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Indoor Air Quality

Seattle, WA - Environix

Inspection & Testing Clean-Up/ Remediation Mold Prevention Attic Mold Crawlspace Clean-up Industries We Serve Indoor Air Quality Case Studies EnviroFACT Bed Bugs: In our beds, a prime habitat (where 1/3 of life occurs), a typical used mattress may have anywhere from 100,000 to 10 million mites inside. Ten percent of the weight of a two year old pillow can be composed of dead mites and their droppings.

	Environix provides Indoor Air Quality Testing services with Allergen Screening.	The next few months will primarily be spent indoors. IAQ testing is the best way to find out if the air you breathe is clean and pure.

dust mites in your mattress and pillow

Who's sleeping in your bed?

Millions of the flea like creatures, that
belong to the arachnid (spiders, scorpions and others) family are living in your mattress right now amongst other
unhealthy allergens such as bacteria,
molds, fungi and viruses no matter how
clean you are or how old your mattress is.

What Size Are Allergens?
Allergens are substances that cause allergic reactions and trigger asthma symptoms in some people. Allergen particles are carried in the air, but they will settle onto furniture and floor surfaces. They vary in size and are measured in microns (also called micrometers). The larger the particles, the faster they will settle out of the air. Pollen, dust mite and cockroach debris are larger and settle out of the air more quickly than molds or animal allergens.

Dust Mite

The top part of mattresses containing fibrous material is a favorite place for dust mites during warm and humid times. The deeper parts of mattresses may provide protected areas for the dust mites during unfavorable conditions.

Clothing is used by dust mites as a means of transportation from room to room or even from house to house.

Pollen

Pollen is an airborne biological contaminant that can contribute to poor indoor air quality. Studies have shown that pollen often will collect other toxins/ pollutants floating around in the air making the surface proteins even more allergenic.

Environix provides Indoor Allergen Screens that test for a multitude of pollens commonly found in both homes and outdoor environments.

Indoor Air Quality and Allergies

Allergy and asthma control begins at home. Many people with allergies stay indoors when outdoor air is full of pollen and spores. But dust mites, animal dander and even cockroaches can cause problems indoors. Eight out of 10 people in the United States are exposed to house dust mites, and six out of 10 are exposed to cat or dog dander. Cockroaches cause allergic reactions among people who live in the inner cities or southern parts of the United States. Controlling the air quality in your home, office and car can reduce allergy and asthma symptoms.

The following is a list of the tests and analysis that will be completed in your IAQ evaluation.

Plant: Pollen Grass Ragweed
Other Plant: Algae Diatoms Fern Moss Spores Fungus
Biological: Cat/ Dog Dander Insect Parts Skin Cell Fragments Dust Mites
Non-Biological: Fiberglass Soot Fibers Rusts Carbon
Mold Spores: Penicillium/ Aspergillius Stachybotrys Plus over 20 additional potentially toxigenic mold species

Is Indoor Allergy Control Possible?
With aggressive cleaning, you can improve indoor air quality and reduce allergy symptoms. First you need to remove the source of as many allergens that you are sensitive to as possible. This includes pets, carpets, overstuffed furniture, stuffed toys, non-encased mattresses and pillows and bedding not washable in hot water. There may be more allergens on surfaces than in the air. Surface allergens can be put into the air easily by disturbing them by sitting or dusting, for example.

Will Air Cleaning Devices Help?
The best way to improve symptoms is to eliminate the source of the allergen from the home whether that is the pet or a heavily mite-infested upholstered chair. The next best step is to take measures to decrease the exposure to the allergen. Other important measures are to increase the circulation of outdoor air into the home and to reduce the humidity as much as possible.

Reducing humidity decreases dust mite and mold growth. Air conditioners help reduce the humidity as well as prevent the exposure of outdoor allergens. You can reduce the number of outdoor allergens such as pollen and mold from entering the home by keeping windows and doors closed and the air conditioner set on recirculate.

Current research suggests that the role for freestanding indoor air cleaners is limited. Elimination of the source of the allergen is the most effective way to reduce symptoms. Many more allergens are in carpets and furnishings than in the air.

What Can I Do to Reduce Indoor Allergens?

1. Control dust mites. Keep surfaces in the home clean and uncluttered. Bare floors and walls are best, particularly in the bedroom where you spend one-third of your time. If you must have carpet, throw rugs that can be washed or low-pile carpets are better.

The single most important method is to put zippered allergen impermeable or plastic covers on all pillows, mattresses and box springs. Encasing mattresses works better than air cleaners to reduce allergy symptoms. Every week, wash bedding, uncovered pillows and stuffed toys in hot water (130 degree F.) to kill mites.

2. Vacuum once or twice weekly. Keep in mind, though, that vacuuming will not get to dust mites deep in carpets and mattresses. Vacuuming also puts dust in the air. Use a vacuum with a HEPA filter or special double filter bags if possible. If you have allergies, wear a dust mask while doing housework. Use a damp or treated cloth for dusting. Leave the house for several hours after cleaning it.

Prevent animal dander. Most doctors suggest that people allergic to animal dander not keep household pets with feathers or fur.

To test the affect of pets on your allergies, go on a long vacation away from areas where pets have been. This is preferable since pet dander can stay around a home for months even after the pet is gone. If that is not possible, remove the pets from your home for at least two months and thoroughly clean all surfaces including walls and woodwork. Monitor your symptoms. If you still want pets, bring a pet into the house, measure the change in your symptoms, then decide if keeping the pet is worthwhile.

If you decide to keep a pet, bar it from the bedroom and keep the door closed. Cover vents with dense material like cheesecloth. Because animal allergens are sticky, you need to remove the animal's favorite furniture and replace wall-to-wall carpet with bare floors or at least a low pile carpet. A better option is to choose a pet without fur or feathers. Some people, though, also have been known to be allergic to lizards such as the iguana.

3. Prevent entry of pollen by keeping windows and doors closed. Air conditioning in warm weather is best and also helps control dust mites by reducing humidity. Change filters often in window units.

4. Avoid mold spores. Reduce moisture around the bathroom, kitchen and other water areas of the home. Dehumidifiers will help reduce both mold and dust mites. Limit yourself to a few house plants. Fix all leaks and other causes of damp areas. Clean moldy surfaces. Rid the yard of moldy firewood and piles of leaves and weeds.