New Study Links Nursing Home Residents’ Lung Health to their Indoor Air Quality

SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico - April 1, 2015 - PRLog -- In March, the European Respiratory Journal (ERJ) published a study that examined how poor indoor air quality (IAQ) can impact the lung health of elderly nursing home residents.  The EU funded project looked at 600 residents over the age of 65 in 50 different nursing homes.  The nursing homes were located in seven countries.

Indoor pollutant data from five categories was collected.  They included: PM10, PM0.1, formaldehyde, NO2 and O3. According to the ERJ, for residents exposed to moderate to high levels of PM10 and NO2 there was an association with breathlessness and cough. Whereas PM0.1 was associated with wheezing and formaldehyde was linked with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD).

“For the vast majority of us, as we age we become more susceptible to indoor air quality pollutants, allergens and irritants,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental.  “The results of the European study hold true for nursing homes in Puerto Rico.  It is important that nursing home administrators and staff understand that everything from building materials and furnishing to housekeeping procedures and building maintenance can impact the air quality of a nursing home.”

At Zimmetry Environmental, their building science professionals provide air quality testing and consulting services for nursing homes in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean.  In addition to identifying particulate and chemical concerns, Zimmetry also provides services to identify microbial contaminants and pathogens from air and surface samples.  If a problem is found, corrective actions can then be implemented to safely resolve the issue. All of these services can be critical components to ensuring that nursing home residents are exposed to healthy indoor air quality.

To learn more about indoor air quality, infection control and environmental pathogens in nursing homes or other types of buildings, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com.

About Zimmetry Environmental

Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies.  The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America.  The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality (IAQ), asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase IESAs and general environmental consulting services.