Winter Allergies Often Caused by Common Indoor Environmental Quality Issues

With the arrival of winter, people in most parts of North America have been spending more time indoors due to the frigid temperatures and fewer daylight hours. With more time spent indoors, and with buildings closed up to keep warm air inside, many people report indoor allergies during this time of year.

Indoor allergies are sometimes confused with the common cold, but if the condition lasts for more than 10 days the cause is likely due to allergies and not a cold. Winter allergy sufferers may feel tired and experience itchy eyes and throat, along with watery and clear nasal secretions that may last for weeks or more, but can also be sporadic. For those who have instead caught a common winter cold, they are likely to develop body aches, fever, chills and discolored nasal secretions that are usually gone within a week.

Homes and buildings likely have its windows and doors closed while the heating systems are running, so it’s important to have fresh air filtration so the indoor environmental quality (IEQ) does not suffer. Poor air filtration frequently coincides with an accumulation of dust, animal dander and even things like mold. In some instances, the building’s own HVAC system may spread these airborne pollutants throughout the structure.

“When homes, schools and buildings are shut tight to keep the cold out, indoor allergen, asthma trigger and respiratory irritant concentrations often rise,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “These include everything from microbial contaminants to chemical irritants from cleaning activities or the improper storage of these products. EMSL offers indoor environmental quality testing services for so many different types of allergens, asthma triggers and respiratory irritants. With laboratories across the United States and Canada, EMSL also offers sampling supplies, easy-to-use IEQ test kits and air monitoring instruments to detect things like particulate matter and carbon dioxide levels.”

EMSL sponsored an educational video about winter allergies and indoor air quality that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/_s_hwuk30ac.

To learn more about indoor environmental quality testing services, sampling supplies and monitoring instruments, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800) 220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com . To access IEQ test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA-LAP, LLC (AIHA-LAP, LLC EMLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC IHLAP, AIHA-LAP, LLC ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail