Indoor Air Quality

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates the average American spends nearly 90% of their day indoors. If the indoor air quality is poor, it can cause or contribute to the development of chronic respiratory diseases such as asthma or cause acute symptoms like headaches, dry eyes, nasal congestion, nausea, and fatigue.

While chemical pollutants such as radon gas or formaldehyde are of concern, pollutants of biological origin are the most prevalent in homes. Common pollutants include molds, bacteria, viruses, pollen, dust mites, and pet dander.

The Florida Department of Health in Indian River County (DOH-Indian River) assists the public with their indoor environment concerns by offering a variety of services to residents:

• Health effects of common indoor air pollutants
• Investigation of physician-reported illness outbreaks in public buildings
• Consultations regarding indoor environment quality concerns
• Residential indoor air quality investigations, if a physician has diagnosed a resident with a medical condition that is caused by an indoor pollutant

DOH-Indian River's program is consultative and diagnostic in nature and has no regulatory powers. It exists solely to assist the public in solving their indoor environment issues. The following services are not provided:

• Declare buildings safe or unsafe
• Mediate or investigate landlord-tenant, workman’s compensation and/or homeowner/insurance company disputes
• Mold testing - private labs provide mold testing
• Screening air for pollutants in a building. Basic measurement for parameters (like relative humidity, CO2, temperature) or suspect chemicals may be part of an investigation. A private consultant is recommended for this service.

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Resources

Learn more about the Florida Clean Indoor Air Act, or call 800-337-3742 or 850-245-4281.

Additional information is available on the following topics relating to indoor air quality:

• Mold
• Dust
• Formaldehyde
• Lead
• Carbon Monoxide