Indoor air quality concerns are often grouped into three categories:
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Comfort issues.
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Sick building syndrome.
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Building-related illnesses.
In many cases the categories overlap.
Comfort Issues
These can be described as dissatisfaction with the "feel" of a building environment.
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Complaints may include:
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Too hot.
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Too cold.
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Stuffy.
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Drafty.
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Noisy.
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Odors.
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Closeness.
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This is normally the easiest type of indoor air quality problem to diagnose, but the fix can be difficult to achieve.
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Satisfying some building occupants may affect the comfort of others.
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Polling building occupants can give information about comfort issues.
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Building maintenance, and heating, ventilating and air conditioning (HVAC) personnel are the best people to solve this problem.
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Sick Building Syndrome
This has been described as a set of symptoms that affect a significant portion of building occupants.
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These include:
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Irritation of mucous membranes (eyes, mouth and nose).
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Upper respiratory irritation.
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Headaches.
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Lethargy.
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Decreased concentration.
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Nausea.
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These symptoms may occur shortly after entering the building and usually disappear after leaving it.
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Often there are no easily identifiable causes.
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Inadequate ventilation or building maintenance, misuse of chemical products, or building activities may be the cause.
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It’s often advisable to contact an independent indoor air quality specialist, listed in the Yellow Pages under the categories of Industrial Hygienists or Environmental Consultants.
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These professionals can conduct investigations and recommend solutions.
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Building Related Illnesses
This is the term for an illness, normally diagnosed by a physician, that can be directly attributed to an occupant’s exposure while in a building.
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Illnesses include:
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Legionnaire's disease.
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Pontiac fever.
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Humidifier fever.
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Hypersensitivity pneumonitis.
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These illnesses may affect anywhere from a few to the majority of building occupants.
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It’s important to determine the illnesses quickly, as some can cause lasting damage or be fatal if not treated promptly.
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The type of disease can give vital clues as to its source and means of spreading.
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