901-878-5406

Precision Home Inspections

Biological Pollutants

Biological Pollutants in the Home

Outdoor air pollution in cities is a major health problem. Much effort and money continues to be spent cleaning up pollution in the outdoor air. But air pollution can be a problem where you least expect it, in the place you may have thought was safest - your home. Many ordinary activities such as cooking, heating, cooling, cleaning, and redecorating can cause the release and spread of indoor pollutants at home. Studies have shown that the air in our homes can be even more polluted than outdoor air. Many Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors, often at home. Therefore, breathing clean indoor air can have an important impact on health. People who are inside a great deal may be at greater risk of developing health problems, or having problems made worse by indoor air pollutants. These people include infants, young children the elderly and those with chronic illnesses. Many factors determine whether pollutants in your home will affect your health. They include the presence, use, and condition of pollutant sources, the level of pollutants both indoors and out, the amount of ventilation in your home, and your overall health.

What Are Biological Pollutants?

Biological pollutants are or were living organisms. They promote poor indoor air quality and may be a major cause of days lost from work or school, and of doctor and hospital visits. Some can even damage surfaces inside and outside your house. Biological pollutants can travel through the air and are often invisible. Some common indoor biological pollutants are:
  • Animal Dander (minute scales from hair, feathers, or skin)
  • Dust Mite and Cockroach parts
  • Infectious agents (bacteria or viruses)
  • Pollen
Some of these substances are in every home. It is impossible to get rid of them all. Even a spotless home may permit the growth of biological pollutants. Two conditions are essential to support biological growth nutrients and moisture. These conditions can be found in many locations, such as bathrooms, damp or flooded basements, wet appliances (such as humidifiers or air conditioners), and even some carpets and furniture. Modern materials and construction techniques may reduce the amount of outside air brought into buildings which may result in high moisture levels inside. Using humidifiers, unvented heaters, and air conditioners in our homes has increased the chances of moisture forming on interior surfaces. This encourages the growth of certain biological pollutants.

Biological Pollutants GERMANTOWN, TN & THE MID-SOUTH

The Scope Of The Problem

Most information about sources and health effects of biological pollutants is based on studies of large office buildings and surveys of homes in northern U.S. and Canada. These surveys show that 30% to 50% of all structures have damp conditions which may encourage the growth and buildup of biological pollutants. This percentage is likely to be higher in warm, moist climates. Some diseases or illnesses have been linked with biological pollutants in the indoor environment. However, many of them also have causes unrelated to the indoor environment. Therefore, we do not know how many health problems relate only to poor indoor air.

