Learning objectives

Define the term “indoor air quality” and recognize the consequences of indoor air contamination.

Recognize the causes and sources of the major indoor air contaminants.

Identify the health effects and major risks of indoor air contamination.

Identify controls to help maintain good indoor air quality.

Course overview

The World Health Organization estimates that approximately 30% of all commercial buildings have significant indoor air quality problems.

Every day, millions of workers face an unnecessary health threat because of indoor air contaminants in the workplace. Each year thousands of diseases and deaths are linked to this occupational hazard.

Indoor air quality concerns relate to the existence of undesirable and sometimes harmful indoor airborne contaminants and other air qualities that can adversely impact the comfort and health of building occupants.

Indoor air contamination is typically caused by an accumulation of contaminants that originate from sources both inside and outside the building. These contaminants may be generated by a single source or several sources over a wide area, and may be generated periodically or continuously. If sources of contaminants are not controlled, indoor air quality problems can occur.

Contaminants originating outside the building commonly include airborne chemical vapors, gases and dusts, bacteria, fungi, pollen, dust, soil gas, and moisture.

Common sources of contaminants include emissions from nearby indoor and outdoor industrial, commercial, and farming operations. Also included are climate conditions and standing water that promotes excess microbial growth as well as exhaust from vehicles on nearby roads, in parking lots, or in garages.

Controls of contaminants at their source or point of entry into the building is the most effective way of maintaining good indoor air quality. One way employers can improve air quality is through adequate ventilation.

Activities such as painting, renovation, and pesticide use should be scheduled for periods when the building is unoccupied to minimize the exposure to people and allow sufficient time for indoor air quality to recover before anyone returns to the area for work.

When possible, enclosure and local exhaust ventilation should be provided to capture and remove contaminants generated by specific work processes. Air where these contaminants are generated should be discharged directly outdoors rather than re-circulated or allowed to mix with the room air.

Limit the use of volatile solvents or products that produce odors to specifically designed rooms, preferably with local exhaust ventilation. This also applies to equipment that generates excessive heat or produces odors. Minimize generation of dust or aerosols in the work area.

Isolate areas of renovation, asbestos removal, painting, carpet laying, and pesticide application from occupied areas—keep people out of and away from these situations know for poor air quality. If possible, have such performed during evenings and weekends. Residue should be cleaned up and if ventilation is normally turned off during weekends or other periods, you must ensure that the system is on during this time. Contaminant concentrations should be eliminated prior to occupancy.

Another way to improve indoor air quality is to maintain good housekeeping in work and break areas. Clean up spills promptly and dispose of garbage and old food in covered receptacles. Control dust, pollen, and other allergens by having the carpeting in the office and work areas vacuumed and cleaned frequently and by filtering circulated air.

This seems like common sense but reducing contamination of the air supply with cigarette smoke, either by banning smoking or restricting smoking to designated areas which discharge directly outside rather than recirculating it, is sometime difficult to accomplish because of personnel issues related to smoking.

If the problem is caused by a more complex situation, such as inadequate ventilation or excessive mold, then the problem may require a more detailed investigation by facilities engineers, industrial hygienists, or outside medical consultants.