IDENTIFYING AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS

IDENTIFYING AIR QUALITY PROBLEMS

Some health effects can be useful indicators of an indoor air
quality problem, especially if they appear after a person moves
to a new residence, remodels or refurnishes a home, or treats a
home with pesticides. If you think that you have symptoms that
may be related to your home environment, discuss the with your
doctor or your local health department to see if they could be
caused by indoor air pollution. You may also want to consult a
board certified allergist or an occupational medicine specialist
for answers to your questions.

Another way to judge whether your home has or could develop
indoor air problems is to identify potential sources of indoor
air pollution. Although the presence of such sources (see
illustration at the beginning of this booklet) does not
necessarily mean that you have an indoor air quality problem,
being aware of the type and number of potential sources is an
important step toward assessing the air quality in your home.

A third way to decide whether your home may have poor indoor air
quality is to look at your lifestyle and activities. Human
activities can be significant sources of indoor air pollution.
Finally, look for signs of problems with the ventilation in your
home. Signs that can indicate your home may not have enough
ventilation include moisture condensation on windows or walls,
smelly or stuffy air, dirty central heating and air cooling
equipment, and areas where books, shoes, or other items become
moldy. To detect odors in your home, step outside for a few
minutes, and then upon reentering your home, note whether odors
are noticeable.