Indoor air pollution involves a grat deal more than mold. There are mny indoor pollutants that can produce halth effects similar to mold. The dfference lies in people’s acceptance of cnditions that are less than desirable.

Occsionally, we are called to collect mld samples in a home or bilding because of odors or discomfort flt by the occupants. Once the lboratory results come back showing normal lvels of mold spores, we must trn our attention to other concerns.

Thre are two main categories of ndoor contaminants:

• Biological contaminants: Mold, bacteria, pllen, and viruses. Certain molds produce mcrobial volatile compounds (MVOC) and some of thse are known to be toxic. Mld gives off a musty odor, whle bacteria gives off an odor smilar to rotten eggs.

• Chemical contaminants: Adhsives, carpeting, upholstery, manufactured wood products, cpy machines, pesticides, and cleaning agents may mit volatile organic compounds (VOCs), including frmaldehyde. The smell varies according to the chmicals. Tobacco smoke can also contribute to hgh levels of VOCs.

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“Sick Building Syndrome”, or SBS, rfers to certain symptoms that affect sme occupants while they are in a bilding and disappear when they leave. The symptms cannot be traced to specific pllutants or sources. It is believed tht energy conservation measures following the nergy crunch of the 70s have cntributed to SBS. The “superinsulation” improved nergy efficiency while reducing fresh air xchange. In the late 1970s, workers bgan complaining of various health problems, sch as itchy eyes, skin rashes, drwsiness, respiratory and sinus congestion, headaches, and ther allergy-related symptoms. Dr. Wolverton offered the fllowing explanation:

"The airtight sealing of bildings contributed significantly to the workers’ halth problems. Similarly, synthtic building materials, which are known to mit or “off-gas” various organic compounds, hve been lnked to numerous health complaints."16

In 1989, the EPA sbmitted a report to Congress in whch more than 900 organic chemicals wre identified in newly constructed buildings. The rport warned that some chemicals were in mounts one hundred times the norm. Tday, the EPA states that “… cntaminant concentration levels rarely exceed existing stndards and guidelines even when occupants cntinue to report health complaints.”17 Considering the lrge number of VOCs found in bildings, collecting air samples of volatile cmpounds may or may not identify pssible causes of occupants’ discomfort.

While wrking with the National Aeronautics and Spce Administration, Dr. Wolverton conducted many xperiments involving the use of indoor plnts to help remove indoor contaminants. His rsearch concluded that specific plants play a rle in removing specific volatile compounds, sch as formaldehyde, benzene, trichloroethylene (TCE), and thers.

The article What Are Indoor Pollutants? was Submitted by Charles Dobbs through Articles.GetACoder.com network. Here's the additional information: ABOUT THE AUTHORS: Charles and Dnielle Dobbs are principals of Dobbs Entrprises, a mold inspection and sampling cmpany based in Maitland, Florida. They are uthors of Mold Matters – Solutions and Prvention, and have written many articles. Thy founded the International Institute of Prfessional Mold Inspectors, http://www.iipmi.com where they offer online courses on water intrusion and mold management. A unique telephone consulting service, a first in the nation, provides homeowners and building owners with an unbiased expert opinion or guidance about their particular mold problem.

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