Indoor Air Contaminants
Hundreds of chemical compounds have been detected in indoor air. Potentially harmful substances can be found practically everywhere. Not every hazardous material poses an acute health risk, however. Many of the building contaminants known today only become potentially dangerous if they are treated, removed, recycled or eliminated in an inexpert way.
The indoor climate greatly influences our well-being. Different factors like mould and mildew, organic solvents, radiation or hazardous substances can have a negative impact on indoor air quality.
Whether or not a chemical compound is a hazardous substance that affects or even harms our health depends on different factors. Two of the major factors are:
- Concentration of the substance in indoor air
- Time of exposure to the substance (i.e. duration of stay in the concerned rooms)
A great number of symptoms, such as allergies, headaches, lethargy, difficulty concentrating, etc. are mentioned in connection with exposure to substances in indoor air. The term “sick building syndrome” is often used to refer to such conditions. However, such problems and illnesses can of course have other causes. In case of serious health problems, a doctor should always be consulted in the first instance.
If the cause of a health problem cannot be established, the air quality should be tested. Air measurements can detect substances like formaldehyde, ketones and aldehydes, Pentachlorophenol (PCP), Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC), phthalates as well as mould and mildew. Usually, the indoor air is tested by so-called diffusive samplers.
The majority of potentially harmful substances in buildings can also be detected by active indoor air measurements. Such measurements can include Asbestos fibres, Polychlorinated Biphenyls (PCBs), Chlorinated Paraffins (CPs) or Polycyclic Aromatic Hydrocarbons (PAH). On the other hand, also indoor air contaminants like wood preservers, flame retardants and VOC can be measured.
If carcinogenic radon might be present in the building, the indoor air can be monitored by diffusive samplers (3 months) or by means of an active measurement during a period of 3 to 5 days.
