Uploaded September 2021 | Updated September 2026, 1 week ago
In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of a new webpage on the indoor microbiome. The agency reports that all of the living microorganisms inside an indoor environment, and their by-products, are known collectively as an indoor microbiome.
EPA goes on to state that the microbiome that surrounds us is diverse and dynamic, made up of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other single-celled organisms. These microorganisms may be growing or inactive, and may be present in different life stages, such as spores or growing cells.
Regarding what is a “normal” indoor microbiome, EPA declares that every building has a microbiome, but there is no normal or typical indoor microbiome found in all homes or other buildings. The indoor microbiome in an individual home or building depends on many things, including the people and pets that occupy it and their behaviors; the type, design, maintenance, building materials and location of the home or building; and climate and other local conditions.
According to the EPA, most microorganisms indoors come from people, pets, pests, air, water and areas of active microbial growth indoors. The agency goes on to share that once they settle on surfaces, microorganisms can re-enter the air by resuspension, which is stirring up settled dust or dirt. This happens as people and pets move around the home or do activities. Some building features and conditions can impact the growth of microorganisms and their resuspension indoors, such as building materials, temperature and humidity, condensation or water leaks, and airflow patterns. How microorganisms move with the air indoors may be influenced by heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, opening windows and doors, and fan usage, among other factors.
Regarding how the indoor microbiome can affect a person’s health, EPA states that human beings encounter microorganisms every day, and those microorganisms can have neutral, adverse or beneficial effects depending on the person, their health, the microorganism and numerous other variables.
These are just a few of the many things to know about the indoor microbiome. To learn more about this or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ), building science, industrial hygiene, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
In 2021, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced the release of a new webpage on the indoor microbiome. The agency reports that all of the living microorganisms inside an indoor environment, and their by-products, are known collectively as an indoor microbiome.
EPA goes on to state that the microbiome that surrounds us is diverse and dynamic, made up of bacteria, viruses, fungi and other single-celled organisms. These microorganisms may be growing or inactive, and may be present in different life stages, such as spores or growing cells.
Regarding what is a “normal” indoor microbiome, EPA declares that every building has a microbiome, but there is no normal or typical indoor microbiome found in all homes or other buildings. The indoor microbiome in an individual home or building depends on many things, including the people and pets that occupy it and their behaviors; the type, design, maintenance, building materials and location of the home or building; and climate and other local conditions.
According to the EPA, most microorganisms indoors come from people, pets, pests, air, water and areas of active microbial growth indoors. The agency goes on to share that once they settle on surfaces, microorganisms can re-enter the air by resuspension, which is stirring up settled dust or dirt. This happens as people and pets move around the home or do activities. Some building features and conditions can impact the growth of microorganisms and their resuspension indoors, such as building materials, temperature and humidity, condensation or water leaks, and airflow patterns. How microorganisms move with the air indoors may be influenced by heating, ventilation and air conditioning (HVAC) systems, opening windows and doors, and fan usage, among other factors.
Regarding how the indoor microbiome can affect a person’s health, EPA states that human beings encounter microorganisms every day, and those microorganisms can have neutral, adverse or beneficial effects depending on the person, their health, the microorganism and numerous other variables.
These are just a few of the many things to know about the indoor microbiome. To learn more about this or other indoor environmental quality (IEQ), building science, industrial hygiene, health or safety issues, please visit the websites shown below.
Clark Seif Clark csceng.com
EMSL Analytical, Inc. emsl.com
LA Testing latesting.com
Zimmetry Environmental zimmetry.com
Healthy Indoors Magazine healthyindoors.com
