Does indoor air quality increase productivity in the workplace and reduce absenteeism in schools? Employers and administrators are constantly looking to improve productivity and test scores. We often get calls from office managers about IAQ issues, but there is often pushback from upper management because there is uncertainty regarding the financial benefit of improved indoor
It’s wintertime! I don’t know about you, but in my family, a big part of the season usually involves gathering around the old fireplace and enjoying a crackling fire. That’s why today I want to talk about fireplaces and some of their potential hazards to indoor air quality. Wood or Gas Fireplaces? First off, we
Mold is an essential part of the natural world. It plays a crucial role in the decomposition process of organic materials. Mold spores can be found floating around in the air both outdoors and indoors. For most property owners, mold growth becomes a concern when it is visibly growing on a surface inside of their home. However, there seems to be a lot of confusion about where mold can grow. This blog post will talk about the different areas and materials where mold is commonly found indoors.
During a typical home inspection, the inspector will evaluate the structure of the home, along with the conditions of walls, plumbing, HVAC systems, and
“I see mold in my house and I am worried all my belongings are contaminated. Do I need to throw everything out?” We receive questions like this a lot; this blog intends to help determine what situations call for what kind of actions. When people have mold and moisture issues they typically turn to the
The holiday season is upon us, which means we spend more time indoors to stay out of the cold and to spend more time with family and loved ones. This also means more shared meals and enjoying Grandma’s cooking. The delicious odors that come from cooking are pleasant and enjoyed by all. However, this blog post will discuss the impacts that cooking has on indoor air quality and some recommendations to minimize its negative effects.
On many projects that I have worked on throughout the years, I have been asked to evaluate a building for “Sick Building Syndrome”. Now, what is this syndrome? Is the building somehow sick? Not exactly. According to the EPA, sick building syndrome (or SBS) describes “situations in which building occupants experience acute health and comfort
I’m sure you are familiar with asbestos, but did you know that there are different types of asbestos? In previous blogs, we discussed the basics of both chrysotile and crocidolite. Chrysotile is a serpentine based mineral which was the most common asbestos used. Crocidolite is a blue amphibole mineral more rarely used than chrysotile. These
You may have just finished up a major renovation project in your home or office and have been left with a huge amount of construction dust as an unwanted byproduct. Maybe you have seen news stories on the dangers of silica dust and worried “is it in my home?”. In this blog, I will go
Are you feeling sick when you’re indoors? Do your symptoms vary depending on your location? Being in the indoor air quality industry we receive many calls from potential clients who fear that their indoor environment is making them ill. This blog post will discuss “sick building syndrome” and “building-related illness symptoms”.
Recently I have been getting a number of assignments that involve issues with a crawl space. These projects are interesting because they’re not always easy to figure out; add to that the fact that you just never know what you are going to find in this dark and creepy area! Let’s take a look at
Halloween season is finally upon us again. This is the season of haunted houses, horror films, and spooky costumes. While we attribute horror stories with supernatural entities such as vampires,
As the cooler temperature of autumn rolls in, many people can not wait to get the windows open and light up their favorite pumpkin pie scented candle. Candles can add a relaxing fragrance to your home, and are a huge business in the US. Estimates show that annual candle sales in the US approach $2
Cost is oftentimes a top concern for potential clients. We understand that while you may have a pressing indoor air quality problem that you would like to resolve, your budget may not allow you to consider indoor air quality testing. We like to work with our clients to provide a quote based on the type
If you are a regular reader to this website, I think you understand the importance of radon testing. It is a serious health issue and the second leading cause of lung cancer. “Should you have radon testing done?” is not the question per se; that is obvious. But for many, the next logical question becomes
Last week, Americans across the country remembered the 18th anniversary of the attacks that occurred during 9/11. These attacks not only killed thousands of Americans in the initial strike but also created environmental conditions that continue to affect citizens exposed to the toxic dust of the World Trade Center collapse
Here in Chicago, Labor Day marks the unofficial end of summer. Kids are going back to school, parks and beaches are closing, the days are getting shorter, and the summer heat is starting to fade. This changing of seasons means we are starting to spend more time indoors, which often means an uptick in indoor
The team at Indoor Science performs hundreds of indoor air quality assessments per year, from commercial and residential to industrial. After doing a number of assessments, we begin to notice patterns and common questions. One common question being “why is my basement musty?”. This may seem like a simple question but there are many factors
Researchers at Yale University and the University of Tulsa recently conducted a study to see if mold growth in one section of a house can affect other areas of the home. This is an interesting question, especially for people who have health issues which can be aggravated by mold growth. Can mold in one level
While watching one of your favorite films or television series, there are often scenes in very unique environmental settings. Such as a chase through an abandoned tunnel or a scene involving an old warehouse. While many can be sets inside of a Hollywood studio, some producers choose to use real locations for an authentic look.
Previously, I posted a blog about the benefits of mold and fungi in the environment, in food production, and its potential as a future energy source. In this post, I would like to focus on mold in a more specific context: how mold impacts the brewing industry – my personal favorite.
If you have done some basic research into mold testing, you have probably come across information on air sampling. For this blog, I will focus on the most common type of mold air samples, spore traps. Each specific mold problem is unique, so there is no one-size solution for the number of air samples. The
Wouldn’t it be great if you could spot an obvious scam by seeing a company name like “Scams R Us”! Unfortunately, it’s not so easy to spot these companies that can take advantage of you. To answer the question “Is mold testing a scam?”, I would answer “yes” and “no”. It depends. Let’s look at
Buying or remodeling an older property can be exciting. However, one item that can be uncovered is vinyl floor tile installed before the late 1970s. Vinyl floor tiles made before this time period could potentially contain asbestos and derail a major housing project. In this blog, we will discuss vinyl floor tile and how to
We often receive calls for general inquiries about mold inspections. We understand that a mold problem is not a common occurrence so we are ready and willing to answer multiple questions from potential clients. One question that comes up often is “can you take air samples for mold only and not perform a full mold inspection?”. This blog post will answer this question and also provide some information on our typical mold inspections.
Indoor Science
