Health Canada Indoor Air Quality Survey

Health Canada Indoor Air Quality Survey

Background

This survey asks for information from indoor air quality testing practitioners to assist Health Canada on the further development and refinement of their indoor air quality guidelines.  These guidelines are:

The survey asks respondents a series of questions on their practice and their use of indoor air quality guidelines.  All respondents are asked to complete the first 3 sections. Section 3 asks respondents if they use Health Canada’s RIAQGs and IARLs; those who respond that they use these guidelines will go on to Sections 4 and 5, while for those who do not use them, the survey will be complete.

All results of this survey will be reported anonymously to Health Canada.

1. Practitioner and practice description

1. b) In what context do you test indoor air for levels of contaminants? Select all that apply.
1. c) What substances do you test for? Select all that apply.
1. d) What types of recommendations do you provide? Select all that apply.

2. General information on application of indoor air quality testing guidelines

2. a) Do you use any indoor air quality guidelines or health-based exposure limits to interpret indoor air quality data?
If Yes: What organization issued the indoor air contaminant guidelines or health-based exposure limits you use? Select all that apply.
2. b) How do you prioritize which guideline to use when multiple options are available in a given situation?
2.c) If you test indoor air quality in non-residential buildings such as office or commercial buildings, or other workplaces, what guidelines do you apply in these situations? Select all that apply.

3. Familiarity with Health Canada's indoor air quality guidelines

3. a) Are you familiar with Health Canada's indoor air quality guidelines?
3. b) Do you use Health Canada's indoor air quality guidelines?

4. If you use Health Canada's indoor air quality guidelines

4. a) Do you use any of the Residential Indoor Air Quality Guidelines (RIAQG)?
If Yes, is the provision of short- and long-term exposure limits in the RIAQGs useful in your work?
If you advise on risk mitigation actions, do you use the mitigation actions noted in the RIAQGs?
4. b) Do you use the Indoor Air Reference Levels (IARL)?
If Yes, When substances exceed IARL screening levels do you provide risk mitigation recommendations?
4. c) Do you provide interpretations of health risk based on the Health Canada's values?
4. d) Do you take sampling duration into account when comparing short- or long-term guidelines?
If No, Do you choose long-term guidelines as a default?

5. Gaps and recommendations

6. Follow-up

If you have any further comments on your experience with the Health Canada's indoor air quality guidelines, would you be willing to do an interview to discuss the issues in more detail?
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