How’s the air quality indoors? Residents urged to assess buildings
The Environmental Health Division of the Ministry of Health has issued an advisory to the public to analyse and assess commercial and residential buildings for indoor air quality issues.
A media release from the Ministry of Health said the division is seeking to raise awareness about such issues.
And according to Chief Environmental Health Officer, Lionel Michael, while mould is to be considered among indoor air quality concerns, other factors such as ventilation, the ability to get fresh air into buildings, exhaust, stale air, housekeeping, and external contaminants entering the building must also be considered.
“That is why it is imperative that we intensify our efforts to analyse and assess buildings, not just from an engineering and availability standpoint,” Michael stated while further advising residents to consider architectural, spatial, functionality and airflow before occupying a building.
The Environmental Health Division started assessing buildings for air quality issues more intensely in 2018 after the September 2017 hurricanes.
According to Michael, the findings from those assessments indicated that the main problems associated with poor indoor air quality include high concentrations of carbon dioxide, moisture, high air temperatures combined with very little to no ventilation and uncomfortable office settings.
He said furnishings, cleaning products, maintenance, personal care products in addition to vehicle exhaust, sewerage and the Sahara Desert dust are other general sources of air pollutants.
He added: “If you can see mould in a building that means that moisture is coming in from somewhere, because mould cannot grow without moisture. There may also be mould coming inside from sources outside such as trees, galvanise, garbage and other products that can blow the mould inside.”
The Environmental Health Division said persons having concerns regarding indoor air quality should first assess their homes and businesses and may contact the Division for advice.
And according to Chief Environmental Health Officer, Lionel Michael, while mould is to be considered among indoor air quality concerns, other factors such as ventilation, the ability to get fresh air into buildings, exhaust, stale air, housekeeping, and external contaminants entering the building must also be considered.
“That is why it is imperative that we intensify our efforts to analyse and assess buildings, not just from an engineering and availability standpoint,” Michael stated while further advising residents to consider architectural, spatial, functionality and airflow before occupying a building.
The Environmental Health Division started assessing buildings for air quality issues more intensely in 2018 after the September 2017 hurricanes.
According to Michael, the findings from those assessments indicated that the main problems associated with poor indoor air quality include high concentrations of carbon dioxide, moisture, high air temperatures combined with very little to no ventilation and uncomfortable office settings.
He said furnishings, cleaning products, maintenance, personal care products in addition to vehicle exhaust, sewerage and the Sahara Desert dust are other general sources of air pollutants.
He added: “If you can see mould in a building that means that moisture is coming in from somewhere, because mould cannot grow without moisture. There may also be mould coming inside from sources outside such as trees, galvanise, garbage and other products that can blow the mould inside.”
The Environmental Health Division said persons having concerns regarding indoor air quality should first assess their homes and businesses and may contact the Division for advice.
