Indoor Air Quality Information

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Is Your Indoor Airy Dirty?

Yes - The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) estimates that the air in our homes and offices are two to five times more polluted than the outdoor air. The US EPA has ranked indoor air pollution as a high priority public health risk (US EPA, 1990). The World Health Organization (WHO) and the National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) concluded that preventing exposure to environmental allergens and irritants may help prevent asthma (NHLBI, 1995). 

If you're like most people, you spend up to 90% of your time indoors. If you can find a way to reduce airborne pollutants and allergens that you breathe, you may be able to increase your vitality and health and reduce allergies and asthma attacks.

How can I reduce indoor air pollution?

According to the American Lung Association (ALA) (www.lungusa.org), air pollution in our homes can be reduced in three different ways:

• Controlling the source of pollution
• Increasing Ventilation, and
• Cleaning the Air with Air Filters or Air Purifiers
   

These are listed in their order of effectiveness.

What are some of the sources of air pollution in my home?

We don't always think of the following as sources of air pollution, but depending on the type of product, all of the following can be significant sources of pollution and irritation in our homes:

• Paints & Varnishes
• Out gassing from furniture, insulation and building materials (especially particle board and plywood)
• Carpets
• Smoking
• Cleaning and Personal Care Products
• Pets
• Dust Mites
• Mold
• Combustion Appliances (gas heaters, stoves, etc.)
• Fine particulate matter from outdoor pollution and forest fires
• Indoor Air Freshener Toxic Emissions
   

Many of these sources of pollution can be reduced or eliminated.  Things like toxic personal care products, conventional cleaning products and indoor air “fresheners” can be replaced with relatively little cost and little effort.  However, some of the other items on the list may take a lot more more and more time to change.  When you remodel or bring new items into your home, try to find green products that do not pollute as much.  For example, look for low or no VOC paints and varnishes.  For some other items, however, increasing the ventilation and cleaning the air with air filters or air purifiers may be a better option.

Particulate Matter - A Serious Health Problem

The EPA has long recognized that fine particulate matter from smog and forest fires can be a serious health problem, exacerbating cardiovascular and respiratory problems and causing premature death. Numerous studies have associated particle pollution with increased hospital admissions, reduced lung function, shortened life spans, cancer and increased school absences. Most severely affected are children, the elderly, those with asthma and other respiratory problems, and those with cardiovascular disease. We discuss this issue here because although smog and forest fires represent outdoor pollution, they also come inside our homes and contribute to our indoor air pollution.  If you live in an area where the is considerable amount of smog and/or lots of wildfires, you might also want to consider getting a good air filter or air purifier to help clean your air.

A team of researchers in Southern California has discovered that microscopic airborne particles can disrupt the inner workings of cells, which may explain how particulate matter from car and diesel exhaust and other pollutants that are found in urban haze can harm the body. (LA Times, April 7, 2003) The researchers found that the particles trigger a reaction that causes inflammation, which may help us to understand why particle pollution often makes asthma worse (asthma is an inflammation of the airways).

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