The quality of the air we breathe is of great importance to our good health. Air quality in buildings depend upon many things, including the age of the building, the condition of the air conditioning system, and the amount of fresh air that is introduced to the building. Molds, fungi, dusts and vapors can find their way into buildings over a long duration or quickly, causing discomfort and even sickness and disease. For this reason, we must be on the lookout for problems that may develop into air quality problems.
Good maintenance is generally the key to good indoor air quality over the long run.
Keeping the air conditioning and vents clean and in proper working order is important. Short term problems can develop from maintenance activities, such as a recent case where the building was being sealed with a silicon solution, and the vapors of the silicon mixed with varsol entered the building intake ventilation and caused problems for the occupants. Sometimes even seemingly innocuous air contaminants can cause problems for people who are allergic to the specific contaminants. Some people become sensitized to certain chemicals and other materials in such a way that the slightest contact will result in severe reactions. If you suffer symptoms that appear to be associated with a particular location or activity, it may be necessary to perform an air quality analysis to determine if the problem is connected to the location or activity.