It has been difficult to explain the high number of absences because of illness and other respiratory issues at the smallest and oldest elementary school in the district. Even though the school is located in one of the lowest income areas of the school district’s boundaries, it does not seem to make sense that the number of reported illnesses is so much greater in this one building. After much discussion, the school board finally decided to conduct an inspection and compare the indoor air quality facts between this older school and two of the newer schools in the district. Unfortunately, the findings were disturbing. This one particular school had significantly higher mold numbers when comparing it to the indoor air quality facts profile sheets from the other buildings.
Checking for mold and monitoring air quality is essential to the health and well being of your family. Alarmingly, 30% to 50% of all structures in the U.S. have damp conditions which may actually encourage the growth and buildup of biological pollutants. Mold testing can help you determine if your home or place of business has a problem and requires mold remediation.
Indoor air quality testing is especially important in homes and businesses where residents or workers have respiratory issues. Asthma is the sixth ranking chronic condition in America and it’s the leading serious chronic illness of children in this country. Asthma and several other respiratory illnesses can be triggered or exacerbated by mold, spores, dust, allergens, and other toxic particles found indoors.
Unfortunately, the quality of indoor air can be as much as two to five times more polluted than the worst outside air. In the worst cases, indoor air quality has even been found to be up to 100 times more dangerous. In fact, since we spend as much as 90% of our time indoors, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has ranked indoor air pollution among the top five environmental dangers in our country today. Frightening, isn’t it?
Luckily, companies with licensed and certified technicians can come to your home or place of business and conduct an air quality test and provide the results in the form of an indoor air quality facts analysis. Using this information, you or your employer can determine if the air you are breathing is safe, or if it needs to be improved. These same services can provide solutions to mold and mildew problems.