Health Effects Of Biological Pollutants

All of us are exposed to biological pollutants. However, the effects on our health depend upon the type and amount of biological pollution and the individual person. Some people do not experience health reactions from certain biological pollutants, while others may experience one or more of the following reactions:
  • Allergic
  • Infectious
  • Toxic
Except for the spread of infections indoors, allergic reactions may be the most common health problem with indoor air quality in homes. They are often connected with animal dander (mostly from cats and dogs), with house dust mites (microscopic animals living in household dust), and with pollen. Allergic reactions can range from mildly uncomfortable to life-threatening, as in a severe asthma attack. Some common signs and symptoms are:
  • Watery eyes
  • Runny nose and sneezing
  • Nasal congestion
  • Itching
  • Coughing
  • Wheezing and difficulty breathing
  • Headache
  • Fatigue
Health experts are especially concerned about people with asthma. These people have very sensitive airways that can react to various irritants, making breathing difficult. The number of people who have asthma has greatly increased in recent years. The number of people with asthma has gone up by 59 percent since 1970, to a total of 9.6 million people. Asthma in children under 15 years of age has increased 41 percent in the same period, to a total of 2.6 million children. The number of deaths from asthma is up by 68 percent since 1979, to a total of almost 4,400 deaths per year.
Talking to Your Doctor
Are you concerned about the effects on your health that may be related to biological pollutants in your home? Before you discuss your concerns with your doctor, you should know the answers to the following questions. This information can help the doctor determine whether your health problems may be related to biological pollution.
  • Does anyone in the family have frequent headaches, fevers, itchy watery eyes, a stuffy nose, dry throat, or a cough? Does anyone complain of feeling tired or dizzy all the time? Is anyone wheezing or having difficulties breathing on a regular basis?
  • Did these symptoms appear after you moved to a new or different home?
  • Do the symptoms disappear when you go to school or the office or go away on a trip, and return when you come back?
  • Have you recently remodeled your home or done any energy conservation work, such as installing insulation, storm windows, or weather stripping?
  • Did your symptoms occur during or after these activities?
  • Does your home feel humid? Can you see moisture on the windows or on other surfaces, such as walls and ceilings?
  • What is the usual temperature in your home? Is it very hot or cold?
  • Have you recently had water damage?
  • Is your basement wet or damp?
  • Is there any obvious mold or mildew?
  • Does any part of your home have a musty or moldy odor?
  • Is the air stale?
  • Do you have pets?
  • Do your house plants show signs of mold?
  • Do you have air conditioners or humidifiers that have not been properly cleaned?
  • Does your home have cockroaches or rodents?
Infectious diseases caused by bacteria and viruses, such as flu, measles, chicken pox, and tuberculosis, may be spread indoors. Most infectious diseases pass from person to person through physical contact. Crowded conditions with poor air circulation can promote this spread. Some bacteria and viruses thrive in buildings and circulate through indoor ventilation systems. For example, the bacterium causing Legionnaire's disease, a serious and sometimes lethal infection, and Pontiac Fever, a flu-like illness, have circulated in some large buildings. Toxic reactions are the least studied and understood health problem caused by some biological air pollutants in the home. Toxins can damage a variety of organs and tissues in the body, including the liver, the central nervous system, the digestive tract, and the immune system.
Self-Inspection: A Walk Through Your Home
Begin by touring your household. Follow your nose, and use your eyes. Two major factors help create conditions for biological pollutants to grow nutrients and constant moisture with poor air circulation.
Dust and construction materials, such as wood, wallboard, and insulation, contain nutrients that allow biological pollutants to grow. Firewood also is a source of moisture, fungi, and bugs.
Appliances such as humidifiers, kerosene and gas heaters, and gas stoves add moisture to the air. A musty odor, moisture on hard surfaces, or even water stains, may be caused by:
  • Air-conditioning units
  • Basements, attics, and crawlspaces
  • Bathrooms
  • Carpets
  • Heating and air-conditioning ducts
  • Humidifiers and dehumidifiers
  • Refrigerator drip pans
  • What You Can Do About Biological Pollutants
Before you give away the family pet or move, there are less drastic steps that can be taken to reduce potential problems. Properly cleaning and maintaining your home can help reduce the problem and may avoid interrupting your normal routine. People who have health problems such as asthma, or are allergic, may need to do this and more. Discuss this with your doctor.
Moisture Control
Water in your home can come from many sources. Water can enter your home by leaking or by seeping through basement floors. Showers or even cooking can add moisture to the air in your home. The amount of moisture that the air in your home can hold depends on the temperature of the air. As the temperature goes down, the air is able to hold less moisture. This is why, in cold weather, moisture condenses on cold surfaces (for example, drops of water form on the inside of a window). This moisture can encourage biological pollutants to grow.
There are many ways to control moisture in your home:
Fix leaks and seepage. If water is entering the house from the outside, your options range from simple landscaping to extensive excavation and waterproofing. (The ground should slope away from the house). Water in the basement can result from the lack of gutters or a water flow toward the house. Water leaks in pipes or around tubs and sinks can provide a place for biological pollutants to grow.
Put a plastic cover over dirt crawlspaces to prevent moisture from coming in from the ground. Be sure crawlspaces are well-ventilated.Use exhaust fans in bathrooms and kitchens to remove moisture to the outside (not into the attic). Vent your clothes dryer to the outside.Turn off certain appliances (such as humidifiers or kerosene heaters) if you notice moisture on windows and other surfaces.Use dehumidifiers and air conditioners, especially in hot, humid climates, to reduce moisture in the air, but be sure that the appliances themselves don't become sources of biological pollutants.
Raise the temperature of cold surfaces where moisture condenses. Use insulation or storm windows. (A storm window installed on the inside works better than one installed on the outside) Open doors between rooms (especially doors to closets which may be colder than the rooms) to increase circulation. Circulation carries heat to the cold surfaces Increase air circulation by using fans and by moving furniture from wall corners to promote air and heat circulation. Be sure that your house has a source of fresh air and can expel excessive moisture from the home.
Pay special attention to carpet on concrete floors. Carpet can absorb moisture and serve as a place for biological pollutants to grow. Use area rugs which can be taken up and washed often. In certain climates, if carpet is to be installed over a concrete floor, it maybe necessary to use a vapor barrier (plastic sheeting) over the concrete and cover that with sub-flooring (insulation covered with plywood) to prevent a moisture problem.
Moisture problems and their solutions differ from one climate to another. The Northeast is cold and wet, the Southwest is hot and dry, the South is hot and wet, and the Western Mountain states are cold and dry. All of these regions can have moisture problems. For example, evaporative coolers used in the Southwest can encourage the growth of biological pollutants. In other hot regions, the use of air conditioners which cool the air too quickly may prevent the air conditioners from running long enough to remove excess moisture from the air. The types of construction and weather for the different climates can lead to different problems and solutions.
Where Biological Pollutants May Be Found in the Home
  • Dirty air conditioners
  • Dirty humidifiers and/or dehumidifiers
  • Bathroom without vents or windows
  • Kitchen without vents or windows
  • Dirty refrigerator drip pans
  • Laundry room with unvented dryer
  • Unventilated attic
  • Carpet on damp basement floor
  • Bedding
  • Closet on outside wall
  • Dirty heating/air conditioning system
  • Dogs or cats
  • Water damage (around windows, the roof or the basement)
Over 12,000 Homes Inspected
Over 22 Years of Experience as an Independent Home Inspector
A+ rating with the BBB
I am the One-Man Operation Who is BIG on Customer Service
Let's Get Started

