|
|
|
Pet Allergies Tips for Reducing Indoor Air Pollutants View Shopping Cart or Check Out PuriTec |
Glossary of Indoor Air Quality Terms Confused about Indoor Air Quality terminology? Here is a list of the more common terms used when talking about IAQ. Air Cleaning. An IAQ strategy to remove various airborne particles and/or gases from the air. The three most commonly used types of air cleaning include particulate filtration, electrostatic precipitation and gas sorption. Air Exchange Rate. The rate at which outside air replaces indoor air in a space. Expressed in one of two ways: the number of changes of outside air per unit of time air changes per hour (ACH); or the rate at which a volume of outside air enters per unit of time - cubic feet per minute (cfm). Air Handling Unit (AHU). For purposes of an IAQ definition , refers to equipment that includes a blower or fan, heating and/or cooling coils, and related equipment such as controls, condensate drain pans and air filters. Air Passages. Openings through or within walls, through floors and ceilings, and around chimney flues and plumbing chases, that permit air to move out of the conditioned spaces of the building. Allergen. A substance capable of causing an allergic reaction because of an individual's sensitivity to that substance. Allergic Rhinitis. Inflammation of the mucous membranes in the nose that is caused by an allergic reaction. Antimicrobial. An agent that kills microbial growth (see also: disinfectant, sanitizer or sterilizer). Biological Contaminants. Agents derived from, or that are, living organisms (e.g., viruses, bacteria, fungi, and mammal and bird antigens) that can be inhaled and can cause many types of health effects including allergic reactions, respiratory disorders, hypersensitivity diseases, and infectious diseases. Also referred to as "microbiologicals" and "microbials". Building-Related Illness (BRI). Diagnosable illness whose symptoms can be identified and whose cause can be directly attributed to airborne building pollutants (e.g., Legionnaire's disease, hypersensitivity pneumonitis). Also: A discrete, identifiable disease or illness that can be traced to a specific pollutant or source within a building. (Contrast with "Sick Building Syndrome".) Central Air Handling Unit. This is the same as an "Air Handling Unit" but serves more than one area. CFM. Cubic feet per minute. The amount of air, in cubic feet, that flows trhough a given space in one minute. 1 CFM equals approximately 2 liters per second (l/s). Chemical Sensitization. Evidence suggests that some people may develop health problems characterized by effects such as dizziness, eye and/or throat irritation, chest tightness, and nasal congestion that appear whenever they are exposed to certain chemicals. Once sensitized, people may react to even trace amounts of these chemicals. CO. Carbon monoxide (gas). CO2. Carbon dioxide (gas). Conditioned Air. Air that has been heated, cooled, humidified, or dehumidified to maintain an interior space within the "comfort zone". Contaminant. An undesirable substance that pollutes the quality of the air. Chronic. Illness or physical reaction that occurs months or years after exposure to the IAQ contaminant or for long exposure periods. Chronic effects are long-lasting. Dander. Tiny scales of animal skin. Disinfectants. One of three groups of antimicrobials registered by EPA for public health uses. The EPA considers an antimicrobial to be a disinfectant when it destroys or irreversibly inactivates infectious or other undesirable organisms, but not necessarily their spores. Electrostatic Precipitator. A device that removes particles from the airflow by using the attractive properties of opposite electric charges. Environmental Agents. Conditions other than indoor air contaminants that cuase stress, comfort, and/or health problems (e.g., humidity extremes, drafts, lack of air circulation, noise, and over-crowding). Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). The regulatory agency of the Federal Government charged with overseeing issues pertaining to air and water quality. Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS). Mixture of smoke from the burning end of a cigarette, pipe, or cigar and smoke exhaled by the smoker. Also known as secondhand smoke or passive smoking. Filtration. The trapping of particles in a filtering medium. Fungi. Any of a group of parasitic lower plants that lack chlorophyll, including molds and mildews. Gases. Individual atoms of molecules spread evenly through the air. These particles are too small to be trapped through ordinary filtration. Gas Sorption. The process of reducing levels of airborne gaseous compounds by passing the air through materials that extract the gases. The performance of solid sorbents is dependent on the airflow rate, concentration of the pollutants, presence of other gases or vapors, and other factors. HEPA. High efficiency particulate arrestance (filters). Humidifier Fever. A respiratory illness caused by exposure to toxins from microorganisms found in wet or moist areas in humidifiers and air conditioners. Also known as air conditioner or ventilation fever. HVAC. Heating, ventilation and air conditioning. Hypersensitivity Diseases. Diseases characterized by allergic responses to pollutants. The hypersensitivity diseases most clearly associated with indoor air quality are asthma, rhinitis, and hypersiensitivity pneumonitis (see below). Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis. A rare hypersensitivity disease that involves progressive lung damage as long as there is exposure to the causative agent. IAQ. Indoor Air Quality. Indicator Compounds. Chemical compounds, such as carbon dioxide, whose presence at certain concentrations may be used to estimate certain building conditions. Indoor Air Pollutant. Particles and dust, fibers, mists, bioaerosols, and gases or vapors. Legionnaires' Disease. A serious respiratory illness caused by the Legionella bacteria. MCS. See "Multiple Chemical Sensitivity". Microbiological Contaminants. See "Biological Contaminants". Micron (m). Measurement of length equivalent to 1/25,000th of an inch. The human eye is capable of viewing particles that are approximately 10 micron or greater in diameter. Mitigate. To alleviate or relieve. MSDS. Material Safety Data Sheet. Multiple Chemical Sensitivity (MCS). A condition in which a person reports sensitivity or intolerance ( as distinct from "allergic") to a number of chemicals and other irritants at very low concentrations. There are different views among medical professionals about the existence, causes, diagnosis and treatment of this condition. Negative Pressure. Air will move into the space from outside the space where the pressure is higher. NIOSH. National Institute of Safety and Health. Organic Compounds. Chemicals that contain carbon. Volatile organic compounds vaporize at room temperature and pressure. They are found in many indoor sources, including many common cleaning products and building materials. OSHA. Occupations Safety and Health Administration. Outdoor Air Supply. Air brought into a building from the outdoors, often through the ventilation system. This air has not been previously circulated through the HVAC system. Also known as "Make-Up Air". Ozone. An unstable gas consisting of three oxygen atoms. It is an oxidizer of organic matter and is considered harmful to humans. Particles (Particulates). Solids or liquids light enough to be suspended in the air. PELs. Permissible Exposure Limits (standards set by OSHA). PicoCurie (pCi). A unit for measuring radioactivity, often expressed as picocuries per liter (pCi/L) of air. Plenum. Air compartment connected to a duct or ducts in the HVAC system. Pollutant Pathways. Avenues for distribution of pollutants in a building. HVAC systems are the primary pathways in most buildings; however, all building components interact to affect how air movement distributes pollutants. Positive Pressure. Air will move from the space to outside the space where the pressure is lower. PPM. Parts per million. Measurement of concentration of particles in the air. Pressure, Static. In flowing air, the total pressure minus velocity pressure. The portion of the pressure that pushes equally in all directions. Pressure, Total. In flowing air, the sum of the static pressure and the velocity pressure. Pressure, Velocity. In flowing air, the pressure due to the velocity and density of the air. Psychogenic Illness. This syndrome has been defined as a group of symptoms that develop in an individual, or group of individuals in the same environment, who are under some type of physical or emotional stress. This does not mean that individuals have a psychiatric disorder or that they are imagining symptoms. Psychosocial Factors. Psychological, organizational and personal stressors that could produce symptoms similar to those caused by poor indoor air quality. Radon (Rn) and Radon Decay Products. A radioactive gas formed in the decay of uranium. The radon decay products (also referred to as progeny) can be breathed into the lung where they continue to release radiation as the decay process continues. Recirculated Air. Indoor air that is taken in from the conditioned space and sent through the HVAC system. It must be mixed with sufficient outdoor air to prevent the build-up of contaminants. Re-entrainment. Also known as re-entry. Situation that occurs when the air being exhausted from a building is immediately brought back into the system through the air intake and other openings in the building envelope. Relative Humidity. The amount of moisture the air can hold at any given temperature compared to the amount of moisture it could hold at any given temperature. RELs. Recommended Exposure Limits (recommendations made by NIOSH). Sanitizer. One of three groups of antimicrobials registered by the EPA for public health uses. The EPA considers an antimicrobial to be a sanitizer when it reduces but does not necessarily eliminate all the microorganisms on a treated surface. Short-Circuiting. Situation that occurs when the supply air flows to return or exhaust grills before entering the breathing zone (area of a room where the people are). To avoid short-circuiting, the supply air must be delivered at a temperature, velocity and location that results in mixing throughout the space. Sick Building Syndrome (SBS). Refers to a set of symptoms that affect some number of building occupants during the time they spend in the building and diminish or go away during periods when they are away from the building. Cannot be traced to specific pollutants or sources within the building (contrast with "Building Related Illness"). Sources. Sources of indoor air pollutants. Indoor air pollutants can originate within the building or be drawn in from outdoors. Common sources include people, room furnishings such as carpeting, photocopiers, art supplies, etc. Static Pressure. Condition exists when an equal amount of air is supplied to and exhausted from a space. At static pressure, equilibrium has been reached. TLVs. Threshold Limit Values (guidelines recommended by the American Conference of Governmental Industrial Hygenists). TVOCs. Total volatile organic compounds. Ventilation Air. Defined as the total air, which is a combination of the air brought inside from outdoors and the air that is being recirculated within the building. Sometimes, however, it is used in reference only to the air brought into the system from the outdoors; in this case it should be referenced as "outdoor air ventilation." Ventilation Rate. The rate at which indoor air enters and leaves a building. Expressed in one of two ways: the number of changes of outdoor air per unit of time (air changes per hour) or the rate at which a volume of outdoor air enters per unit of time (cubic feet per minute, or "cfm"). Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs). Compounds that vaporize (become a gas) at room temperature. Common sources which may emit VOCs include housekeeping and maintenance products and building and furnishing materials. In sufficient quantities, VOCs may cause eye, nose and throat irritations, headaches, dizziness, visual disorders, memory impairment; some are know to cause cancer in animals and some are suspected of causing, or are known to cause, cancer in humans. At the present time, not much is known about what health effect occur at the levels of VOCs typically found in public and commercial buildings. Click below for live, online chat with company expert, daytime hours Pacific time
Return Home |
