Is indoor air pollution widespread? Can it have a significant impact on health?
The answer to both questions is “yes.” Scientists have discovered that the levels of a dozen common pollutants are generally two to five times higher inside buildings than they are outdoors. The potential impact of these pollutants on human health is magnified because most people spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. The U.S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) estimates that 30 percent of the Americans who work in non-industrial buildings such as offices, schools and hospitals are exposed to poor indoor air quality in their workplaces — without taking into account exposure to tobacco smoke. (Since city law now bans smoking in public buildings, secondhand smoke is no longer a factor in city schools.
