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Indoor Air Quality Facts
You're
probably exposed to more particles and allergens than you think:
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The
EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to
public health.
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87%
of American homeowners are not aware that pollution may be worse inside
their homes than outdoors.
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EPA
studies indicate that indoor levels of many pollutants may be 25 times,
and occasionally more than 100 times, higher than outdoor levels. In
general, indoor air is four to five times more polluted than outdoor
air.
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Many
ordinary activities such as cooking, cleaning and redecorating can
spread indoor pollutants.
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Most
homes built after 1979 have tighter insulation wraps that trap smoke,
odors and other irritants indoors.
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Exactly
what is in the air you breathe at home?
Pollen
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Flowers
are a source of pollen, but trees are the main culprits for allergy
sufferers. Many trees, such as birch, alder and pine trees, rely on the
wind instead of insects to distribute their pollen. Pollen is often
carried into your home on clothes, through pets and through the air.
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Pollen
allergy (hay fever or allergic rhinitis) affects an estimated 10% or 26
million Americans, not including those with asthma.
Dust Mites
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One
of the most common home allergens, dust mites can lurk in bedding,
upholstery and almost any other soft material, generating irritating
waste particles that can become airborne.
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Home
furnishings are great hiding places for dust, smoke and other allergens.
They can also release potentially harmful pollutants that come from the
processes to manufacture them.
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About
40,000 dust mites, a common cause and trigger of household allergies,
can be found in only one ounce of dust.
Pet Dander
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Dander
from pets can float in the air and cause reactions in sensitive family
members and guests.
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36.1%
of U.S. households have dogs; 31.1% have cats.
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Cat allergen is “sticky” and
adheres to clothing and other surfaces.
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In public places (such as schools and
commercial buildings) and homes that don’t have pets, dog and cat
allergens are found at levels capable of inducing allergic symptoms.
Poor indoor air quality may affect your
health:
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Allergies
are the 6th leading cause of chronic disease in the United States, costing the health care system $18 billion annually.
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According
to a study by the
Commonwealth
of Massachusetts, indoor air contaminants are responsible for or aggravate half of all
illnesses.
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More
than 15 million Americans are estimated to have asthma, including one in
thirteen school children.
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Asthma
in children is the cause of almost 5 million physician visits and more
than 200,000 hospitalizations per year.
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Because
they breathe faster than adults, children inhale 50% more air per pound
of body weight than adults and are especially sensitive to air quality
problems.
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Upper
respiratory tract infections cause about 65% of all sick days.
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The
estimated economic impact of non-influenza-related upper respiratory
tract infections is $40 billion annually.
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An
estimated 11.8 million lost school days per year are attributed to
asthma, making it the leading cause of school absenteeism due to a
health condition.
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Approximately
35 million Americans suffer from upper respiratory symptoms that are
allergic reactions to airborne allergens.
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