A Survey of Indoor Air Monitoring Services: Is There a Private Demand for Healthful Indoor Air Quality?

Sexton, Ken

doi:10.1080/00022470.1985.10465937

“…When advised that public agencies would not investigate a problem, callers often inquired about commercial consultants. The IWG makes available listings of certified industrial hygienists and fee-for-service microbiology laboratories, although the members do not recommend specific consulting companies (2). The IWG has collected and written informational literature on the sources of indoor air contaminants, on symptoms and reactions to indoor pollutants, and on remedies that people can undertake themselves or hire a professional to apply.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public Inquiries about Indoor Air Quality in California

Macher¹,

Hayward²

1991

Environmental Health Perspectives

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To identify the indoor air quality issues about which Californians most often sought advice from a health department or a public information agency and to evaluate how well these agencies met the public's needs, members of the California Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Indoor Air Quality kept records of inquiries they received over a 30-month period from mid-1985 through 1987. Members of the IWG answered calls from residents of a least 49 of California's 58 counties. IWG members received more public inquiries about residences than about offices, educational institutions, commercial buildings, or medical facilities. However, each call about a residence probably represented fewer people at risk of exposure to a real or a potential problem than did calls about other types of buildings. Homeowners themselves asked the majority of the questions about residences, whereas a large number of the inquiries about office buildings were made, not by affected office workers, but by building managers, contractors, consultants, or company health and safety officers. The leading topics of concern in the residences were asbestos, chemical and biological contamination, and radon. In offices, chemical contamination, the ventilation system, biological contamination, asbestos, and tobacco smoke were the most frequently mentioned sources of problems. Callers often reported experiencing headaches, allergy symptoms, nose or throat irritation, and respiratory tract problems in connection with their complaints. IWG members directed a third of the calls elsewhere, of which half were referred to consultants or testing laboratories. The IWG's experience in the State of California could help other health departments prepare to face the public's increasing concern about indoor air pollution.

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“…Although most callers reported that the symptoms subsided when the affected (2). The IWG has collected and written informational literature on the sources of indoor air contaminants, on symptoms and reactions to indoor pollutants, and on remedies that people can undertake themselves or hire a professional to apply.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Public inquiries about indoor air quality in California.

Macher

¹

,

Hayward

²

1991

Environ Health Perspect

View full text Add to dashboard Cite

To identify the indoor air quality issues about which Californians most often sought advice from a health department or a public information agency and to evaluate how well these agencies met the public's needs, members of the California Interagency Working Group (IWG) on Indoor Air Quality kept records of inquiries they received over a 30-month period from mid-1985 through 1987. Members of the IWG answered calls from residents of a least 49 of California's 58 counties. IWG members received more public inquiries about residences than about offices, educational institutions, commercial buildings, or medical facilities. However, each call about a residence probably represented fewer people at risk of exposure to a real or a potential problem than did calls about other types of buildings. Homeowners themselves asked the majority of the questions about residences, whereas a large number of the inquiries about office buildings were made, not by affected office workers, but by building managers, contractors, consultants, or company health and safety officers. The leading topics of concern in the residences were asbestos, chemical and biological contamination, and radon. In offices, chemical contamination, the ventilation system, biological contamination, asbestos, and tobacco smoke were the most frequently mentioned sources of problems. Callers often reported experiencing headaches, allergy symptoms, nose or throat irritation, and respiratory tract problems in connection with their complaints. IWG members directed a third of the calls elsewhere, of which half were referred to consultants or testing laboratories. The IWG's experience in the State of California could help other health departments prepare to face the public's increasing concern about indoor air pollution.

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Overview of Indoor Air Quality Sampling and Analysis

Levin¹

1987

Sampling and Calibration for Atmospheric Measurements

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During recent years, sampling and analysis of atmospheres for indoor air quality in non-industrial environments have increased substantially. Enhanced understanding of indoor air pollution has resulted. Increased recognition of the complexity of indoor environments has led to even more sampling and analysis. Many methods used for indoor air are similar to those employed in workplace and ambient air. However, sampling conditions are often difficult; a very large number of pollutants are usually present, although at low concentrations; some pollutants of concern are at extremely low concentrations; and complex mixtures can create interferences. Instrumentation requirements differ from those of ambient or industrial applications. Passive monitors and other unobtrusive monitoring equipment have received much attention. Sampling and analysis for biological aerosols will probably increase during the next few years. Other environmental factors are often critical and must also be characterized or measured. Social science and health investigatory methods are often employed in conjunction with air monitoring. Further research and development are needed for standardization in several areas including the sampling and analysis of organic compounds at very low concentrations, the general acceptance of standardized monitoring protocols, and guidelines for the consistent reporting and interpretation of data.

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A Survey of Indoor Air Monitoring Services: Is There a Private Demand for Healthful Indoor Air Quality?

Cited by 3 publications

References 5 publications

Public Inquiries about Indoor Air Quality in California

Public Inquiries about Indoor Air Quality in California

Public inquiries about indoor air quality in California.

Overview of Indoor Air Quality Sampling and Analysis

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