Your Green Review

Your health is only as good as the air you breathe.  Unfortunately, you’re probably one of the many millions of Americans who live and work in buildings awash with chemical, biological and particulate pollutants linked to chronic illness.   Perhaps you’re blissfully unaware of this fact, after all,  Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) isn’t in the forefront of most people’s minds as they head into work.   More than likely, unless there’s a noticeable IAQ issue such as heavy odor, most probably aren’t even aware of their own breathing…but maybe they should be

IAQ is one of the Top 5 threats to public health, affecting an estimated 15% of the U.S. population and 30% of buildings (globally).  Putting this into perspective:  If you’re an average adult human, you take about 25,000 breathes per day and spend approximately 90% of your time indoors.  That’s roughly 22,500 breathes drawn indoors where pollutant levels can reach up to 100 times the concentration of outdoor air.  According to the American Lung Association, long-term exposure to common indoor air pollutants like volatile organic compounds (VOC’s), biological contaminants and particulates can contribute to the development of cancer, chronic respiratory diseases including asthma and hypersensitivity pneumonitis as well as headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea and fatigue.  It’s been estimated that IAQ is also responsible for the 60% jump in asthma cases in the last decade.

But AIQ issues don’t just affect individuals, they affect businesses too.  It’s been estimated that IAQ accounts for approximately 40% of office sick days and is responsible for 18% of overall lost productivity.  We’re talking big bucks and big losses due to one of the most preventable causes of illness and disease in the country.

Simple Steps To Good IAQ

1.) Test For Radon-It’s cheap and (depending on the test) it’s quick.  As the second leading cause of lung cancer in the US, the EPA recommends that every building be checked for radon, a radioactive gas released during the natural decomposition of uranium in soil and rock.  Without adequate ventilation, radon can become trapped in tightly sealed buildings (not unusual with ‘efficient’ buildings).  Testing is cheap, around $20-30 (see link below for more information), but should be performed by the building owner or licensed professional. Contact your local EPA office for more information and (maybe) better pricing.

2.) Clean To Protect, Not To Impress-Clean only as needed (and directed!), using the most natural option available.  Where possible, check product material safety data sheets (MSDS) for ingredients and potential health concerns.  Although some products may not offer full ingredient lists, labels can be indicative of relative product safety via cautionary language (i.e. don’t purchase supplies reading Caution: Chronic Inhalation Toxicity).  In general, choose products that fully disclose ingredient lists and avoid petroleum-based surfactants, those with high VOC content, chlorine, added scent or optical brighteners and those in aerosol form.  Bio-based solvents are preferable but exercise caution and remember that many ‘Green’ claims (‘non-toxic’, ‘all natural’ and ‘biodegradable’) are unregulated terms.

3.) Plant, Baby, Plant!-The University of Technology in Sydney, Australia found that levels of certain toxins in offices shrank by 75% with the presence of only six plants per room.  One study out of NASA found that a plant’s ability to naturally filter pollutants doesn’t so much lie in foliage but in soil and roots, so maximize (and keep clean) soil area.  Also, don’t over water or allow direct contact with carpet which, if dampened, can foster mold growth.  Avoid chemical pest-control methods and practice indoor Integrated Pest Management (IPM), making sure plants are properly taken care of and pesticide use is limited to non-toxic chemicals and minimized in general.  (NASA’s list of beneficial plants can be found below.)

4.) Keep It Dry-Damp indoor environments can lead to microbial growth (think fungus and mold) creating serious health problems when spores are inhaled.  Continuously monitor for dampness, condensation, stains and leaks; any dampened areas should be cleaned and dried within 24 to 48 hours to avoid long-term problems.  Also, keep in mind that while mold can grow wherever moisture is present, organic materials such as wood, wood fiber, paper, natural fabrics and food can accelerate mold growth.  The EPA suggests reducing indoor humidity (to 30-60% ) to inhibit growth.

5.) Mind What You Buy-Office furnishings and equipment can off-gas harmful chemicals years after installation or continuously during normal operation of certain equipment.  Particleboard, pressed wood, some carpets, adhesives, coatings, paints and sealants (among other things) have a tendency to emit urea formaldehyde, a known carcinogen that can persist for years.  Office equipment including printers and  copiers can generate ozone which is harmful to human health and can chemically react with other indoor pollutants, exacerbating indoor pollution.  Request VOC specifications from manufacturers and purchase environmentally-preferable products per EPA’s EPP program where possible (see link below).

6.)Ventilate, Ventilate, Ventilate-Some indoor air pollution is virtually unavoidable but measures can be taken to minimize their effects on occupants.  Ventilation allows some of these pollutants to escape while bringing in (hopefully less polluted) fresh outdoor air.  If possible, open windows and make sure dampers and other mechanical equipment is functioning as designed in order to assure maximum air flow.  Increased access to the outdoors has been shown to increase worker productivity, health and overall well-being…so open a window and get busy!

Resources:

Consumer Reports: Radon Test Kits:

Full list of common hazardous chemicals in cleaning products:

NASA’s list of air-filtering plants and soil

EPA’s Environmentally Preferable Purchasing Guidelines