The Facts
Since the mid-1990s, substantial progress has been made in raising awareness about the health impacts of indoor air pollution, in particular in schools and health care facilities.

State legislators too are paying more attention to indoor air issues. And homeowners are focusing more on the importance of good air for their families’ wellbeing. Despite these advances, there has been a steady decline in the quality of the air in our homes.


Indoor Air Pollution - Does It Really Make A Difference?

• Indoor pollution levels can be two to five times higher and sometimes as much as 100 times more polluted than outside air. Most people spend 90% of their time indoors.

• According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the most common actual causes of death in the United States in 2000 were tobacco, microbial agents such 
  as influenza and pneumonia, and toxic agents such as pollutants and asbestos.

• The American College of Allergy, Asthma and Immunology in 2000 noted that 50 percent of all illnesses are either caused or aggravated by poor indoor air quality.

• Over 17 million Americans have asthma; asthma is now the most common chronic illness among children in the nation.
 
• More than 14 million school days and over three million work days are lost to asthma-related issues every year in the United States alone.

• The United States sees over two million asthma-related emergency room visits per year.

• Asthma mortality is disproportionately high among African Americans, other minorities and the poor.

• Asthma among children has increased over 74% from 1980 to 1994. Colorado currently has the second highest estimated prevalence of asthma among children in the 
  nation.

• The Institute of Medicine of the National Academies has outlined the relationship between indoor air pollution and the exacerbation of asthma.

Education Schedule and Newsletters- Click Here

Indoor Air Quality Guidelines - Click Here