In Los Angeles, there are many people who spend thousands of dollars on indoor air quality testing and certification. That is because this is a highly polluted area. The smog in the air contains so many pollutants that many times, the indoor air quality testing done by professionals cannot determine what kind of contamination is present. When a home has not been subjected to testing, it is very difficult to tell if your indoor air quality is bad or good.
Everyone knows that indoor air quality testing is very important, particularly if you spend a great deal of time indoors (unless you like a bit of garden glamping!). Indoor air contains thousands of different contaminants such as dust, mold spores, pollen, and other chemicals. If you want to stay healthy, then you need to make sure you are exposing yourself to safe levels of these contaminants. Otherwise, you could be putting yourself at risk for many serious health complications.
A major part of the indoor air quality testing done in Los Angeles is based on a questionnaire that is distributed to all of the residents of the city. The questionnaire collects data on the types of contaminants present in the home and their frequency in the air. Questions about the amount of pollution in the home, outside pollution level and sources of air pollution are also included. In the most comprehensive indoor air quality testing system in the country, biological contaminants are measured. These include a wide variety of microscopic pathogens, such as bacteria and viruses, and various other environmental and chemical contaminants, such as VOCs or volatile organic compounds.
Of all of the pollutants measured during indoor air quality testing, nearly 12% of the questionnaire contains data on biological contaminants. Surprisingly, this is one of the highest percentage rates of any questionnaire that is available. Some of the reasons why this occurs are quite technical, but some of it has to do with the fact that we don’t know how to test for these types of contaminants effectively.
When doing the indoor air quality testing, the data that is collected is then sent to an outside lab. There, technicians will be able to measure the amount of the pollutant in the air inside of a home, and then to determine if any of the samples are contaminated. Many times, sensors used for outdoor air quality measurement will also measure the amount of contamination in the home. With the use of sensors for both outdoor and indoor air quality testing, Los Angeles home and business owners can be confident that they are getting good results, and they can make informed decisions about improving the quality of the air inside of their home.
Many different factors can affect the safety levels of various contaminants, so it is important for home and business owners to understand the difference between short-term and long-term testing kits. Short-term test kits are ones that are used to determine if the levels of radon or other pollutants in a home’s air are above the level of safety set by the EPA. This level is 40 picocuries per liter. Long-term test kits, on the other hand, are used when there is an established level of radon in the air, and when professional assistance is needed in determining whether the levels are safe for human breathing.
The indoor air quality testing kits that are available are very affordable, and they can be purchased online or at local stores. However, keep in mind that there are kits available that do not work as effectively as the EPA recommends. For example, if you only test for radon, then you may not find out whether or not you have dangerous levels of ozone in the air. These two pollutants can actually act together to increase a person’s lifetime risk of lung cancer. Therefore, it is highly recommended that all persons who wish to purchase an indoor air quality testing kit take one to two weeks long training courses that teach individuals how to evaluate the levels of gases and pollutants in a home.
When you buy indoor air quality testing kits, you are also advised to look for instructions or manuals with detailed information about what happens when you test the air at various locations throughout the home. The testing procedures are usually done on someone who has been trained and certified to do so. In fact, it is often more expensive to purchase a kit and then hire someone to install it for you than it is to buy the kit and then learn how to install it on your own. Indoor air pollution is something that everyone should be concerned about. Therefore, finding out whether or not the air quality in your home is safe is important.
When doing the indoor air quality testing, the data that is collected is then sent to an outside lab. There, technicians will be able to measure the amount of the pollutant in the air inside of a home, and then to determine if any of the samples are contaminated. Many times, sensors used for outdoor air quality measurement will also measure the amount of contamination in the home. With the use of sensors for both outdoor and indoor air quality testing, Los Angeles home and business owners can be confident that they are getting good results, and they can make informed decisions about improving the quality of the air inside of their home.
