INDOOR AIR QUALITY TESTING

WHY TEST INDOOR AIR QUALITY?

We Montrealers spend about 85% of our time indoors. It’s important that air quality inside be safe. Often, it’s much more contaminated and polluted than outdoor air.

There are many reasons it makes sense to test a home’s air for chemical pollutants that could affect your health and the well-being of your family. Infants, children and the elderly are particularly susceptible to indoor pollution.

Contaminated indoor air quality can cause asthma, allergies and even more serious breathing and health problems.

Mose inspectors are equipped with advanced devices to detect and determine levels of air quality in your home, or in a home you are about to purchase.

ACTIVE mouldS

moulds are microscopic fungi that can be found almost anywhere, both indoors and outdoors. mould growth occurs mainly in warm, damp, and humid conditions. They reproduce by making spores that are released into the air to be transported to other places where they can germinate and grow. When mould is in an active growth phase, it releases gases into the air called mould Volatile Organic Compounds (MVOCs). Not all of these gases can be detected by smell.

moulds can grow on wood and insulation, in carpet, and even behind walls where they can continue to grow undetected. In fact, we’ve seen mould grow in innumerable places, including:

When excessive moisture accumulates in the home, mould growth will often occur. This moisture build-up can stem from plumbing leaks, from condensation in air conditioning and heating systems, or from ground water penetration. If damp or wet drywall becomes moist and is not dried out within two days, mould can be suspected to be growing within the walls, even if it is not visible.

Mose inspectors use mould testing equipment that detects mould hidden and growing behind walls, ceilings and flooring without opening walls thus disturbing or spreading any mould growth. The test detects when mould is actively growing, not for single mould spores.

FORMALDEHYDE

Formaldehyde is a chemical commonly used in the manufacture of building materials and numerous household products. At room temperature, formaldehyde vaporizes into the air, potentially causing serious health problems. It is also a by-product of combustion processes. When you burn things like natural gas, wood, gasoline, or tobacco, formaldehyde gas is released into the air. The most significant sources of formaldehyde in homes are: pressed wood products like particle board, plywood paneling, and MDF (medium density fiberboard); foam insulation; carpets; drapery fabrics; resins; glues; cigarettes; and un-vented, fuel-burning appliances like gas stoves or kerosene heaters.

Health effects of formaldehyde are eye, nose and throat burning and irritation; nausea; skin rashes; and breathing difficulties in some people. High concentrations of formaldehyde can trigger asthma attacks. Formaldehyde is also considered a known human carcinogen (cancer-causing substance), classified as a Hazardous Air Pollutant (HAP) by the EPA. Since formaldehyde is present in so many building materials and household products, every home should be tested for the presence of this toxic chemical.

TOBACCO SMOKE

Mose IAQ inspection specifically targets chemical compounds known to be present in secondhand smoke, sometimes referred to as environmental tobacco smoke or passive smoke, as well as third hand smoke, commonly thought of as stale tobacco smoke or tobacco smoke residue. While tobacco smoke contains over 4,000 chemical compounds, many of which are emitted at low levels or, like nicotine. are not volatile enough to stay in the air for very long. Thus, the ability to predict that tobacco smoke is present in the air, especially after smoking activity has ceased, is difficult task requiring specialized technology and expertise.

However, by utilizing sophisticated sample collection and analysis methodologies with detection limits in the 0.1 ng/L range, our tobacco smoke test is able to isolate specific chemical markers that have been determined by recent leading edge research to be present when tobacco is or has been burned. This makes it an invaluable test for anyone wanting to know if an apartment, home, or house they’re planning to occupy can be considered a smoke-free environment.