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1 Introduction
2 What is Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)?
3 Particulates
4 Humidity
5 IAQ Related Illnesses
6 Filtration
7 House Keeping
8 Summary & Review
9 Questions
10 Thank You
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Understand
Improve
Maintain
Your
IAQ
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2 WHAT IS
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• IAQ: Indoor Air Quality refers to the quality of
the air in the indoor environment. This may
also be referred to as Indoor Environmental
Quality (IEQ).
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• Good IAQ is the quality of air which has no
unwanted gasses or particles in it at
concentrations which will adversely affect
someone.
• Poor IAQ occurs when gases or particles are
present at an excessive concentration so as to
affect the satisfaction or health of occupants.
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Acceptable indoor air is defined by ASHRAE:
• “AIR IN WHICH THERE ARE NO KNOWN
CONTAMINATES AT HARMFUL CONCENTRATIONS
AND WHICH A SUBSTANTIAL MAJORITY (USUALLY
80%) OF THE PEOPLE EXPOSED DO NOT EXPRESS
DISSATISFACTION”
-ASHRAE 62-1999
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• Types Of Indoor Air Pollutants
• The Centers for Disease Control and
Prevention (CDC) places air pollutants into
three general categories:
• 1. Particulates
2. Bioaerosols
3. Volatile Organic Compounds
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• Particulates
• Common indoor air particulates include
dirt, dust, fibers, tobacco smoke particles and
fireplace or wood stove soot. Airborne
particles can range from 0.1 microns in size to
100 microns in size;
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• Bioaerosols
• Bioaerosols are microorganisms or
particles, gases, vapors, or fragments of
biological origin (i.e., alive or released from a
living organism) that are in the air. Bioaerosols
are everywhere in the environment.
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• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC’s)
• are a carbon-based chemicals that easily
evaporate at room temperature.
• Some VOC's have odors other VOC's have none.
• Odor does not indicate the level of risk.
• There are thousands of different VOC's
produced and used in our daily lives.
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3 PARTICULATES
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• PARTICULATE: a state of matter in which solid
or liquid substances exist in the form of
aggregated molecules or particles. Airborne
particulate matter is typically in the size range
of 0.01 to 100 micrometers (µm).
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• TOTAL SUSPENDED PARTICULATE: the mass
of particulates suspended in a unit of volume
of air when collected by a high volume
sampler.
• TSP refers to all particles in the atmosphere.
TSP was the first indicator used to represent
suspended particles in the ambient air.
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• PARTICULATE MATTER: a suspension of fine
solid or liquid particles in air, such as
dust, fog, fume, mist, smoke, or
sprays. Particulate matter suspended in air is
commonly known as an aerosol.
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• RESPIRABLE PARTICLES: particles that
penetrate into and are deposited in the non-
ciliated portion of the lung. Particles greater
than 10 micrometers aerodynamic diameter
are not respirable. Peak deposition of
respirable particles occurs within the size
range of 0.2 to 5 micrometers (µm).
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• MICROGRAM (µg): one microgram is equal to
one thousandth (1/1,000) of a milligram or one
millionth (1/1,000,000) of a gram
• MICROMETER (µm): one micrometer is equal
to one thousandth (1/1,000) of a millimeter or
one millionth (1/1,000,000) of a meter
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Contaminates Come From Inside and Outside
• Bacteria • Fungal spores
• Viruses • Pollen
• Insect feces • Tobacco smoke
• Insect body parts • Combustible appliances
• Cat and dog dander • Asbestos fibers
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Contaminates Come From Inside and Outside
• Cleaning • House Plants
• Candles • Humidifiers
• Incense • Computers
• Refrigerators • Printers
• Perfume • Those cute little desk
top water fountains
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Particulate Matter - Air Quality Index (AQI) and
Health Concerns
• An AQI of 100 for PM2.5 corresponds to a
PM2.5 level of 40 micrograms per cubic meter
(averaged over 24 hours).
• An AQI of 100 for PM10 corresponds to a
PM10 level of 150 micrograms per cubic meter
(averaged over 24 hours).
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• Particulate matter may be generated by natural
processes, pollen, bacteria, viruses, mold, yeast,
soil from erosion) or through human activities.
• The smaller and lighter a particle is, the longer it
stay’s in the air. Particles greater than 10
micrometers in diameter tend to settle to the
ground in a matter of hours whereas the smallest
particles less than 1 micrometer can stay in the
air for weeks
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2.5
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• The effects of inhaling particulate’s have been
widely studied and include asthma, lung
cancer, cardiovascular issues, and premature
death.
