What is an Indoor Environmental Health Assessment (IEHA)?
An IEHA is an evaluation conducted to assess conditions inside of a building which may impact the health of its occupants. The assessment must evaluate the whole indoor environment; not just indoor air. The use of air sampling alone must not be relied upon to conduct a thorough IEHA. The IEHA includes an evaluation of the historical uses and operations in the building as well as current activities which may impact the indoor environment. What are the first steps for conducting an IEHA? Step1: Evaluation of the building’s historical use Understanding the previous uses of the building is an essential component of the IEHA. Residual contaminants such as polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs), petroleum products, solvents, metals such as mercury and lead or other chemical compounds may have been used by previous companies that occupied the building. Residual contaminants may pose an increased exposure risk to the children and staff occupying the child care center. If the review of the building’s
