Skip to content
Article

Industrial Hygiene & Environmental Health and Safety in California CA

Written by Angela Moore

Topic: Fitness and ExercisePublished February 29, 2012
No ratings yet693 viewsSign in to rate

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) deals with the content of interior air that could affect health and comfort of building occupants.rnThe IAQ may be compromised by microbial contaminants (mold, bacteria), chemicals (such as carbon monoxide, radon), allergens, or any mass or energy stress or that can induce health effects which is useful in Industrial hygiene.

Recent findings have demonstrated that indoor air is often more polluted than outdoor air (albeit with different pollutants) although this has not changed the common understanding of Air pollution.rnIn fact, indoor air is often a greater health hazard than the corresponding outdoor setting. Using ventilation to dilute contaminants, filtration, and source control are the primary methods for improving indoor air quality in most buildings. We spend 90% of our time indoors, and climate change and how we adapt and respond to it will have an impact on our health.

Experts say research on the health benefits of commercial duct cleaning is still in its infancy. Glenn Fellman, the Indoor Air Quality Association's executive director, says that despite the lack of scientific data, he's seen and heard much common-sense evidence of improved air quality.

"This is the heart and circulatory system of your house," Fellman says. "If any of it is gunked up with dust or mold, the core system isn't going to function correctly."

Those particularly vulnerable to indoor pollutants include infants, elderly, and people who already suffer with heart and lung diseases, asthma, chemical sensitivities, or compromised immune systems. Making matters worse, these are often the people who typically spend the most time indoors. Like adults, children are spending more time indoors than ever before. A recent study shines new light on the severity of the indoor air pollution problem.rnUltimately, the decision to clean air ducts comes down to a wner's own judgment. "Get a screwdriver, open up the register and look in there yourself," Schulte says. "Most can make up their mind at that point."

Registered Environmental Health Specialists (REHS, California and Oregon) and Registered Sanitarians (RS, Washington) at HygieneTech can provide onsite training and facility audits regarding food safety program management. In addition, our REHS/RS personnel are registered instructors and will be able to provide nationally recognized and required food safety training and certification for food establishment managers and supervisors.
All air samples are collected, handled, and analyzed in appropriately qualified laboratories using OSHA, NIOSH, or other recognized and validated methods. When deemed appropriate, direct-reading instruments are used to supplement traditional industrial hygiene techniques for the purpose of determining peak exposure potential data. 

.....................................................

Article author

About the Author

Author is an expert in Indoor Air Quality. She has written many articles on Industrial hygiene.