--- title: The Nouns and Verbs of Indoor Air Quality description: An overview of Indoor Air Quality pollutants and sources. image: https://www.accsensors.com/hubfs/IMG_0570%20Large-1.png --- [Skip to content](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/the-nouns-and-verbs-of-indoor-air-quality#main-content) [![AST](https://www.accsensors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/AST.jpg?width=2303&height=774&name=AST.jpg)](https://www.accsensors.com/) - [Products](https://www.accsensors.com/products) Show submenu for Products - [UPAS v2.1](https://www.accsensors.com/upasv2.1) - [UPAS v2.1 PLUS](https://www.accsensors.com/upasv2.1plus) - [UPAS v2.0](https://www.accsensors.com/upasv2.0) - [Home Health Box](https://www.accsensors.com/indoor_sampling) - [Inlets and Accessories](https://www.accsensors.com/accessories) - [UPAS Outdoor Enclosure](https://www.accsensors.com/upas_outdoor_enclosure) - [Sample Analysis Services](https://www.accsensors.com/sample_analysis) - Technical Resources Show submenu for Technical Resources - [Applications Blog](https://www.accsensors.com/blog) - [R Shiny Application](https://accsensors.shinyapps.io/shinyAST/) - [astr R Package](https://github.com/accsensors/astr) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbbSB_ja8JY-xX90D94qyKA) - Contact Us Show submenu for Contact Us - [Request Free Demo](https://www.accsensors.com/freetrial) - [Request a Quote](https://www.accsensors.com/quote) - [Request Support](https://www.accsensors.com/support-request-form) - [Our Team](https://www.accsensors.com/about) - [Distributors](https://www.accsensors.com/distributors) Open main navigation Close main navigation - [Products](https://www.accsensors.com/products) Show submenu for Products - [UPAS v2.1](https://www.accsensors.com/upasv2.1) - [UPAS v2.1 PLUS](https://www.accsensors.com/upasv2.1plus) - [UPAS v2.0](https://www.accsensors.com/upasv2.0) - [Home Health Box](https://www.accsensors.com/indoor_sampling) - [Inlets and Accessories](https://www.accsensors.com/accessories) - [UPAS Outdoor Enclosure](https://www.accsensors.com/upas_outdoor_enclosure) - [Sample Analysis Services](https://www.accsensors.com/sample_analysis) - Technical Resources Show submenu for Technical Resources - [Applications Blog](https://www.accsensors.com/blog) - [R Shiny Application](https://accsensors.shinyapps.io/shinyAST/) - [astr R Package](https://github.com/accsensors/astr) - [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbbSB_ja8JY-xX90D94qyKA) - Contact Us Show submenu for Contact Us - [Request Free Demo](https://www.accsensors.com/freetrial) - [Request a Quote](https://www.accsensors.com/quote) - [Request Support](https://www.accsensors.com/support-request-form) - [Our Team](https://www.accsensors.com/about) - [Distributors](https://www.accsensors.com/distributors) - [Try for Free](https://www.accsensors.com/freetrial) [Try for Free](https://www.accsensors.com/freetrial) Nov 13, 2025, 9:53:33 AM # The Nouns and Verbs of Indoor Air Quality ![Picture of Thomas Reilly](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/800cc6b0112e54f2e88c4f26c133c3dc) [Thomas Reilly](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/author/thomas-reilly) Share: [facebook-f icon](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https://www.accsensors.com/blog/the-nouns-and-verbs-of-indoor-air-quality) [linkedin-in icon](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https://www.accsensors.com/blog/the-nouns-and-verbs-of-indoor-air-quality) [Twitter icon](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?url=https://www.accsensors.com/blog/the-nouns-and-verbs-of-indoor-air-quality) [pinterest-p icon](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/link/?url=https://www.accsensors.com/blog/the-nouns-and-verbs-of-indoor-air-quality) [envelope icon](mailto:?body=https://www.accsensors.com/blog/the-nouns-and-verbs-of-indoor-air-quality) We’ve just wrapped a multi-year effort to build, test, and validate a new way of taking indoor air measurements. The culmination is a comprehensive indoor air sampling instrument we call the [Home Health Box](https://www.accsensors.com/indoor_sampling). I wrote this blog post as a short primer on indoor air pollutants for the uninitiated, like me, that don’t have a professional background in air sampling and may not understand how these pollutants end up in (or are generated in) the home. Indoor air quality (IAQ) encompasses the composition of air within enclosed spaces, influencing occupant health, cognitive function, and productivity. Scientific research underscores its role in respiratory diseases, cardiovascular issues, and neurobehavioral effects, with exposure to pollutants contributing to millions of annual deaths globally. For researchers and professionals, understanding IAQ involves quantifying pollutant concentrations, assessing exposure risks, and evaluating mitigation strategies. This post frames IAQ through "nouns" (pollutants) and "verbs" (generating activities), focusing on residential and commercial settings.  ### Residential IAQ: Quantifying Household Exposures In residences, where individuals spend ~90% of their time, IAQ is compromised by building materials, polluting appliances, and everyday activities. Key "nouns" include particulate matter (PM2.5 and PM10), volatile organic compounds (VOCs), nitrogen dioxide (NO2), carbon monoxide (CO), radon, ozone (O3), heavy metals, aerosols, pesticides, and biological contaminants like mold and allergens. - PM—which made up of sulfates, nitrates, metals, and other compounds—can arise from cooking, smoking, and cleaning. Exposure to PM is correlated with cardiovascular and respiratory morbidity. - VOCs, which are often present at higher levels indoors than outdoors, off-gas from paint and furniture. VOCs are also present in cleaning products, solvents, and adhesives. Exposure to VOCs is associated with respiratory irritation, organ damage, and cancer risks. - NO2 and CO are emitted when gas is burned in appliances used for cooking or heating. Exposure to NO2 and CO can exacerbate asthma and induce fatigue/chest pain. \[Fun note: you can see one of the [early Home Health Box designs in this PBS clip](https://youtu.be/LgnIR18Te5Y?si=g-D4ioOpbGSVWex-) on gas stoves and indoor air quality.\] - Radon infiltrates passively from soil, elevating lung cancer risk. - Mold and allergens proliferate in damp environments from water leaks or showering, triggering allergies and infections. - Pesticides sprayed outdoors can migrate indoors, posing neurotoxic and carcinogenic threats. ### Commercial Office IAQ: Occupational Exposure Dynamics Office spaces, which often have high occupancy rates, amplify IAQ challenges through shared systems and equipment. Common nouns include PM, VOCs, O3, CO2, and microbial agents. - PM arises from dusting or outdoor infiltration via HVAC. - VOCs, such as formaldehyde, are emitted during renovations, from furniture, or cleaning with chemicals. - Printers and photocopiers generate O3 and toner particles during operation, irritating respiratory tracts and impairing lung function.  - CO2 elevates due to humans breathing, and is correlated with cognitive deficits at >1000 ppm. - Mold grows in moist HVAC from poor maintenance, causing sick building syndrome (SBS) symptoms like headaches and fatigue. ### Advancing Research and Professional Testing For scientific inquiry, the tools used to understand indoor air quality have needed an upgrade for quite some time. That's why we developed the [Home Health Box](https://www.accsensors.com/indoor_sampling). We wanted to open up the way people sample and measure indoor air. Our tools offer some key features: - Longer unattended sampling for particles, dust, and VOCs. - Better sensor logging from PM, gas, and environmental sensors.  - Small integrated form factor. - Quiet and unobtrusive to building occupants. - Programmable in thousands of configurations.  We often worry about the nouns but with the right tools you can identify the verbs and that’s what may make the difference in improving IAQ. ### References American Lung Association. (2025, July 9). What makes indoor air unhealthy? [https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants](https://www.lung.org/clean-air/indoor-air/indoor-air-pollutants) Erdmann, C. A., & Apte, M. G. (2004). Indoor carbon dioxide concentrations and sick building syndrome symptoms in the BASE study revisited: Analyses of the 100 building dataset. [https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-08/documents/base\_3c2o2.pdf](https://www.epa.gov/sites/default/files/2014-08/documents/base_3c2o2.pdf) Joshi, S. M. (2008). The sick building syndrome. Indian Journal of Occupational and Environmental Medicine, 12(2), 61–64. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2796751/](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC2796751/) Mannina, L., Chung, S., & Swartz, S. (2024, September 4). Recommitting to ventilation standards for healthy indoor air quality. American Journal of Public Health, 114(11), 1103–1105. [https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307809](https://ajph.aphapublications.org/doi/full/10.2105/AJPH.2024.307809) National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences. (n.d.). Indoor air quality. [https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/indoor-air](https://www.niehs.nih.gov/health/topics/agents/indoor-air) Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Indoor air quality - Overview. [https://www.osha.gov/indoor-air-quality](https://www.osha.gov/indoor-air-quality) Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). Indoor air quality in commercial and institutional buildings. [https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/3430indoor-air-quality-sm.pdf](https://www.osha.gov/sites/default/files/publications/3430indoor-air-quality-sm.pdf) Occupational Safety and Health Administration. (n.d.). OSHA technical manual (OTM) - Section III: Chapter 2. [https://www.osha.gov/otm/section-3-health-hazards/chapter-2](https://www.osha.gov/otm/section-3-health-hazards/chapter-2) Sanguankeo, A., & Upala, S. (2021). Indoor air quality and sick building syndrome symptoms in administrative office workers during the COVID-19 pandemic: A cross-sectional study. Environmental Health and Preventive Medicine, 3, 100078. