How clean is the air in Baie-Comeau? What's the quality of the air in your office? 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. The good news is indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about.
Indoor Air Topics
Asthma - Asthma is a growing public health problem. About 23 million people, including 6.8 million children, have asthma and 12 million people report having an asthma attack in the past year. Asthma accounts for nearly 17 million physician office and hospital visits, and nearly 2 million emergency department visits each year.
IAQ Tools for Schools Program - Twenty percent of the U.S. population, nearly 55 million people, spend much of their time in U.S. elementary and secondary schools. In the mid-1990s, studies show that 1 in 5 of our nation's 110,000 schools reported unsatisfactory indoor air quality, and 1 in 4 schools reported unsatisfactory ventilation. Students are at greater risk because they spend many hours in school facilities and because children are especially susceptible to pollutants.
IAQ Design Tools for Schools provides both detailed guidance as well as links to other information resources to help design new schools as well as repair, renovate, and maintain existing facilities.
Mold - Molds are part of the natural environment. Molds reproduce by means of tiny spores. The spores are invisible to the naked eye and float through outdoor and indoor air. Mold may begin growing indoors when mold spores land on surfaces that are wet. There are many types of mold, and none of them will grow without water or moisture.
Radon - You can't see, smell, or taste radon, but it may be a problem in your home. Radon is estimated to cause many thousands of lung cancer deaths each year. In fact, the Surgeon General has warned that radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in the United States today. Find out how to test your home for radon and, if the reading is elevated, find out what to do next.
- Radon Action Week is October 19-25.
- January is National Radon Action Month.
Smoke-free Homes and Cars Program - Secondhand smoke affects everyone, but children are especially vulnerable because they are still growing and developing. EPA has created a national Smoke-Free Home Pledge Initiative to motivate parents to protect their children.
Courtesy of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA).