something else. We want to fully understand the project before we recommend a specific service and or testing. There are many types of testing associated with indoor pollutants to determine presence or levels of certain contaminates. We strive to gather all necessary information from our clients to determine exactly what type of testing should be performed, in return helping to be cost efficient for the client. We work with Nationally Accredited Laboratory’s to insure we receive precise and accurate results on every project.

When to Test Your Indoor Air Quality

If you are experiencing health related issues while at home or place of business, it is a good time to check your indoor air quality. Other reasons to have your IAQ tested:

• When you, your family or colleagues is having trouble breathing indoors
• Buying a Residential or Commercial property
• If you smell something unusual indoors
• When someone has a weak immune system, such as Infants, Children and Elderly.
• When you, your family,or colleagues are constantly getting sick indoors.
• If there is a concern or reason to believe that your indoor air quality is compromised.

Strategic Environmental works closely with our clients and with accredited laboratory’s to determine almost every indoor air or surface pollutants. We inspect suspected sources as well as unsuspected to identify potential concerns, Design the most appropriate testing program, recommend safe and cost effective treatments to resolve almost any indoor concern. Determine if there is a underlying issue or health concern and if professional remediation may be required or warranted.

Are VOCs in Your Indoor Air

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs) are emitted as gases from certain solids or liquids. VOCs include a variety of chemicals, some of which may have short- and long-term adverse health effects. Concentrations of many VOCs are consistently higher indoors (up to ten times higher) than outdoors. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products numbering in the thousands.

Organic chemicals are widely used as ingredients in household products. Paints, varnishes and wax all contain organic solvents, as do many cleaning, disinfecting, cosmetic, degreasing and hobby products. Fuels are made up of organic chemicals. All these products can release organic compounds while you are using them, and, to some degree, when they are stored. VOC’s can also be found in a wide range of building products and furnishings.

Sources of VOCs

Household products, including:

• paints, paint strippers and other solvents
• wood preservatives
• aerosol sprays
• cleansers and disinfectants
• moth repellents and air fresheners
• stored fuels and automotive products
• hobby supplies
• dry-cleaned clothing
• pesticide

Other products, including:

• building materials and furnishings
• office equipment such as copiers and printers, correction fluids and carbonless copy paper
• graphics and craft materials including glues and adhesives, permanent markers and photographic solutions.

Health Effects

Health effects may include:

• Eye, nose and throat irritation
• Headaches, loss of coordination and nausea
• Damage to liver, kidney and central nervous system
• Some organics can cause cancer in animals, some are suspected or known to cause cancer in humans.

Key signs or symptoms associated with exposure to VOCs include:

• conjunctival irritation
• nose and throat discomfort
• headache
• allergic skin reaction
• dyspnea
• declines in serum cholinesterase levels
• nausea
• emesis
• epistaxis
• fatigue
• dizziness

The ability of organic chemicals to cause health effects varies greatly from those that are highly toxic, to those with no known health effect. As with other pollutants, the extent and nature of the health effect will depend on many factors including level of exposure and length of time exposed.

Among the immediate symptoms that some people have experienced soon after exposure to some organics include:

• Eye and respiratory tract irritation
• headaches
• dizziness
• visual disorders and memory impairment