Few people will debate the detrimental health effects associated with outdoor air pollution, but that same level of concern has not been applied to indoor air quality.  Statistics show that this truly shouldn't be the case.  In studies conducted by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) of human exposure to air pollutants it has been found that indoor levels of pollutants may be between 50% and 99% higher than outdoor levels. 

Match that with estimates that show most people spend approximately 90% of their time indoors.  It becomes clear why, in studies by the EPA and its Science Advisory Board, indoor air pollution is consistently ranked among the top five environmental health and safety risks to the public.
 

• Increased potential for long and short term health problems for building occupants and staff
• Reduction in productivity of employees due to discomfort, sickness or absenteeism
• Accelerated deterioration and reduction in efficiency of the building's physical plant and equipment
• Creation of negative publicity that can potentially damage the organization's image, effectiveness and financial stability
• Creation of potential liability problems such as lawsuits against building contractors, tenants, etc.

As if those weren't bad enough, there are two key factors that make a lack of focus on IAQ and mold even worse.

First, indoor air quality problems can be subtle and don't always produce easily recognizable impacts on health, well-being or the physical plant.  The effects may not jump out at you, so a failure to focus on IAQ and mold could lead to something very dangerous being missed.

Secondly, changes in how buildings are designed have added to the problem.  Over the past several decades changes have been made that result in buildings being sealed tighter, synthetic materials being used and ventilation rates being reduced for energy saving purposes.  This all leads to increased exposure levels of indoor air pollutants like mold.