Summer Allergies and Mitigating Exposure to Indoor Allergens and Respiratory Irritants

The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reports that almost 19% of children, and just over 25% of adults, have a seasonal allergy. These allergies can be a significant problem for some people, including during the hot summer months.

High levels of airborne mold and pollen during the summer months can be an issue for people working or enjoying the outdoors. These same allergens and asthma triggers can also make their way indoors through open doors and windows, and even on one’s clothes and hair.

“Allergies pose an interesting conundrum for the afflicted,” said Derrick A. Denis, Disaster Ready Emergency Preparedness and Infection Control (DR EPIC) Program Industrial Hygienist and Senior Vice President for Clark Seif Clark (CSC). “There’s an enormous number of potential allergens in the air and on surfaces from mold spores, to peanut dust, to cat dander and more. Allergen concentrations are highly variable by region, by season, and by conditions within the built environment. Individual susceptibility varies from person to person, so an allergen that makes one person cough, sneeze, itch, or triggers their asthma may not affect their spouse or coworker at all. Additionally, allergy symptoms are often nonspecific to allergic response, such as eye irritation, headache or malaise. These symptoms could be from allergens but could just as easily be from outdated corrective lenses or a food allergy.”

Mr. Denis goes on to say, “It is important to strive for good indoor environmental quality in all occupant spaces, such as your home, school and workplace. Regular surface cleaning, good air filtration, good air exchange and good humidity control are generally helpful in reducing allergen loads indoors. Preventing conditions that promote allergen production indoors is critical, such as preventing mold growth, controlling conditions allowing dust mite proliferation, preventing cockroach infestation, avoiding rodent infestation, etc. Allergen exposure cannot be avoided but should be reduced as feasible for comfort and for health. If you need your indoor environment screened for common allergens, CSC can assist with visual assessments, settled dust analysis, airborne particle analysis and more.”

CSC also recently sponsored an educational video about summer allergies and indoor air quality that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/WLHrIQS_ooA

To learn more about this or other indoor air quality, building science, occupational, environmental, health and safety services, please visit www.csceng.com, email csc@csceng.com or call (800) 807-1118.

About Clark Seif Clark
CSC was established in 1989 to help clients in both public and private sectors address indoor air quality, occupational, environmental, and health and safety (EH&S) issues. CSC is a leading provider of these services with multiple offices along the western seaboard and southwest. The company believes in science-based protocols and has a strong background in engineering, making them the preferred environmental consultants to industrial clients, healthcare facilities, architects, schools, builders, contractors, developers and real estate professionals.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail