How Serious Is Indoor Air Pollution?
Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but may not know that indoor air pollution also can have significant harmful effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of many pollutants may be two to five times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. Also, people spend more than 90 percent of their time indoors. Tightly sealed buildings are an additional concern for the health of those who live and work in them. The Journal of the American Medical Association in 1988 reported that a population living in energy-efficient buildings contracted upper respiratory diseases at rates 46 percent to 50 percent higher than a comparable group living in older, more ventilated housing. The EPA and its Science Advisory Board rank indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.
Most people are aware that outdoor air pollution can damage their health but may not know that indoor air pollution also can have significant harmful effects. The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) studies of human exposure to air pollutants indicate that indoor levels of many pollutants may be two to five times, and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels.