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772653324000145](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2772653324000145) Sarkhosh, M., Najafpoor, A. A., Alidadi, H., Shamsara, J., Amiri, H., Tashakkori, T., & Anderson, A. (2021). Indoor air quality in buildings: A comprehensive review on the factors influencing air pollution in residential and commercial structure. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 18(6), 3276. [https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8004912/](https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC8004912/) Tran, V. V., Park, D., & Lee, Y. C. (2020). Indoor air pollution, related human diseases, and recent trends in the control and improvement of indoor air quality. International Journal of Environmental Research and Public Health, 17(8), 2927. [https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/8/2927](https://www.mdpi.com/1660-4601/17/8/2927) U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission. (n.d.). The inside story: A guide to indoor air quality. [https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air-Quality](https://www.cpsc.gov/Safety-Education/Safety-Guides/Home/The-Inside-Story-A-Guide-to-Indoor-Air-Quality) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, June 17). Indoor air quality. [https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/indoor-air-quality](https://www.epa.gov/report-environment/indoor-air-quality) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, July 24). Indoor pollutants and sources. [https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-pollutants-and-sources](https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/indoor-pollutants-and-sources) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (2025, August 15). Building air quality guide: A guide for building owners and facility managers. [https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/building-air-quality-guide-guide-building-owners-and-facility-managers](https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/building-air-quality-guide-guide-building-owners-and-facility-managers) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). Indoor air quality (IAQ). [https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq](https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq) U.S. Environmental Protection Agency. (n.d.). The inside story: A guide to indoor air quality. [https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/inside-story-guide-indoor-air-quality](https://www.epa.gov/indoor-air-quality-iaq/inside-story-guide-indoor-air-quality) University of California, Davis. (2025, February 24). Improving indoor air quality for better public health. [https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/improving-indoor-air-quality](https://www.ucdavis.edu/health/news/improving-indoor-air-quality) World Health Organization. (n.d.). Health impacts of air pollution. [https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/air-quality-energy-and-health/health-impacts](https://www.who.int/teams/environment-climate-change-and-health/air-quality-energy-and-health/health-impacts) Zuo, J., Ji, W., Ben, Y., Hassan, M. A., Fan, W., Li, Z., & Yuan, F. (2023). Critical review on emerging health effects associated with the indoor air quality in hospitality venues improved by air purification technologies. Science of the Total Environment, 870, 161845. [https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723007799](https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S0048969723007799) [HHB](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/hhb), [indoor](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/indoor) ## Related posts [![A photograph of a particulate matter sampling filter being weighed on a microbalance.](https://www.accsensors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/Blog_LOD_CoverImage.jpg?height=200&name=Blog_LOD_CoverImage.jpg)](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/lod) [sample analysis](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/sample-analysis), [quality assurance](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/quality-assurance) ## [Determining your limit of detection for particulate matter sampling](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/lod) ![Picture of Jessica Tryner](https://www.accsensors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/JT_20250309_square.jpeg?width=50&name=JT_20250309_square.jpeg) [Jessica Tryner](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/author/jessica-tryner) Jan 25, 2026, 8:11:27 PM What is the limit of detection? The concept of "limit of detection" (LOD) applies when taking any... [Read more](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/lod) [![An image generated with OpenAI's Dall-E 2 AI powered image generator.](https://www.accsensors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/DALL%C2%B7E%202023-02-15%2019.43.40%20-%20a%20mechanical%20horse%20with%20wheels%20for%20hooves%20and%20a%20gasoline%20engine%20for%20a%20heart.png?height=200&name=DALL%C2%B7E%202023-02-15%2019.43.40%20-%20a%20mechanical%20horse%20with%20wheels%20for%20hooves%20and%20a%20gasoline%20engine%20for%20a%20heart.png)](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/motorized-horse-wheels) [air