A home air check test will give you a total assessment of the indoor air you breathe in every day. It is available to the home market, and gives you an affordable, comprehensive air quality audit of the airborne chemicals in your home...such as volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and mold VOCs (the chemicals emitted from actively growing mold).
Indoor Air Quality Test | Health Reasons You Should Test Your Home
1. Elevated VOC levels in the home can lead to both short-term and long-term health issues. The U.S. Green Building Council's recommended healthy building level is 500 ng/L. In research however, data from hundreds of homes measured by homeowners show the median value is 1,200 ng/L, more than twice the recommended level.
2. High VOC levels can trigger asthma attacks in the more than 20 million US adults and children who have the disease. Asthma is also the most prevalent chronic illness among children. Therefore, finding high VOC levels and their sources can be beneficial to homeowners and tenants.
3. Babies, young kids, pregnant women, seniors, and people with respiratory or cardiovascular ailments can be more vulnerable to indoor air pollution. If your family is made up of any of these groups of people, then an air quality assessment would be highly recommended.
4. Asthma prevalence and severity continue to rise and are at all-time high levels. At the same time, outdoor air pollution is declining. It's a well-known fact that most people spend about 90% of their time indoors. Therefore, many experts suggest there is a strong association with the increase in asthma illnesses and indoor air quality.
5. Common household and personal care products contain VOCs and off-gas continuously, leaving home occupants constantly exposed to airborne chemicals. A home indoor air quality test can predict the sources of VOC contamination.
6. Many newer, more energy-efficient homes do not "breathe" correctly. A home indoor air quality test can potentially discover HVAC issues before they become more of a problem.
7. Carpeting, vinyl and laminate flooring, cabinets, countertops, and other similar building materials use adhesives that “off-gas” continuously over time, even for years. Many of these materials are manufactured using hazardous chemicals, some that can even cause cancer. Testing for harmful toxins that could be lurking within the framework of the house would be a good idea.
8. Soil gas from environmental contamination can seep into the basement similar to radon. A home air check test can spot this contamination.
If you're into a healthy lifestyle, you've probably heard the term "volatile organic compounds", or VOCs for short. Most likely you know then it's not a good term, but most people don't really know anything else about these contaminants. VOCs are chemical contaminants that are emitted from solids and liquids. All solids and liquids that include VOCs also include a carbon chain. Any substance containing carbon is called an "organic". While some carbon-containing products are relatively stable, or "inert", as it is printed on the can or jar's label, others are highly volatile, meaning they can break down into different substances and chemicals pretty easily. VOCs also build up in indoor places, therefore concentration levels in indoor air quality can be 2 to 5 times as concentrated as compared to outdoors.
There are over 900 of VOCs, and they're present in products like
1) paints, solvents and aerosol sprays 2) air fresheners 3) household cleaners and disinfectants 4) pesticides 5) nail polish 6) vinyl shower curtains 7) moth repellants
8) fuels and auto products
9) building materials
10) glues and adhesives
11) drycleaning chemicals, and
12) furniture and carpets.
The EPA estimates that the concentrations of indoor VOCs resulting from paint stripping can reach as high as 1,000 times the concentration of the outdoor levels. And that is just one product!
While many VOCs have short-term health effects, others can do serious long-term damage. Some VOCs, such as benzene are well-known carcinogens, while others are "suspected" carcinogens. In the short-term, common health issues include eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, nausea and temporary loss of coordination. The long-term health effects are somewhat scary. VOCs can damage your liver, kidneys and central nervous system.
Common reported symptoms of VOC exposure also include an allergic skin reaction, shortness of breath, vomiting, nosebleeds and fatigue.
If you're interested in a healthy, green living space, you've probably heard the term volatile organic compounds, or VOCs for short. Chances are you know it's not a good term, but most people don't really know anything else about these contaminants. Let me fill you in...
VOCs are chemicals that are emitted from solids and liquids. All solids and liquids that include VOCs also include a carbon chain, as any substance containing carbon is called an "organic". While some carbon-containing products are relatively inert, or stable, others are highly volatile, meaning they can break down into different substances and chemicals quite easily. VOCs also tend to accumulate in indoor spaces, therefore concentrations in indoor air can be 2 to 5 times as concentrated as to outdoors.
There are literally thousands of VOCs, and they're present products like
1) paints, solvents and aerosol sprays
2) moth repellants
3) household cleaners and disinfectants
4) pesticides
5) nail polish
6) vinyl shower curtains
7) air fresheners
8) fuels and auto products
9) building materials
10) adhesives and glues
11) drycleaning chemicals, and
12) furniture and carpets.
The EPA estimates that the concentrations of indoor VOCs resulting from paint stripping can reach as high as 1,000 times the concentration of the outdoor levels. And that is just one product!
VOCs and Your Health
While some VOCs have short-term health effects, others can do serious long-term damage. Some VOCs, such as benzene are well-known carcinogens, while others are "suspected" carcinogens.
In the short-term, common health issues include eye, nose and throat irritation, headache, nausea and temporary loss of coordination. The long-term health effects are downright threatening. VOCs can damage your liver, kidneys and central nervous system (i.e. your brain and your spine).
Common symptoms of VOC exposure also include an allergic skin reaction, shortness of breath, vomiting, nosebleeds and fatigue.
