If you need indoor air quality testing/sampling as discussed in this article, call us at 973-366-4660 or email us at info@atlenv.com for details and a free estimate.
Written By: Robert E. Sheriff, MS, CIH, CSP, President
April 4, 2020
Indoor Air Quality in an office often leaves much to be desired. Complaints of poor air quality resulting in headaches, dizziness, burning eyes, upper respiratory irritation, coughs, colds, bloody noses, itchy skin are not uncommon even in new buildings that supposedly have well-designed Heating, Ventilation, and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Systems.
Humidity, Temperature or HVAC System?
It may be as simple as low-or high-humidity, low-or high-temperature but it may be something more significant such as accumulated dust or mold in the HVAC system that hasn’t been cleaned in 10 years.
Lack of outside make-up air can result in accumulation of whatever is in the air—carbon monoxide, carbon dioxide, molds, cleaning agents, dust, dust mite allergens and paint fumes.
Vapor Intrusion
We are now coming to realize that vapor intrusion of chemicals underneath the building’s foundation may be getting into the breathing air in the building. This is especially true in buildings built on sites that were built on landfills, former factories, previous commercial buildings, and properties adjacent to such businesses as gas stations, dry cleaners, chemical plants, pest control companies, printing companies, plating plants, and miscellaneous factories. The source of vapor intrusion is generally from solvents and other organic chemicals. Since such chemicals evaporate when reaching the air, they can leach their way through groundwater, soils, and even concrete foundations (concrete is actually porous) and evaporates into the lower floors of a building. Of course, they can also evaporate from outside sources through the soils into the air and come in through doors, windows and the HVAC system.
Testing/Sampling
Such chemicals may result in adverse health effects from vapor intrusion. The ability to sample vapor below a building and perform similar tests inside the building and compare the two test sets has become easier with present sampling techniques. The sampling involves drilling into the building foundation to reach the underlying soil. A sealed probe is placed in the opening and attached to a vacuum cylinder (SUMMA CANISTER) and a sample is drawn into the cylinder over a selected time (l hr, 9 hrs, 24 hours)
Whatever the source of IAQ problems and adverse health effects experienced by the building’s occupants, Atlantic Environmental has 40 years of experience in performing IAQ sampling including vapor intrusion that can assist in identifying the source of air quality problems and identifying practical solutions. Get in touch with us today by phone, email or use our online form. We will get back to you quickly to address your concerns.
References
“An Office Building Occupants Guide to Indoor Air Quality,” https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/office-building-occupants-guide-indoor-air-quality
“Indoor Air Quality in Commercial and Institutional Buildings,” https://osha.gov/publications/3430 indoor-air-quality-sm.pdf
“Indoor Air Vapor Intrusion Mitigation Approaches,” https://clu-in.org/download/char/600r08115.pdf
“Evaluating Vapor Intrusion Pathways-Agency for Toxic Substances Disease Registry https://www.atsdr.cdc.gov/docs/svi_guidance_508.pdf
Our primary service areas for Indoor Air Quality Sampling/Testing are New Jersey NJ, New York NY, (New York City), Pennsylvania PA, Connecticut CT, Delaware DE, Massachusetts, (Boston) MA, Rhode Island RI, Washington DC, Wisconsin WI, Maryland MD, Michigan MI, Illinois (Chicago) IL, Virginia VA, Indiana IN, Georgia (Atlanta) GA, Alabama AL, North Carolina NC, South Carolina SC, Tennessee TN, Texas (Dallas, Ft Worth) TX, Oklahoma OK, DC, Arkansas AR, Florida FL. We can service most other areas of the U.S. but with some added travel charges.