Air Quality TestingAir Quality Testing

By: The Mean Green TeamBy: The Mean Green Team

Indoor Air QualityIndoor Air Quality A new science to measure pollutants A new science to measure pollutants

HousesHouses SchoolsSchools BuildingsBuildings

Symptoms for poor air qualitySymptoms for poor air quality Headaches Headaches FatigueFatigue IrritationIrritation

EyesEyes EarsEars Norse Norse throatthroat

Elements TestedElements Tested

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Carbon Dioxide (CO2) Carbon Monoxide (CO)Carbon Monoxide (CO) Formaldehyde (HCHO)Formaldehyde (HCHO) Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) BacteriaBacteria FungusFungus

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Carbon Dioxide (CO2)

Colorless odorless gasColorless odorless gas Generated through:Generated through:

Respiration Respiration Cooking Heating SystemsCooking Heating Systems Wood StovesWood Stoves

Carbon Monoxide (CO)Carbon Monoxide (CO)

Colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas Colorless, odorless, highly poisonous gas produced by incomplete combustion of produced by incomplete combustion of any carbon based materialany carbon based material

Common Source of COCommon Source of CO Automobile exhaustAutomobile exhaust Cigarette smokeCigarette smoke Kerosene heaterKerosene heater Furnaces Furnaces

FormaldehydeFormaldehyde Colorless, pungent gas used in solution Colorless, pungent gas used in solution

as a strong disinfectantas a strong disinfectant Found in:Found in:

Wood building materialWood building material PlasticsPlastics CosmeticsCosmetics Textiles carpet furnitureTextiles carpet furniture PesticidesPesticides Paint gluePaint glue

Nitrogen Dioxide (NONitrogen Dioxide (NO22))

Result of large amounts of NOResult of large amounts of NO22

IrritationIrritation ThroatThroat Nasal passagesNasal passages Upper respiratory tractUpper respiratory tract

Exposure for 30 min. or more can be fatal to Exposure for 30 min. or more can be fatal to the human boby the human boby

Mold, Yeast and BacteriaMold, Yeast and Bacteria

Mold-Downy or fury Mold-Downy or fury growth on the surface of growth on the surface of organic matterorganic matter

Yeast-A cluster of Yeast-A cluster of minute, fermenting fungi minute, fermenting fungi that produces fungithat produces fungi

Allergic reactionAllergic reaction Runny noseRunny nose Sore throat Sore throat Watery eyesWatery eyes SneezingSneezing CoughingCoughing Upper respiratory Upper respiratory

discomfortdiscomfort

FungusFungus

Yeast, Mold, and Yeast, Mold, and mushrooms are a type of mushrooms are a type of fungi.fungi.

Over 90% of plants Over 90% of plants species engage in some species engage in some relationship with fungi in relationship with fungi in order to survive.order to survive.

1.5 million species of 1.5 million species of fungifungi

70 thousand species 70 thousand species have yet to be describedhave yet to be described

AsbestosAsbestos Asbestos:Asbestos:

Can cause lung diseases Can cause lung diseases such as Mesotheliomasuch as Mesothelioma

Does not dissolve in Does not dissolve in Water or EvaporationWater or Evaporation

Does not have any odor or Does not have any odor or tastetaste

(Asbestos is the name given to a group of (Asbestos is the name given to a group of minerals that occur naturally in the minerals that occur naturally in the environment as bundles of fibers)environment as bundles of fibers)

Lead in Paint & DustLead in Paint & Dust

Lead Paint & Lead-Contaminated DustLead Paint & Lead-Contaminated Dust Paint containing lead, a heavy metalPaint containing lead, a heavy metal Before 1978, lead was added to paint as pigment and to speed paint Before 1978, lead was added to paint as pigment and to speed paint

dryingdrying Lead in paint is very harmful to children under the age of 7 Lead in paint is very harmful to children under the age of 7 Lead Dust are to small to see but are very harmfulLead Dust are to small to see but are very harmful Lead can cause permanent brain and nerve damage and result in Lead can cause permanent brain and nerve damage and result in

learning difficulties. learning difficulties.

Air Quality Testing in Air Quality Testing in CALS Early College High CALS Early College High School (Positive results)School (Positive results)

Carbon Monoxide (CO)Carbon Monoxide (CO) GoodGood

Typical CO concentration Typical CO concentration indoors. indoors.

Formaldehyde (HCHO)Formaldehyde (HCHO) GoodGood

Recommended maximum-Recommended maximum-standard by American Society standard by American Society of Heating, Refrigeration, & of Heating, Refrigeration, & AC EngineersAC Engineers

Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2)Nitrogen Dioxide (NO2) GoodGood

Allowable limit-standard by Allowable limit-standard by the Association of Heating, the Association of Heating, Refrigeration, and Air Refrigeration, and Air ConditioningConditioning

Lead in Paint and DustLead in Paint and Dust BDL indicates level is below BDL indicates level is below

detection limitdetection limit AsbestosAsbestos

None DetectedNone Detected

Poor ResultsPoor Results

Carbon Dioxide (CO2)Carbon Dioxide (CO2) PoorPoor

1%-5% per hour or 1000 fo 5000 ppm can or will cause 1%-5% per hour or 1000 fo 5000 ppm can or will cause headaches, fatigue, eye throat and nose irritation after long headaches, fatigue, eye throat and nose irritation after long exposure.exposure.

BacteriaBacteria Very PoorVery Poor

FungusFungus Very PoorVery Poor

Standards Below by INX Laboratories-Can trigger allergic Standards Below by INX Laboratories-Can trigger allergic reactions and cause new allergic reactions, upper-reactions and cause new allergic reactions, upper-respiratory respiratory

Conclusion on Air Quality Conclusion on Air Quality CALS ECHS has moderate indoor air quality. The data CALS ECHS has moderate indoor air quality. The data

indicates that everything is of "good" air quality besides indicates that everything is of "good" air quality besides CO2, mold, and bacteria. This combination can CO2, mold, and bacteria. This combination can

possibly cause headaches, fatigue, irritation of eyes possibly cause headaches, fatigue, irritation of eyes and noses, allergic reactions, dizziness, sneezing, and noses, allergic reactions, dizziness, sneezing,

watery eyes, discomfort, and digestive problems for watery eyes, discomfort, and digestive problems for students. It is likely that this has effected student students. It is likely that this has effected student

performance, particularly those who are sensitive to performance, particularly those who are sensitive to compromised indoor air quality (IAQ).compromised indoor air quality (IAQ).

Suggestions for Air Suggestions for Air QualityQuality Suggestions: Install and use fans vented to the Suggestions: Install and use fans vented to the

outdoors, keep air conditioning ducts clean, outdoors, keep air conditioning ducts clean, change air filters more frequently and buy change air filters more frequently and buy plants that can tolerate low light and little air plants that can tolerate low light and little air circulation. If problem persists hire engineers circulation. If problem persists hire engineers trained in IAQ.trained in IAQ.