Major contaminants (per OSHA) include:
1.
Acetic Acid.
Sources: X-ray development equipment, silicone caulking compounds.
Acute health effects: Eye, respiratory and mucous membrane irritation.
2.
Carbon Dioxide.
Sources: Unvented gas and kerosene appliances, improperly vented devices,
processes or operations which produce combustion products, human respiration.
Acute health effects: Difficulty concentrating, drowsiness, increased
respiration rate.
3.
Carbon Monoxide.
Sources: Tobacco smoke, fossil-fuel engine exhausts, improperly vented
fossil-fuel appliances.
Acute health effects: Dizziness, headache, nausea, cyanosis,
cardiovascular effects, and death.
4.
Formaldehyde.
Sources: Off-gassing from urea formaldehyde foam insulation, plywood,
particle board, and paneling; carpeting and fabric; glues and adhesives; and
combustion products including tobacco smoke.
Acute health effects: Hypersensitive or allergic reactions; skin rashes;
eye, respiratory and mucous membrane irritation; odor annoyance.
5.
Nitrogen Oxides.
Sources: Combustion products from gas furnaces and appliances; tobacco
smoke, welding, and gas- and diesel-engine exhausts.
Acute health effects: Eye, respiratory and mucous membrane irritation.
6.
Ozone.
Sources: Copy machines, electrostatic air cleaners, electrical arcing, smog.
Acute health effects: Eye, respiratory tract, mucous membrane
irritation; aggravation of chronic respiratory diseases.
7.
Radon.
Sources: Ground beneath buildings, building materials, and groundwater.
Acute health effects: No acute health effects are known but chronic
exposure may lead to increased risk of lung cancer from alpha radiation.
8.
Volatile Organic Compounds (VOC's). Volatile organic
compounds include trichloroethylene, benzene, toluene, methyl ethyl ketone,
alcohols, methacrylates, acrolein, polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons, and
pesticides.
Sources: Paints, cleaning compounds, moth-balls, glues, photocopiers,
"spirit" duplicators, signature machines, silicone caulking
materials, insecticides, herbicides, combustion products, asphalt, gasoline
vapors, tobacco smoke, dried out floor drains, cosmetics and other personal
products.
Acute health effects: Nausea; dizziness; eye, respiratory tract, and
mucous membrane irritation; headache; fatigue.
9.
Miscellaneous Inorganic Gases. Includes ammonia,
hydrogen sulfide, sulfur dioxide.
Sources: Microfilm equipment, window cleaners, acid drain cleaners,
combustion products, tobacco smoke, blue-print
equipment.
Acute health effects: Eye, respiratory tract, mucous membrane
irritation; aggravation of chronic respiratory diseases.
10.
Asbestos.
Sources: Insulation and other building materials such as floor tiles,
dry wall compounds, reinforced plaster.
Acute health effects: Asbestos is normally not a source of acute health
effects. However, during renovation or maintenance operations, asbestos may be
dislodged and become airborne. Evaluation of employee exposure to asbestos will
normally be covered under the OSHA Asbestos standard.
11.
Synthetic Fibers.
Sources: Fibrous glass and mineral wool.
Acute health effects: Irritation to the eyes, skin and lungs;
dermatitis.
12.
Tobacco Smoke.
Sources: Cigars, cigarettes, pipe tobacco.
Acute health effects: Tobacco smoke can irritate the
respiratory system and, in allergic or asthmatic persons, often results in eye
and nasal irritation, coughing, wheezing, sneezing, headache, and related sinus
problems. People who wear contact lenses often complain of burning, itching,
and tearing eyes when exposed to cigarette smoke.
6
Tobacco smoke is a major contributor to indoor air quality problems. Tobacco
smoke contains several hundred toxic substances including carbon monoxide,
nitrogen dioxide, hydrogen sulfide, formaldehyde, ammonia, benzene, benzo(a)pyrene, tars, and nicotine. Most indoor air
particulates are due to tobacco smoke and are in the respirable range.
13.
Microorganisms and Other Biological Contaminants
(Microbials).
Includes viruses, fungi, mold, bacteria, nematodes, amoeba, pollen, dander, and
mites.
Sources: Air handling system condensate, cooling towers, water damaged
materials, high humidity indoor areas, damp organic material and porous wet
surfaces, humidifiers, hot water systems, outdoor excavations, plants, animal
excreta, animals and insects, food and food products.
Acute health effects: Allergic reactions such as hypersensitivity
diseases (hypersensitivity pneumonitis, humidifier fever, allergic rhinitis,
etc.) and infections such as legionellosis are seen. Symptoms include chills,
fever, muscle ache, chest tightness, headache, cough, sore throat, diarrhea,
and nausea.
Although asbestos and radon have been listed, acute health effects
are not associated with these contaminants. These have been included due to
recent concerns about their health effects. The investigator should be aware
that there may be other health effects in addition to those listed.
A lot can be told about a workspace without testing
for all possible gasses, chemicals, etc.
The typical IAQ monitor covers four metrics, carbon dioxide, carbon
monoxide, temperature and humidity.
Certainly other measures of air quality can be made. But, for general “tight building” problems,
just monitoring CO2 levels will tell the investigator much about the general conditions
in the building and the effectiveness of the ventilation system.
Of course, a building might have an excellent fresh
air supply system but be bringing in contaminants from the outside. Then sampling for other substances would be
needed. One vendor’s series of IAQ
monitors has the following available:
|
AQ5000Pro
|
AQ5001Pro
|
Carbon
Dioxide
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Temperature
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Relative
Humidity
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Dew point
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Carbon
Monoxide
|
Optional
|
Yes
|
Hydrogen
Sulfide
|
Optional
|
Optional
|
Nitrogen
Dioxide
|
Optional
|
Optional
|
Nitric
Oxide
|
Optional
|
Optional
|
Hydrogen
Cyanide
|
Optional
|
Optional
|
Ammonia
|
Optional
|
Optional
|
Oxygen
|
Optional
|
Optional
|
Linear DC
Voltage (3rd-Party Sensors)
|
Yes
|
Yes
|
Equipment exists which can be put in place to operate
for days at a time, logging periodic measurements of the values and also
recording when the maximum and minimum levels occurred. Hand-held instruments can give
near-instantaneous readings of various metrics.