sampling](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/air-sampling), [invention](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/invention), [innovation](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/innovation), [industrial hygiene](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/industrial-hygiene), [ambient air monitoring](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/ambient-air-monitoring), [exposure science](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/exposure-science) ## [Motorized Horse Wheels](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/motorized-horse-wheels) ![Picture of Thomas Reilly](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/800cc6b0112e54f2e88c4f26c133c3dc) [Thomas Reilly](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/author/thomas-reilly) Feb 16, 2023, 5:25:48 PM Let me share one of our challenges. It is sometimes difficult to explain what we’re selling. That’s... [Read more](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/motorized-horse-wheels) [![](https://www.accsensors.com/hs-fs/hubfs/IMG_7663%20Large.jpeg?height=200&name=IMG_7663%20Large.jpeg)](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/wheres-the-noise-wheres-the-pulsation-a-quick-explainer-on-what-makes-upas-technology-special) [air sampling](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/air-sampling), [electronics](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/electronics), [innovation](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/innovation), [exposure science](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/exposure-science), [UPAS v2.0](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/upas-v2-0), [UPAS v2.1](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/upas-v2-1), [UPAS v2.1 PLUS](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/tag/upas-v2-1-plus) ## [Where’s the Noise? Where's the Pulsation? A quick explainer on UPAS technology.](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/wheres-the-noise-wheres-the-pulsation-a-quick-explainer-on-what-makes-upas-technology-special) ![Picture of Thomas Reilly](https://app.hubspot.com/settings/avatar/800cc6b0112e54f2e88c4f26c133c3dc) [Thomas Reilly](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/author/thomas-reilly) Mar 27, 2023, 8:30:54 PM We’re a team of mostly scientists and engineers and that means we’re going to come up with nerdy... [Read more](https://www.accsensors.com/blog/wheres-the-noise-wheres-the-pulsation-a-quick-explainer-on-what-makes-upas-technology-special) ###### [Products](https://www.accsensors.com/products) [UPAS v2.1](https://www.accsensors.com/upasv2.1) [UPAS v2.1 PLUS](https://www.accsensors.com/upasv2.1plus) [UPAS v2.0](https://www.accsensors.com/upasv2.0) [Home Health Box](https://www.accsensors.com/indoor_sampling) [Inlets and Accessories](https://www.accsensors.com/accessories) [UPAS Outdoor Enclosure](https://www.accsensors.com/upas_outdoor_enclosure) [Sample Analysis](https://www.accsensors.com/sample-analysis) ###### Technical Resources [Applications Blog](https://www.accsensors.com/from-the-access-sensor-tech-team) [R Shiny Application](https://accsensors.shinyapps.io/shinyAST/) [astr R Package](https://github.com/accsensors/astr) [YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbbSB_ja8JY-xX90D94qyKA)       ###### Contact Us [Request a Free Demo](https://www.accsensors.com/freetrial) [Request a Quote](https://www.accsensors.com/quote) [Request Support](https://www.accsensors.com/support-request-form) [Our Team](https://www.accsensors.com/about) [Distributors](https://www.accsensors.com/en-us/distributors) [contact@accsensors.com](mailto:contact@accsensors.com)     ###### Legal [Privacy Policy](https://www.accsensors.com/privacypolicy) [Terms and Conditions](https://www.accsensors.com/termsanduse) [FCOI](https://www.accsensors.com/fcoi)         [linkedin-in icon](https://www.linkedin.com/company/access-sensor-technologies/mycompany/?viewAsMember=true) [Check out our YouTube channel.](https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCbbSB_ja8JY-xX90D94qyKA) [Link to our GitHub](https://github.com/accsensors) --- Access Sensor Technologies | 320 E Vine Dr. Ste. 221 | Fort Collins, CO 80524 ```json { "@context" : "https://schema.org", "@type" : "BlogPosting", "author" : { "@type" : "Person", "name" : "Thomas Reilly", "url" : "https://www.accsensors.com/blog/author/thomas-reilly" }, "dateModified" : "2026-08-27T02:19:23.067Z", "datePublished" : "2025-11-13T16:53:33.000Z", "headline" : "The Nouns and Verbs of Indoor Air Quality", "image" : [ "https://www.accsensors.com/hubfs/IMG_0570%20Large-1.png" ], "mainEntityOfPage" : { "@id" : "https://www.accsensors.com/blog/the-nouns-and-verbs-of-indoor-air-quality", "@type" : "WebPage" }, "publisher" : { "@type" : "Organization", "logo" : { "@type" : "ImageObject", "url" : "https://www.accsensors.com/hubfs/AST%20Logo%20Small.png" }, "name" : "Access Sensor Technologies" } } ```