• The size of the particle is a main determinant
of where in the respiratory tract the particle
will come to rest when inhaled. Fine Particles
can penetrate the deepest part of the lungs.
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Fraction Size range
PM10 (thoracic fraction) <=10 μm
PM2.5 (respirable fraction) <=2.5 μm
PM1 <=1 μm
Ultrafine (UFP or UP) <=0.1 μm
PM10-PM2.5 (coarse fraction) 2.5 μm - 10 μm
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VOC’s
Dust Particulate
Mites
Sources
Mold
Pollen Particulates
Spores
Smoke Cooking
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4 HUMIDITY
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DUST MITES & BACTERIA –
• Excessive Humidity Encourages Dust Mites, Dust Mite
Allergen Production, Bacterial and Insect Hazards
Indoors
• High indoor humidity can encourage more issues than
indoor mold.
• The same moisture conditions that support growth of
problematic indoor molds also encourage the
development of bacterial hazards, dust mite
populations, mite fecal allergen problem, and possibly
other insect problems in buildings.
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• The same measures of humidity control to
prevent mold growth are needed to
discourage the dust mite population that exists
in all living areas.
• Choosing and maintaining the proper humidity
level to avoid indoor mold will also work to
minimize the level of dust mites and dust mite
allergens
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5 IAQ Illnesses
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• MCS: Multiple Chemical Sensitivity is an
unexplained condition where a person reports
sensitivities and adverse reactions to low
levels of chemicals.
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• BRI: Building-Related Illness: This term is
used when symptoms of a disease from
several occupants of a building can be directly
linked to specific airborne contaminants in
that building. This differs from SBS because
with SBS no specific illness or cause can be
identified.
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• SICK BUILDING: a building whose occupants
complain of health and comfort problems that
can be related to working or being in a
building
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• HUMIDIFIER FEVER: ("Ventilation Fever") a
respiratory illness caused by exposure to
toxins from microorganisms found in wet or
moist areas in humidifiers and air-
conditioners.
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• HYPERSENSITIVITY PNEUMONITIS: a group of
respiratory diseases, including humidifier
fever that involves inflammation of the
lungs. Most forms of hypersensitivity
pneumonitis are caused by the inhalation of
organic dusts, including molds.
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6 FILTRATION
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• There are many filters available on the market
today.
• The most common are the one inch filters
found in supermarkets, hardware stores and
home supply retailers. All these filters
guarantee a percentage of effectiveness, but
that can be misleading.
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• Each time the HVAC fan cycles air into the
home, armies of potentially harmful
spores, along with other allergens and
pollutants, can be propelled through the
supply ducts and spewed throughout your
home into the air your family breathes.
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Type 1 Type 1 Type 2 Type 3
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1. Standard throwaway filters: Designed to
protect the air handler only. No capability of
collecting fine particles.
2. These filters are designed to protect the air
handler and do a fair to poor job at that.
3. Most are made of fiberglass and provide no
protection against fine or ultra-fine particles.
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2. Washable Filters: These filters are very
restrictive to airflow and are difficult to clean
thoroughly, especially if they have a
poly, sponge-like, inner filter.
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• Electronic Air Cleaners: These air cleaners
are 95% efficient at .3 microns when new or
clean. They can reduce in efficiency very
quickly as they load and are difficult to clean
thoroughly and maintain.
• Many home owners do not take the time to
clean these on a regular basis, thus the
product rarely works at the efficiency that it
was designed for.
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• Large 4 to 5 Inch Media Filters: These filters
have a large amount of filter surface to allow for
good air flow. They do a good job at protecting
the air handler and keeping it clean.
• They can collect a large amount of dust and
particles above one micron in size, but have no
capability of collecting particles and allergens
that measure below one micron.
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Pleated Size MERV 8 - 11
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• What Is MERV?
• The MERV (Minimum Efficiency Reporting
Value) rating of a filter describes the size of
the holes in the filter that allow air to pass
through. The higher the MERV rating, the
smaller the holes in the filter, the higher the
efficiency.
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• MERV is an industry standard rating, so it can
be used to compare filters made by different
companies.
• Residential filters commonly have MERV
ratings of 1-11. The higher the MERV
rating, the more efficient the filter is, and the
more particles it can filter.
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• A MERV rating of 6 means the filter is 35% to 50%
minimum efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-
10.0 microns.
• A MERV rating of 7 means the filter is 50% to 70%
minimum efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-
10.0 microns.
• A MERV rating of 8 means the filter is 70% minimum
efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-10.0 microns.
