Blog Layout

Air Quality Testing & Sick Building Syndrome

Feb 15, 2023

Sick building syndrome is a new concern of homeowners, office workers, and building owners everywhere. What is sick building syndrome? And how can you identify and fix it?

What Is Sick Building Syndrome?

Sick building syndrome is a condition caused by exposure to poor indoor air quality over time. Usually, this manifests in people living or working in a building with poor air quality. Because many symptoms are similar to allergies, sick building syndrome can be hard to pin down. However, if multiple people have similar symptoms from spending large amounts of time in the same buildings, sick building syndrome could be the cause.

Sick building syndrome can have different symptoms in different people. However, they can include:

  • headache
  • cough
  • throat, nose, or eye irritation
  • nausea
  • difficulty concentrating
  • allergy-like symptoms, such as sneezing.

In addition to these possible symptoms, a huge warning sign for sick building syndrome is that the patient recovers after leaving the building for an extended period of time.

What Are Some Ways to Prevent Sick Building Syndrome?

There are a few ways to help prevent sick building syndrome.

  • Improve your building's ventilation. Poor ventilation is a major risk factor, so no matter what else is contributing to poor air quality, improving ventilation will help.
  • It is located near a source of chemical fumes, such as a garage. Outdoor air coming into a building can be a source of indoor air pollution. If fumes and exhaust enter the building from nearby cars or appliances, it can make people inside the building sick.
  • Test for and remove biological contaminants, like mold or animal droppings. For example, mold is an extremely common cause of poor air quality. Periodic mold inspections and HVAC cleanings can help keep your building free of biological contaminants.
  • Test for and remove chemical contaminants, which could range from air fresheners to asbestos. We use products that pollute our homes and buildings frequently, such as solvents, cleaning products, pesticides. Other pollutants include asbestos building materials, unvented HVAC systems, and deteriorating furniture. All of these diverse chemical contaminants can build up without proper ventilation.
  • Get a professional air quality test. To be sure of your building's unique air quality issues, the best thing to do is to get a professional air quality test. Air quality tests can detect the presence of many contaminants, such as mold, asbestos, radon, tobacco smoke, and more. Each problem might have a slightly different solution, so an air quality test lets you proceed with confidence.

Stay Healthier Indoors With BioClean

At BioClean NY, we can help you determine whether your building has poor air quality with indoor air quality testing. If you suspect you have poor ventilation or contaminants, we can find the exact cause of sick building syndrome and work with you to fix it. Contact us today.

Cleaning Bathroom Mold on Your Own | BioClean NY
15 Mar, 2023
Mold in the bathroom: it's every homeowner's worst nightmare, but it's surprisingly common. Why does mold love bathrooms so much? And how can you clean it up on your own?
Fireplace & Chimney Mold: What to Know This Winter | BioClean NY
15 Jan, 2023
You might not think of your fireplace or chimney as a place mold could grow. However, just like any other possibly damp, dark place, it could be a haven for mold. Learn what causes this mold and how you can combat it so you can continue enjoying your fireplace this winter.
Top 5 Causes of Winter Mold | BioClean NY
15 Dec, 2022
You might associate mold with summer, when humidity is high and thunderstorms happen every day. Unfortunately, even in the winter, moisture and mold are a threat to your home. Learn the top 5 common causes of winter mold so that you can prevent and combat it in your home!
Musty Smell? It Could Be Mold | BioClean - Westchester County, NY
15 Nov, 2022
Has your house been smelling musty or stale lately? It could be mold. Your nose is one of the best ways to identify mold. Here are the top three ways to tell you might have mold in your house.
Why Is Mold Remediation Necessary? | BioClean NY
14 Oct, 2022
If you find mold in your home and start researching, you might hear a lot of new terms. One of the most important is "mold remediation." But what makes this term different from plain old mold removal? Here's how mold remediation works.
Keeping Your Basement Free From Mold | BioClean NY
15 Sep, 2022
Mold grows in moisture, no matter where it is. So the key to keeping your basement mold-free is keeping it dry! Here are some common causes of water in your basement that can lead to mold.
Share by: