A Spreading Concern: Inhalational Health Effects of Harmful Allergens

According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), some of the most common indoor allergens include dust mites, mold and household pets. In addition, Spring is here and allergy flare-ups are often attributed to the allergens outside your front door though the same allergens are found on surface and in the air inside 75 million homes (112 trillion sq ft) and over 5 million commercial buildings in the United States representing 60 billion square feet of floor space.

These allergens oftentimes consists of mold, fiberglass, insect biodetritus, formaldehyde, chemicals, mycotoxins, bacteria, radon, asbestos, pollen, skin cell fragments, are the very cause of over $18 billion dollars of direct medical care annually.  Identifying the cause of the allergen is as important as identifying the effect.

In the 9 June 2006 report Mold Prevention Strategies and Possible Health Effects in the Aftermath of Hurricanes and Major Floods, the CDC concluded that "excessive exposure to mold-contaminated materials can cause adverse health effects in susceptible persons regardless of the type of mold or the extent of contamination." The CDC based some of its findings on a landmark 2004 report, Damp Indoor Spaces and Health, by the Institute of Medicine (IOM) of the National Academies. Relying on the IOM report, and dozens of studies and reports that have been published since, many organizations and individuals that must deal regularly with mold problems have begun to take steps to reduce the threat.

In keeping with the National Heart, Lung and Blood Institute (NHLBI) 1997 recommendations, it is desirable to identify and remove common allergens and modify the home or office to reduce the level of ubiquitous (common) allergens. According to the technical report by the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP) there is substantial evidence that damp, moldy environments are unhealthy.

Regardless of all the remaining uncertainties, the overall recommendations of many organizations and agencies worldwide are reaching a common conclusion: Don't mess with mold.

Before one can remove allergens and/or pollutants effectively, it is essential to understand if they exist, what they are and in what quantity. Now there's the do-it-yourself IAQ Screen Check DIY product line and "Test Your Nest" Screen Check (TYNSC) is designed to sample the indoor air quality of your home identifying chemicals, formaldehyde, pollens, and molds, among other allergens.

The kits are available from Building Health Check (www.indoorairtest.com), Grainger, Hunter Fans, Carrier, Sylvane, Allen stores across the US, and on line retailers across the US.  Call 1-800-422-7873 ext 802 for a more information on testing your air.

About Environmental Diagnostics Laboratory (EDLab):

Alan Wozniak founded Pure Air Control Services, Inc. in 1984 as a small mechanical contracting firm. Today is the industry standard for indoor environmental quality diagnosis, laboratory analysis and remediation. Pure Air has serviced more than 600 million square feet of indoor environments in over 10,000 facilities.

Pure Air Control Services nationally performed IAQ services include: Building Sciences Evaluation; Building Health Check; EDLab an AIHA accredited Environmental Microbiology Laboratory, Environmental Project Management; and Mold Remediation Services, among other indoor environmental services.

The company’s expanding client roster includes: FAA, USACE, General Services Administration (GSA); Allstate Insurance; Carrier Air Conditioning; Naval Air Warfare Center, Orlando; and Naval Air Station - King's Bay, Georgia, Walt Disney World, and many other Fortune 500 companies, school boards, and city, state, and county governments, making Pure Air Control Services the reliable industry leader in IAQ.

For more information on IAQ Screen Check contact Chris Bower  ext (800) 422-7873  404 or EDLab, Pure Air Control Services, Inc. please contact Ed Ziegler, VP, at (800) 422-7873 x804, or visit www.pureaircontrols.com.

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