Q: My mother, who is 91, is having problems with eye irritation. Her doctor indicated the problems might stem from air quality and pollutants in the home, such as excessive dust particles or fumes, which my mother quite often says she smells in the house. We want to test for air quality but aren’t sure what type of company to contact. Could you point us in the right direction?
— Karen Broaddus
Akron
A: There’s no single, simple test for air quality, but a good air quality consultant should be able to find the source of your mother’s air problems, said Jeffrey C. May, who runs May Indoor Air Investigations in Massachusetts. He recommended hiring a consultant certified by the Indoor Air Quality Association. May said a qualified consultant will inspect the home first to try to pinpoint the source and will probably notice problematic chemical fumes. If necessary, he or she will then take one or more air samples and have them tested.
You can find consultants on the IAQA website, www.iaqa.org.
Have a question about home maintenance, decorating or gardening? Akron Beacon Journal home writer Mary Beth Breckenridge will find answers for the queries that are chosen to appear in the paper. To submit a question, call her at 330-996-3756, or send email to mbrecken@thebeaconjournal.com. Be sure to include your full name, your town and your phone number or email address.
