Indoor air quality is a rising concern in the United States. Contamination of the air we breathe in our homes, schools and workplaces can be extremely harmful to our health. The facts about indoor air pollution and the resulting negative health effects are downright scary.
According to the Environmental Protection Agency:
- Americans spend 90% of their time indoors.
- 6 out of 10 homes and buildings are considered "sick," with airborne pollutants.
- Indoor air pollution is one of the top five environmental dangers to the public.
- Indoor air is 2 to 5 times more polluted than outside air. In some cases, indoor air can be up to 100 times more polluted.
- Nearly 23 million people, including 6.8 million children, suffer from asthma.
- Asthma accounts for nearly 17 million doctor and hospital visits and almost 2 million emergency room visits per year.
- 20% of employees have a major illness related to indoor air pollution, such as allergies, asthma and autoimmune diseases.
- Controllable levels of fine particles contribute to 17,000 premature deaths and 12,000 hospitalizations in the U.S. each year.
According to the American Lung Association:
- Indoor air pollution contributes to lung disease, respiratory tract infections, asthma and lung cancer.
- Lung disease claims up to 335,000 lives and is the third leading cause of death in the United States.
- An estimated 1 out 15 homes have radon levels above 4pCi/L. Radon is responsible for between 15,000 and 21,000 lung cancer deaths in the United States each year.
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS), a major indoor air pollutant, contains 4,000 chemicals, 200 known poisons and 43 carcinogens.
- Environmental Tobacco Smoke causes an estimated 3,000 lung cancer deaths and 35,000 to 50,000 heart disease deaths in non-smokers.
