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Few things are as important to your health as the very air you breathe, and the indoor air quality in the locations you spend your time can drastically affect your health and well-being. While there is little that the individual can do to fight the raging pollutants outside, indoor air quality can be managed easily and affordably, across both residential and commercial environments.
There is a lot to consider when it comes to keeping your indoor air clean, and the best place to start is by working with a company that provides indoor air quality testing in Los Angeles to know where you stand. Often the same company will be able to perform commercial indoor air quality testing in Los Angeles. We’re going to look at when you might want to consider having your indoor air quality tested, as well as what kind of contaminants you may commonly find in indoor air with poor quality. Our environmental testing services in LA can help.
Some pollutants in the air are especially harmful to children, elderly people and those with health problems.
Most of us spend much of our time indoors. The air that we breathe in our homes, in schools and in offices can put us at risk for health problems. Some pollutants can be chemicals, gases and living organisms like mold and pests.
Several sources of air pollution are in homes, schools and offices. Some pollutants cause health problems such as sore eyes, burning in the nose and throat, headaches, or fatigue. Other pollutants cause or worsen allergies, respiratory illnesses (such as asthma), heart disease, cancer and other serious long-term conditions. Sometimes individual pollutants at high concentrations, such as carbon monoxide, cause death.
Understanding and controlling some of the common pollutants found in homes, schools and offices may help improve your indoor air and reduce your family’s risk of health concerns related to indoor air quality (IAQ). Other testing available includes:
Home Biotesting provides air sampling for Asbestos. Asbestos is most dangerous when it is airborne. Allow us to survey the area to make sure it is in safe range.
Radon is a radioactive gas that is formed in the soil. It can enter indoors through cracks and openings in floors and walls that are in contact with the ground.
Combustion Pollutants are gases or particles that come from burning materials. In homes, the major source of combustion pollutants are improperly vented or unvented fuel-burning appliances such as space heaters, woodstoves, gas stoves, water heaters, dryers, and fireplaces.
VOCs evaporate into the air when these products are used or sometimes even when they are stored. Volatile organic compounds irritate the eyes, nose and throat, and cause headaches, nausea, and damage to the liver, kidneys and central nervous system. Some of them can cause cancer. VOCs are emitted by a wide array of products used in homes including:
Asthma triggers are commonly found in homes, schools and offices and include mold, dust mites, secondhand smoke and pet dander. A home may have mold growing on a shower curtain, dust mites, pillows, blankets or stuffed animals, secondhand smoke; in the air, and cat and dog hairs; on the carpet or floors. Other common asthma triggers include some foods and pollutants in the air.
When reminded that indoor air quality testing in Los Angeles is important, many homeowners then wonder if they should consider getting their indoor air tested. This is a valid concern, and it’s often an easy one to address. In most cases, even though common contaminants will be things that you can see, there will be some that cannot be seen or are only apparent to the trained eye.
If you have ever seen mold on components of your home, especially construction components like drywall, plaster, wall spaces, or foundation walls, you should have testing done immediately. The same goes for anyone that has a home that was built before the late 1970s, those with pets, and those with allergies or asthma. Every indoor environment will be unique, so there is no one particular factor that sets the need, but generally speaking, most homes that weren’t built in the past 10 years could benefit from indoor air quality testing.
Whether you live in an apartment, townhome or single-family home, an old home or are building a new home, there are many ways to protect and improve your indoor air quality.
Countless things can potentially reduce indoor air quality, but we’re only going to look at some of the most common or most severe and dangerous here. Below are some of the things that your indoor air quality professional may discuss with you following a test of your indoor air quality.
Radon is a natural, radioactive gas that forms when the uranium, thorium, or radium present in nearly all soils breaks down. The natural decay of these elements creates radon gas, which is often detected in the basement of the home. While dangerous, it is also common and easy to manage with the proper professional help. An indoor air quality assessment will reveal any radon problems in your home.
Mold is one of the most common contaminants found in homes and businesses, and it’s one of the most potentially dangerous as well. Mold is the result of excess moisture that wasn’t able to dry quickly enough. Mold is common in homes that have flooded or had water damage at one point or another, and it can cause severe breathing issues in the home’s residents. Mold will be indicated on air quality tests, though further testing may be needed to determine what type of mold is present. Los Angeles mold testing is especially necessary due to our humidity.
Asbestos is a group of fibrous minerals that were commonly used in insulation, ceiling tiles, and more in older buildings. When disturbed, the fibers can break and become airborne, presenting an inhalation risk. Once inhaled, the fibers create scar tissue deposits in the lungs that can lead to cancer. Our Los Angeles asbestos testing team can help!
Pet hair, dander, and general contaminants that pets introduce into the home environment have a clear impact on indoor air quality. In most cases, this can be easily mitigated with increased cleaning or grooming frequency, but in homes, with allergies or breathing issues, they can be a larger contributor.
Your home’s HVAC system pumps outside air into your home, and while that air passes through a filter, those filters are not always the best quality, and even when they are they can only filter so much before having a reduced effectiveness. Commonly you will see soil, dust, pollen, insects, and more get filtered out, but the filter can only catch things that are large enough to become lodged in it, and most biological contaminants are far smaller.
Home Bio Testing is a leading provider of residential and commercial indoor air quality testing in Los Angeles, and we understand that facing potential contamination issues that need remediation can be intimidating, but our team will work with you every step of the way.
Home Bio Testing has been a leader in indoor air quality testing in Los Angeles for years, and we have the experience needed to make sure your project gets the attention and solution it needs. Whether you need testing or contaminant remediation, reach out and speak to a member of our local team about your needs, and we’ll make sure that your project solution meets those needs.
