The short answer is yes; you should have your air tested. For many Virginia residents, the outside air is far from clean. Air pollution is a byproduct of the technological and industrial aspects of our daily lives.
Things like smoke from factories, co2 emissions from cars, and chemical pesticides flood the air you breathe every day. Unfortunately, these air pollutants can make their way into your home and become trapped there. Studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) show that the air in many American households often contains 2 to 5 times the amount of pollutants as the air outside.
Poor air quality can lead to many short and long term health effects. Understanding the different types of air pollutants, and what can be done to eliminate them is the first step to creating a clean, safe environment for your family.
Types of Pollutants
While air pollutants can affect anyone, they can have the most significant impact on the health of children, elderly, and those with health conditions such as asthma. Here are just a few air pollutants that are commonly found in homes in Richmond and Virginia beach.
Radon– Radon is a radioactive gas that comes from soil. It is colorless and odorless, which makes it particularly dangerous, as it is impossible to detect without the aid of radon tests or detectors. Long term exposure to radon has been linked to lung cancer and many other respiratory health problems.
Mold– Many pollutants come from outside, but they can also originate inside the home. Mold is one such air pollutant. Mold can quickly spread throughout your entire home, not only releasing toxic spores into the air but causing significant damage to wood, drywall, and carpeting.
Chemicals– Without proper ventilation, chemical particles from both internal and external sources can become trapped inside the walls of your home. Many everyday cleaning products have been known to contain chemicals that aggravate allergy symptoms and cause sensory hypersensitivity.
Testing Your Air Quality
The best way to find out exactly what is in the air of your home is to have a qualified technician perform an indoor air quality test. At AQC, this type of testing is our specialty.
These first step in the testing process involves collecting pollution measurements in the air with state-of-the-art monitoring equipment, followed by a detailed inspection of your home. If any contaminants (such as mold) are discovered, samples will be collected and sent to a lab for testing. After receiving the results of the tests, you will be provided with a full diagnostic report of what the lab discovered.
One of our air quality experts will then discuss any findings and help you to create a plan of action to eliminate any problem causing pollutants.
We Care About Your Air
Your home should be a place where you can breathe easily and escape from the pollution outside of your home. At Air Quality Consultants, we are dedicated to helping families in the Richmond and Virginia Beach areas stay happy and healthy by creating a pollutant-free environment. If you are concerned about the quality of the air within your home, please don’t hesitate to schedule an indoor air quality test today.
