WHAT ARE THE SPECIFIC CAUSES OF POOR INDOOR AIR QUALITY?
Poor ventilation and specific sources of contaminants in the home cause most indoor air problems. Each of these will be addressed in this section. 1. Ventilation Problems Poor indoor air quality is generally caused by the lack of adequate ventilation, which results in a buildup of contaminants from sources in the home. The National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health identified inadequate ventilation as the primary problem in more than half the workplace indoor air investigations it has conducted. Investigations conducted in homes by the Illinois Department of Public Health have found the same to be true. These investigations revealed that proper ventilation is important in maintaining good indoor air quality. Most residential heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) systems recirculate indoor air to conserve energy. The current trend in home construction is to reduce air leakage through cracks and other openings in walls, floors, and roofs. The combination of these c
