Indoor air pollutants create health issues

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Indoor air pollutants create health issues

Truman State University Index*

Hall

Issue date: 10/16/08 Section: TruLife

http://media.www.trumanindex.com/media/storage/paper607/news/2008/10/

16/Trulife/Indoor.Air.Pollutants.Create.Health.Issues-3489070.shtml

While the world looks upward for pollution, many ignore the air

problems at eye level.

Although some of Truman's older buildings are starting to show their

age, the University's renovations reflect a growing concern for

indoor air pollutants and health issues like asthma and allergies.

Steve Peeler, heating, ventilation and cooling control technician

for Truman, said that during the oil and energy crisis in the '70s

people started weather-stripping houses and adding extra insulation.

The lack of ventilation and sealing conditions in many homes and

buildings caused illness.

" Usually about 15 cubic feet [of air movement] per person is

standard according to [American Society of Heating, Refrigeration

and Air-Conditioning] a company that set a lot of standards, " Peeler

said.

With no ventilation, pollution builds up.

" There are lots of sources of indoor air pollution like building

materials, green house gases, cheaper building materials like

formaldehyde mobile homes, fumes, solvents [and] paint, " Peeler said.

New University renovations take steps to reduce unnecessary

pollutants like using paints that have lower Volatile Organic

Compounds.

" It's like the new building smell, " Peeler said. " It is actually

just fumes being given off. "

The new residence halls provide air conditioning for each room and

also a different type of air system. Peeler said the University

began installing dedicated air handlers in West Campus Suites,

Missouri Hall, BNB and now Dobson Hall. A dedicated air handler

takes air from the outside and conditions it separately from return

air. In older systems, old air was put back into the new air and

reconditioned, Peeler said.

However, with air conditioners comes another type of indoor air

pollutant: mold. Darek Fowler, a service manager at Foreman Heating

and Cooling, said that after air conditioning season is over there

is a tendency for mold to build up.

" Sometimes you'll find that the evaporator coil air filter will get

dirty and it will sit in the drain pane growing algae or mold, "

Fowler said.

He suggests people put new air filters into air conditioners to make

sure they are functioning properly.

" Most people do not even realize there is a problem till the drain

pipe floods inside the unit, " Fowler said.

Steve Peeler said Truman has had problems with mold entering campus

since the rainy summer season.

" They've had some mold over in OP, " Peeler said. " Contractors tore

into drywall letting moisture get in the building. Mold spores are

everywhere and all it takes is excess moisture to get them to grow.

Even if you do see mold it might not be harmful. Some people are

more sensitive than others. "

Some of those more sensitive people are those who have allergies and

asthma.

Higgins, director of the Student Health Center, said many

students develop allergies and asthma when they come to school.

" People from St. Louis seem to develop allergies and asthma once in

Kirksville, " Higgins said. " I have no hypothesis why it is because

there is not a major difference in flora. "

Higgins said certain triggers can worsen allergies and asthma like

pollutants in the air, pollen, animal dander, dust mites and

respiratory infections.

" It could be a large population of our students are in rental

properties and mobile homes, " Higgins said.

As a whole society, Higgins said Westerners have more airtight homes

with an emphasis on cleanliness, leaving little exposure to and

immunity to outdoor air pollutants.

Freshman Kathleen Vallance said she has had asthma for about four or

five years and allergies since she was born.

" At the beginning of the year I had a really hard time with my

allergies to adjust with the difference from home, " Vallance said.

She also said increases in pollen producing plants and mold in

bathroom tiles were partially to blame for a rough allergy season.

" I know some of my friends in West Campus and Ryle have had allergy

problems because of mold, " Vallance said.