• Degrades health and energy levels • Contributes to or causes allergies • Exacerbates existing respiratory conditions, such as asthma

• Affects student absenteeism, illness and poor academic performance • Contributes to employee absenteeism and reduced productivity • Affects your moods and enjoyment of life

Causes of poor IAQ can be divided into man-made and natural categories. Luckily, we can do something about both.

Man-made IAQ Problems
Among the man-made problems are harsh chemicals that we bring into our homes and offices, such as cleaning chemicals, artificial fragrances and insecticidal
poisons. These sources of indoor pollution can be alleviated simply by switching to greener, non-toxic choices of cleaners and insect-control (Ozone shock
treatment does kill bed bugs, dust mites, cockroaches, ants,termites, fleas and rodents.) Artificial fragrances often have a surprising amount of chemicals in
them to achieve that "natural" smell. Better to use truly natural scents with real plant-derived aromas - also, ozone treatments remove the source of odors naturally. Solvents, glues, and paints contribute to harmful VOCs (volatile organic compounds) in both industrial and home environments. Use low or no VOC alternatives when possible, ventilate properly and store outside of the house if possible.

Natural IAQ Problems
Among the natural, biological problems are mold and mildew that grow in damp areas, stored papers, books and clothing, dust collection and microorganism growth in carpets and furnishings and from poor building ventilation or contamination. Indoor environments can be thriving places for bacteria, viruses, bed bugs, dust mites, cockroaches, ants ,termites, fleas and rodents. The contaminants from all these sources are commonly organized into 3 categories - particulate, gases (VOCs) and bioaerosols (bacteria, viruses and fungi). Surprising to most people is the CDC's analysis as to how these 3 groups contribute to the degradation of our health and in particular, allergies.

Check Out the Air Quality Report Card for Your State

Pest Control
Ozone has shown to be effective in the killing of common insects and pests. In controlled laboratory testing, our technology has demonstrated the following:

Species	Cloth Covered Container	Open Top Container
Bed Bugs	100%	100%
Am. House Dust Mites	N/A	100%
German Cockroaches	N/A	100%
Confused Flour Beetles	86%	100%

Insect Control Research Inc., Baltimore, MD - June, 2006
Based on these results and encouraging reports from the field, we are rapidly developing our pest control system.

Symptoms of Sick Building Syndrome (SBS)
All these ill affects can add up to a condition known as sick building syndrome. A building considered 'sick' when 20 percent or more of the occupants have the same symptoms for two weeks or more, and affected individuals experience quick relief away from the 'sick' building. The 20 percent is a general guideline. Consider a company of 2000 employees - if 10 percent are complaining of illness, that's 200 people whose suffering could be relieved.

There are five main SBS symptoms. They can occur singly or in combination and may occur in random episodes or in cycles. These symptoms frequently resemble the common cold or other respiratory problems. The affected occupants tend to get worse through the day and sometimes throughout the work week. Their symptoms lessen or vanish completely when away from the building for a period of time.

Eye Irritation Eyes are dry, burning, gritty feeling but with no signs of inflammation. The level of sensitivity may vary from day to day. People who wear contact lenses are apt to be more severely affected. Nasal Problems Congestion or 'stuffiness' is the most comment complaint and usually develops quickly when the occupant enters the building and continues until he or she leaves the building. Relief generally follows quickly upon departure. Throat & Lower Respiratory Tract Issues Continual dryness in the throat without inflammation is a standard symptom. Shortness of breath that is unrelated to asthma or any lung infection may indicate a problem with the lower respiratory track. Headaches, Fatigue & General Malaise Headaches, headache related fatigue, dizziness, trouble concentrating and general malaise are the most common symptoms of SBS. The headaches can vary from moderate to severe migraines. Skin Problems Dry skin may be caused by SBS due to an excess of air movement or very warm, dry air. Some occupants may develop skin irritation or rashes due to airborne contaminants. SBS can also exacerbate pre-existing conditions such as eczema.

The Solution is Here
The great news is, many, if not all, of these problems can by solved by Fresh Air Concepts. Cleaning out microorganisms, molds and odors with ozone shock treatments, protecting with advanced micro-filtration and maintaining a clean environment with patented Air Gorilla nanotechnology (plus a maintenance program of filter cleaning and intermittent ozone treatments) can help you create a healthy, happy, productive indoor environment.