• A MERV rating of 11 means the filter is 85% minimum
efficient at capturing particles, sized 3.0-10.0 microns.
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• Another consideration is that a dirty filter
impedes the flow of air. This is called
"pressure drop". It is a double-edged sword -
the more effective a filter is at grabbing the
smaller particles, the sooner it will clog up
with these particles and cause pressure drop.
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• A Healthy HVAC System Means
Cleaner Indoor Air
• It’s estimated that more than 70% of all indoor
air quality problems involve the HVAC
systems. Dirt, dust and other particulates can
accumulate on system components and in
ductwork.
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• “Bacteria, molds, pollen and viruses can breed
in stagnant water that has gradually
accumulated in ducts, humidifiers and drain
pans.”
• –Article appearing in Health Facilities
Management, June 1997
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• Stand-alone room air cleaners cannot possibly
match the effectiveness and efficiency of
whole house systems.
• They simply do not move the large volume of
air required to remove indoor air pollution. By
using your existing forced-air system, you can
have measurably cleaner indoor air.
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7 HOUSE KEEPING
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1970 1980 Barrel HEPA
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• Few people think about their vacuum cleaners
as sources of air pollution in their homes. How
could something that makes the carpet look
clean be polluting the air?
• Yet frequently the air people breathe after
vacuuming is dirtier than it was before they
vacuumed!
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• Many vacuum cleaners pick up the larger
particles of dirt so that the carpet looks clean.
• But the smaller particles - are not retained by
the vacuum cleaner's filter.
• Instead, they are shot out in the exhaust
air, aggravating allergies and redistributing
dust, mold spores, lead dust, animal
dander, etc., throughout the home.
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• These tiny particulates that are recycled float
around for hours before settling down. Anyone
in the room is breathing them in.
• Many carpets contain years of accumulated
recycled particulates. Carpets may contain
dust, mold spores, pollen, animal dander, dust
mites, pesticides, lead dust, asbestos and
fiberglass fibers, and other pollutants.
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• Many vacuum cleaners that sound as if they
have HEPA filters really don't.
• Read the ads closely. You will see words such
as "HEPA-like" or "removes 99.97% of
particles 5 micrometers in size."
• 5 micrometers is about 17 times as large as
0.3 micrometers.
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• In addition to having a good filter, it is important
for an allergy vacuum cleaner to have a sealed
unit. It does little good for particulates to be
stopped by a HEPA filter, only to be exhausted
through openings in the vacuum housing.
• HEPA-filtered vacuum cleaners are not
necessarily designed to be leak-proof.
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• Dusting is just not fun. There is no other way to
say it, to control the Particulate buildup in your
home you have to collect and remove it and
that means dusting.
• Most people who dust use a simple feather
duster, or a cloth of some kind, and some kind
of dusting spray.
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Heavy Dust
150 µm
Hair
50 - 70 µm
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• Swiffer Dusters have thousands of fibers that
work to trap dust instead of spreading the dust
around like the traditional feather duster. Dust
clings to the fluffy fibers and stays there.
• You must capture dust with a soft cloth
dampened with water or your favorite
multipurpose spray or furniture
polish, whichever is appropriate for the
surface.
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8 REVIEW
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Advantages of Good IAQ for people already
suffering from allergies
• Reduction of the symptoms of an allergy
• Often reduction of medication intake
possible
• More relaxing sleep
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Good IAQ... can have the following effects in
young children:
• Prevention of allergies
• Delay of the occurrence of an allergy
• Reduction of the symptoms of an allergy
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• Keep your home dry: Control humidity levels
between 35% and 50%.
• If you have a flood, take immediate action and
dry the area out, including all affected
furnishings, within 48 hours to prevent mold
growth.
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• Maintenance is the key: Change your HVAC
filters every 30 days or as prescribed by the
Manufacturer.
• Check you’re A/C drain line every 3 months.
• Have your system serviced annually.
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• Upgrade your air handler filter to pleated or
extended surface filters, which have a
medium- or high-efficiency rating.
• Change this filter at least every month or two
during periods of use. As a minimum, air filters
with a dust spot efficiency of 30% are
recommended.
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• Clean the house frequently to collect & remove
particles from your home.
– especially if there are children or pets running in
and out of the house.
• Vacuum rugs and furniture with a vacuum
cleaner that has a HEPA air filter.
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• Do not store paints, solvents or varnishes
inside your home;
• Have people use doormats and leave their
shoes by the door to help keep indoor particle
levels down.
• Control the source of irritants,
– which refers to chemicals that can be inhaled
• not people!.
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9 QUESTIONS
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