Indoor Air Quality
Several factors can affect the indoor air quality (IAQ) in a building. Most often, poor IAQ is caused by volatile organic compounds (VOCs) present in cleaning, maintenance, or personal products, from vehicle exhaust that becomes entrained in the air intake, or a lack of adequate airflow to the office space. Sometimes, indoor air quality can be impacted by mold and fungal growth. IAQ problems are hard to track down due to the variety of potential sources and the variation associated with their occurrence on a day-to-day basis.
How EHS can help
We have several instruments to monitor IAQ. Our instruments can measure or sample for:
- Carbon monoxide (CO)
- Carbon dioxide (CO2)
- Temperature
- Airborne particles
- Humidity
- Volatile Organic Compounds
Unfortunately, there is no single instrument (the mythical “Magic Sniffer”) that can test the air and conclusively identify all contaminants. Identifying the source of an IAQ problem requires knowledge of the potential sources of contaminants and a way to test for them.
If you are experiencing discomfort from the air quality in your building contact EHS at ehs@rpi.edu and we will conduct an evaluation, collect samples if necessary, and make recommendations based on the results.
Microbial Growth Concerns
- Damp indoor environments caused by water leaks, floods or high humidity can lead to the growth of mold and other microbial organisms. Uncontrolled mold and microbial growth and exposure to building dampness can be associated with respiratory symptoms. For people who are sensitive to molds, exposure can cause symptoms such as nasal stuffiness, eye irritation, wheezing, or skin irritation.
- If you see or suspect mold growth in your building, report it to FIXX@rpi.edu
- Contact EHS at ehs@rpi.edu, if you have health concerns related to mold and microbial growth.
Before you call…
To save yourself some time and perhaps some frustration, there are things you can do to investigate poor IAQ conditions in your office.
- Plants can be a source of mold and fungi that may cause allergies. If there are plants in your work area, experiment with moving one or more types out at a time and see if the reaction is less over the next few days.
- Some perfumes, lotions, deodorants, etc. can cause reactions in people who have a greater sensitivity. Be cognizant of the people in your area and their sensitivities.
- If you have a refrigerator near or in your office, check it for outdated goods.
- Peek in a few garbage cans in case someone just threw away one of the outdated goods from the refrigerator.
- If all else fails, email us at ehs@rpi.edu.
Please contact EHS for IAQ questions or concerns.
