Symptoms and Signs of Exposure to Poor IAQ

Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) is an important health and safety concern. Several well-identified diseases and chronic illnesses have been traced to specific IAQ-related problems. Sometimes certain symptoms can be useful indicators of exposure to poor IAQ, especially if onset appears after: moving to a new residence; starting a new job or relocating office spaces;…

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Indoor Air Quality Basics

Indoor air quality is generally worse than most people believe. Poor indoor air quality can arise in any home or commercial building located in any geographical area. Some Things to Consider: You may regularly come in contact with indoor air quality that is worse than that of outdoor air. You may be more susceptible to…

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Mold Remediation Procedures

Mold should not be permitted to grow indoors. Problems associated with mold have been around since recorded history. Solving mold problems still requires fixing the source of moisture and removing any contaminated components. Mold Remediation Procedures A variety of procedures is available to remediate damage to buildings and furnishings caused by moisture-control problems and mold.…

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Preventing Mold Growth

Keep the building and furnishings dry. When things get wet, dry them quickly (within 24 to 48 hours). Perform routine cleaning, maintenance and repairs. The key to mold prevention is moisture control. Water intrusion into a building or a building’s crawlspaces should be controlled. If water enters a building through a leaking roof or because…

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Building Science and Mold

Building Science in Relation to Moisture and Microbial Growth Micro-organisms can be found in the air inside a building, on a surface inside a building (on the floor, ceiling, walls and furniture), and inside the HVAC system of a building. Many of these microorganisms come indoors from outside. They come from decaying organic matter or…

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What Mold Needs to Grow

Most of the mold found indoors comes from the outdoors because mold spores can easily float on gentle air currents. If the spores land on suitable organic material inside a building, mold can begin to grow. But mold needs two things in order to grow and survive: moisture and food. Moisture Mold does not need…

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Negative Health Effects of Mold

Inhalation exposure to mold indoors can cause negative health effects in some people. Molds produce allergens (substances that can cause allergic reactions), irritants and, in some cases, potentially toxic substances (mycotoxins). Inhaling or touching mold or mold spores may cause allergic reactions in sensitive individuals. Mold does not have to be alive to cause an…

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What Is Mold?

Mold Is Fungi Molds are organisms that are found indoors and outdoors. They are part of the natural environment and play an important role in our ecological system by breaking down and digesting organic material. Molds are neither plants nor animals. They are part of the kingdom Fungi. The diagram above demonstrates the role of…

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Types of Mold Inspections

This guide categorizes two types of mold inspections performed on residential and commercial buildings. One type is the Complete Mold Inspection. The other type is the Limited Mold Inspection. All sampling is performed according to the IAC2 Mold Sampling Procedures. Complete Mold Inspection The Complete Mold Inspection is performed by an IAC2-Certified Mold Inspector and…

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Removal of Radon in Water

Before testing water for radon, the air should be tested. If the indoor radon level is high and the homeowners use groundwater, test the water. If the radon level is low in the air, there is no need to test the water. Test results are expressed in picocuries of radon per liter of water (pCi/L).…

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Radon in Water

Where and how does radon get into drinking water? Radon in drinking water is a significant health hazard, though a lesser hazard than radon in indoor air. Homes supplied with drinking water from a private well, and community water systems that use wells as water sources have a greater risk of exposure to radon in…

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Radon Potential

One can get an idea as to how great a concern radon may be in a house by learning about the geology of the surrounding site, along with the area’s radon potential. If a house is in an area with a high potential for radon, then chances are that the house may have an indoor…

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Radon Exposure and Health

Most of the public’s exposure to natural radiation comes from radon, which can be found in homes, schools and office buildings. The illustration shows the sources of radon that can accumulate in buildings. Most radon in homes comes from radon in the soil that seeps into homes through cracks in the foundation or slab. The…

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Should All New Homes Be Radon-Resistant?

All homes could benefit from having a radon-reduction system. However, it is especially cost-effective to install the features in homes with the greatest potential for high radon levels. The potential for elevated radon levels is not uniform throughout the U.S. The EPA and the U.S. Geological Survey have identified areas of the country with the…

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Radon-Resistant Features in New Construction

Radon-resistant construction techniques can help you prevent radon-related problems in your home. You may already be employing some of these techniques in the house that you’re building. They are generally easy to install. The following are radon-resistant construction techniques. Gas-Permeable Layer Usually, a 4-inch layer of clean, coarse gravel is used beneath the slab to…

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How to Reduce Radon in New Homes

You can easily draw radon away and help prevent radon from entering the home with the following basic steps. You may already be employing many of these techniques in the homes that you build. All of the techniques have additional benefits associated with them, and they are very easy to install. The following are some…

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Radon Entry Into a Home

All homes have some type of radon entry pathway. There are four main factors that permit radon to seep into homes: Uranium is present in the soil nearly everywhere in the United States. The soil is permeable enough to allow radon to migrate into a home through the slab, basement or crawlspace. There are pathways…

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Radon and Lung Cancer

Radon is a worldwide health risk in homes. Most radon-induced lung cancers occur from low- and medium-dose exposures in people’s homes. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, in many countries. The facts… Lung cancer kills thousands of Americans every year. Smoking, radon, and secondhand smoke are the leading causes of…

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About Radon and Radon Measurements

What is Radon? Radon is a gas produced by the radioactive decay of the element radium. Radioactive decay is a natural, spontaneous process in which an atom of one element decays or breaks down to form another element by losing atomic particles (protons, neutrons, or electrons). When solid radium decays to form radon gas, it…

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