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Frequently Asked Questions
- Q. We just moved into a new home and had new
wall-to-wall carpeting installed. My husband and I have been experiencing
headaches and nausea ever since. What should we do? Would a portable air filter
help?
- A. If you were not experiencing symptoms before the carpeting was installed, you
are probably reacting to chemicals being emitted (i.e., "outgassing") from
the carpet, carpet pad or adhesives used during installation. Carpet
manufacturers often recommend greatly increasing the ventilation through your
home for several days to several weeks after installation if you experience such
problems. Make certain that you are bringing outside air into your home, not
just recirculating the air. Turning the furnace up while you are out of the home
will increase the rate of outgassing and may also help. A portable air filter
will probably be of limited value but might be helpful in your bedroom. If you
purchase an air filter, a large sized HEPA filter with a carbon/zeolite
prefilter for chemical fumes will probably be most useful. Avoid filters that
produce ozone.
If you continue to have problems, the Texas Department of Health
Indoor Air Quality Branch has
developed a
listing of certified indoor air consultants in Texas
who may be able to offer you additional suggestions. In the future you may
wish to look for the Carpet and Rug Institute's "Green
Label," which indicates that the products do not exceed emission standards
set by industry...or you may wish to switch to a different kind of flooring,
such as tile.
- Q. I'm concerned about the indoor air quality (IAQ) of my child's school. How can I get it tested?
- A. Tools for Schools (TfS) is a program
developed by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) that empowers
schools to monitor and improve indoor air quality (IAQ), usually at no or little cost. The kit is
free, and the regional EPA office in Dallas may be able to help with
implementation, or link your school with other schools in the area that have
already implemented the program.
- Q. How do I get my water quality checked?
- A. The City of Houston provides water quality testing for tap and well water. It
costs $8.00 per bottle of sample. You must drop off the bottles at one of two
locations: 1115 S. Braeswood near the Medical Center or 1828 Rankin near George Bush
Intercontinental Airport. The results will arrive between 5 and 7 working days. There is a
very strict procedure for the collection of water samples. Visit the
City of Houston website for more information.
- Q. How do I report Illegal dumping of hazardous wastes?
- A. Various departments handle hazardous waste reports. If you live within
the city limits, call the City of Houston, Neighborhood Protection &
Environmental Enforcement,
713-525-2728. If you live in Harris County, call Harris County, Pollution Control Division,
713-920-2831 or Harris County Environmental Enforcement Division, 281-371-0565. Other residents in the 13 county area should call the Texas Commission
for Environmental Quality at
713-767-3644.
- Q. Is the Houston area more polluted than other urban areas in the United States?
- A. Probably, although it is a complicated question. The Houston area has higher
short-term peaks of
ozone than most
other cities in the nation, and probably has higher levels of many of the
Hazardous Air Pollutants (HAPs) as well,
although there is insufficient monitoring to be certain. It has lower levels of
particulate matter and carbon monoxide than a number of other cities in the
nation. See the
Air Quality
Reference Guide for the region for some comparisons with other areas of the
country.
- Q. How can I find out if I live near a toxic site?
- A. Visit
www.scorecard.org.
Scorecard is an interactive online program that uses data provided by the U. S.
Environmental Protection Agency to allow you to find out about superfund sites
and other sources of pollution near where you live. Simply type in your zip code and
Scorecard will list pollution sources and show how your county ranks relative to the rest of the United States.
It also generates maps so that you can see where pollution sources are located.
- Q. Should my children play outside on hot
summer days when pollution alerts are frequent?
- A. In general, yes. Pollution is often higher indoors, and the current epidemic of
obesity among children suggests that we encourage lifelong habits of daily
physical activity in our children starting at an early age. That said, one
should nevertheless monitor outdoor pollution levels. On hot, still summer days,
make a habit of checking ozone levels online before encouraging children to play
vigorously outdoors. Better yet, encourage your children to check the levels, or
sign up to have ozone alert
emails sent to you when the monitors near you indicate that ozone levels are
high. During an ozone alert, which generally occurs in the late afternoon on hot
summer days and lasts for several hours, encourage your children to play indoors
or, if outdoors, to play less vigorously. Children with asthma are particularly
sensitive to ozone.
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