November 30, 2006
Indoor Air Pollution Health Problem NOSE EYES etc.
Know what kind of air pollution health problem Nose detects? It's often linked to symptoms affecting his brothers, Eyes, Throat and even Skin. These guys can tell you a lot. They fill you in with one or more of the following symptoms:
- dryness and irritation,
- sinus congestion,
- headache,
- fatigue,
- shortness of breath,
- hypersensitivity and allergies,
- coughing and sneezing,
- dizziness, and/or
- nausea.
These body parts act as your air quality sensors. They may show these symptoms after several hours of exposure and recover after leaving the affected area. Keep in mind, though, things besides air quality can also result in these signs.
How serious is this?
We can have:- SBS Sick Building Syndrome or TBS Tight Building Syndrome - Where people in buildings feel lousy after being in the building, but cannot pinpoint the cause.
- BRI Building-Related Illness - Here, the victim can become quite sick from being inside the premesis. The symptoms are more consistent from case to case compared to the other syndromes listed here. Investigators can often identify a specific cause, such as bacteria in the ventilation system in case of Legionnaires Disease.
- MCS Multiple Chemical Sensitivities - where chemicals, rather than bacteria cause the problems. Apparently it does not take much, but the medical community does not entirely agree on this one.
If you suspect an Indoor Air Quality problem...
...here are a few things to watch out for:As a potential victim: Make a record of your symptoms, and especially the circumstances when they clear up. With this info, you now have a case to take to the place's health and safety officer or even your doctor. It might not even hurt to consult some of the information the government provides concerning these issues. This is a good start in getting to the bottom of any air pollution health problem Nose finds for you.
As a maintenance person: Check the air circulation mechanisms to see if they work correctly. Check filters, pathways and distribution. Check for intrusions of chemicals, mould, dust and other contamination. See if there is any consistency amongst people or is this simply an isolated case? As a last resort, look into air quality testing by a qualified professional.