Indoor Air Quality

Indoor air quality is, on average, 2-5 times more polluted than outdoor air...at a minimum. These numbers come from a 1987 study done by the EPA. Almost 40 years later, we're still quoting them regularly, but my guess is they're much higher now, for four reasons:

➜ Outdoor air in the US is much cleaner now than it was in 1987, thanks to better emissions controls.
➜ Homes are built much "tighter" for energy-efficiency, meaning indoor air pollution doesn't have as many chances to escape, and it's harder for fresh air to make its way in.
➜ We combust gas indoors more often-- the popularity of gas stoves in home kitchens grew dramatically in the 1990s.
➜ We spend more time inside now than ever before, and it's often us that is doing the polluting indoors (breathing out carbon dioxide, using scented personal products, burning candles, etcetera).

What's in your indoor air? Particulate matter and nitrogen dioxide from cooking, VOC's like formaldehyde from furniture glues, asbestos and styrene from building materials, mold spores, viruses, CO2 from exhalation, and radon from the rocks below homes foundations. All of these have short- and long-term health impacts (see Today's Link in bio).

What can you do about it? Monitor your indoor air quality, open windows daily, use the exhaust fans whenever you cook and shower, and use an air purifier whenever you're at home. If you're upgrading, choose a fresh air intake with a heat recovery ventilator.