From Our Clients

  • I’ve been working with Jason for over 5 years. He came highly recommended by my realtor and has helped me inspect over 30 homes. I am an investor and Jason has saved me from some major headaches, and is very attentive to detail. I highly recommend him! - Wayne Randall Jr.
  • We have used Precession Home Inspection for our last two home purchases, and we could not be more pleased. Jason is very thorough, and he does a great job of documenting his work. I’d highly recommend him. - Matthew Green
  • Jason came as a referral by a property management company. He was very professional, easy to work with, and produced expected results with great turnaround times. I will use Jason for future work without a doubt. - Brian Elliott
  • Jason is a highly experienced and qualified home inspector who is very thorough. He has done five inspections for homes I purchased in 2019 plus numerous for my friends. He is always professional and works with the property management to ensure the least amount of inconvenience to the tenants when the home is occupied. He has always been on time and the inspection reports are completed within one business day. - David Hutson
  • Jason was very professional to work with. I am an out-of-town investor so I never saw the house that he inspected for me. While talking on the phone, he did a great job of explaining the condition of the house and any problems he saw. He was prompt with any communication and thorough in his work. I would use his services again and recommend him to anyone in town or out of town. - Kyle G
  • Jason did a great job of going over our first home with a fine-tooth comb. He explained everything in person. If I had any questions, he was able to point out the areas of concern, as well as make repair suggestions. I will definitely be using Jason's name in the future for any of my friends that need a home inspection. - Chris Cummins
  • Whenever a fellow realtor or client asks me to recommend a home inspector, Jason Lovelace is the guy. He's extremely professional and thorough and always takes the time to explain the inspection to his clients. Jason has performed quite a few inspections for me over the years and he's always done an excellent job and my clients have always been satisfied. Before you make one of the most important purchases in your life, call Jason! - Christopher Thompson
  • Very impressed with the thoroughness and overall quality of the inspection report Jason provided. As an out-of-state purchaser, I needed a trustworthy 3rd party inspector and found one in Precision Home Inspections. I would recommend Jason to anyone considering his services. - Corey JT
  • Very impressed with Jason. He was extremely professional and spent a lot of time explaining his findings. He took the time to examine every nook and cranny of the house we are about to purchase. He was patient with our questions and did not miss a single issue with the house. We will use him again and recommend him to our friends and associates. - Karen McCrary

PRECISION HOME INSPECTIONS

2356 Spring Hollow Lane Germantown, TN 38139
901-878-5406
Qualifications
International Association of Certified Home InspectorsMember of the American Society of Home inspectorsMid-South Better Business BureauU.S. Chamber of CommerceMississippi Association of Home Inspectors
Licenses
State Licensed Home Inspector in Mississippi #0191StateLicensed Home Inspector in Tennessee #0096

Let's Get StaRted