Return To Section Contents
Next Page>>>
Page1 |Page2 |Page3 |Page4 |Page5 |Page6 |Page7 |Page8 |Page9 |Page10 |Page11 |Page12 |Page13 |Page14 |Page15 |Page16 |Page17 |Page18 |Page19 |Page20 |
THE INSIDE STORY
A GUIDE TO INDOOR AIR QUALITY
Air Pollution Sources in the Home
Introduction
Indoor Air Quality in Your Home
What If You Live in an Apartment?
Improving the Air Quality in Your Home
A Look at Source-Specific Controls
Radon
Environmental Tobacco Smoke
Biological Contaminants
Stoves, Heaters, Fireplaces, and Chimneys
Household Products
Formaldehyde
Pesticides
Asbestos
Lead
Reference Guide to Major Indoor Air Pollutants in the Home
When Building a New Home
Do You Suspect Your Office Has an Indoor Air Problem?
Where to Go for Additional Information
Glossary
AIR POLLUTION SOURCES IN THE HOME
1. Moisture
2. Pressed Wood Furniture
3. Humidifier
4. Moth Repellents
5. Dry-Cleaned Goods
6. House Dust Mites
7. Personal Care Products
8. Air Freshener
9. Stored Fuels
10. Car Exhaust
11. Paint Supplies
12. Paneling
13. Wood Stove
14. Tobacco Smoke
15. Carpets
16. Pressed Wood Sub flooring
17. Drapes
18. Fireplace
19. Household Chemicals
20. Asbestos Floor Tiles
21. Pressed Wood Cabinets
22. Unvented Gas Stove
23. Asbestos Pipe Wrap
24. Radon
25. Unvented Clothes Dryer
26. Pesticides
27. Stored Hobby Products
28. Lead-Based Paint
INDOOR AIR QUALITY CONCERNS
All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go
about our day to day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes,
engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to
environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some
risks are simply unavoidable. Some we choose to accept because to
do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead our lives the way
we want. And some are risks we might decide to avoid if we had
the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor air pollution
is one risk that you can do something about.
In the last several years, a growing body of scientific
evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other
buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in
even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research
indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their
time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be
greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.
In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air
pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most
susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups
include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill,
especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular
disease.
WHY A BOOKLET ON INDOOR AIR?
While pollutant levels from individual sources may not pose
a significant health risk by themselves, most homes have more
than one source that contributes to indoor ar pollution. There
can be a serious risk from the cumulative effects of these
sources. Fortunately, there are steps that most people can take
both to reduce the risk from existing sources and to prevent new
problems from occurring. This booklet was prepared by the U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the U.S. Consumer
Product Safety Commission (CPSC) to help you decide whether to
take actions that can reduce the level of indoor air pollution in
your own home.
Because so many Americans spend a lot of time in offices
with mechanical heating, cooling, and ventilation systems, there
is also a short section on the causes of poor air quality in
offices and what you can do if you suspect that your office may
have a problem. A glossary and a list of organizations where you
can get additional information are listed at the back of this
booklet.
WHAT CAUSES INDOOR AIR PROBLEMS?
Indoor pollution sources that release gases or particles
into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems
in homes. Inadequate ventilation can increase indoor pollutant
levels by not bringing in enough outdo
Next Page>>>
Page1 |Page2 |Page3 |Page4 |Page5 |Page6 |Page7 |Page8 |Page9 |Page10 |Page11 |Page12 |Page13 |Page14 |Page15 |Page16 |Page17 |Page18 |Page19 |Page20 |
|
|