Economic effects of poor IAQ
Poor indoor air quality (IAQ) takes its toll in a variety of ways. It damages health and possessions; it lowers productivity at work; and it diverts resources to diagnosing and solving problems that result from it. Although the economic costs of some of these damages are fairly tangible and easy to quantify, a large portion are hidden. The cumulative impact can easily reach into the billions of dollars. The cost to diagnose, mitigate, and litigate IAQ problems is evidenced by the burgeoning number of businesses providing these services. A recent EPA survey indicated that over 1,500 firms specialize in IAQ services, a 25-percent increase from 1988. The median price for evaluating and balancing ventilation systems ranges from $250 to $1,500. The median for duct-cleaning service is about $500 and for asbestos abatement and construction/renovation, about $5,000. Costs can be as high as $50,000 for some of these services. The economic costs of poor IAQ also include the actual damages to property caused by contaminants. Indoor air pollutants can damage metals, paints, textiles, paper, and magnetic storage media and can cause increased soiling, deterioration of appearance, and reduced service life for furniture draperies, interiors, and heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC) equipment. Injury to people represent an even larger cost of poor IAQ. EPA ranks IAQ problems as one of the largest remaining health risks in the US. Health effects range from the mildly irritating, such as headaches and allergies, to the life threatening, such as cancer and heart disease. One study indicated that for every 100 white collar workers, poor IAQ would cause an extra 24 doctor visits per year. This amounts to another $288 million.
- OSTI ID:
- 7286888
- Journal Information:
- EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) Journal; (United States), Vol. 19:4; ISSN 0145-1189
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
Similar Records
What is IAQ. [Indoor Air Quality (IAQ)]
What is IAQ
Related Subjects
32 ENERGY CONSERVATION, CONSUMPTION, AND UTILIZATION
29 ENERGY PLANNING
POLICY AND ECONOMY
63 RADIATION, THERMAL, AND OTHER ENVIRON. POLLUTANT EFFECTS ON LIVING ORGS. AND BIOL. MAT.
INDOOR AIR POLLUTION
ECONOMIC IMPACT
POLLUTANTS
HEALTH HAZARDS
LAWSUITS
AIR POLLUTION
HAZARDS
POLLUTION
540120* - Environment
Atmospheric- Chemicals Monitoring & Transport- (1990-)
320107 - Energy Conservation
Consumption
& Utilization- Building Systems- (1987-)
290300 - Energy Planning & Policy- Environment
Health
& Safety
560300 - Chemicals Metabolism & Toxicology