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Youmanitarian 13 Jun 2021

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Indoor Environmental Quality (IEQ) - Occupied Buildings & Construction Activities

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Construction activities in an occupied home or building can lead to a wide range of indoor environmental quality (IEQ) concerns and even potential health issues. This is due in part to the fact that construction and renovation projects can adversely affect building occupants by the release of airborne particulates, biological contaminants and gases.

The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) states that particulate material, such as dusts and fibers, are likely to be produced during construction and renovation activities. Non toxic dusts are irritants and can exacerbate lung conditions such as asthma and chronic obstructive lung disease. Materials that contain fibers, such as fiberglass composite materials or insulation, can irritate the skin, eyes and respiratory tract when disbursed in the air. Toxic dusts containing asbestos, polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) or lead can cause serious long-term health effects.

NIOSH also reports that chronic dampness from water intrusions can lead to increased bacteria, mold and other microbes in a building environment. Microbial-contaminated materials require special precautions prior to demolition to prevent biological dusts from dispersing into the occupied space. Another example of biological contamination is an accumulation of bird or rodent droppings. In both cases, uncontrolled disturbances could spread potentially allergenic or infectious dust.

Welding, cutting and brazing activities can release potentially harmful fumes and gases into the air. A number of building materials, coatings and furnishing can also release volatile organic compounds (VOCs) into the air people breathe. Building occupants with VOC exposure may report disagreeable odors, exacerbation of asthma, irritation to the eyes, nose and throat, headaches and drowsiness.

Even issues with changes to the HVAC system, noise, lighting and vibrations due to construction activities can cause problems for people living, working or going school in a building undergoing construction work.

These are just a few of the indoor environmental quality issues that may be encountered during construction activities of an occupied building. To learn more about this or other indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.

Clark Seif Clark http://www.csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. http://www.emsl.com
LA Testing http://www.latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental http://www.zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine http://www.iaq.net
VOETS - Verification, Operations and Environmental Testing Services http://www.voets.nyc

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