Indoor Air Quality | Air | US EPA

What are you breathing? It is a good question to ask ourselves. All of us face a variety of risks to our health as we go about our day-to-day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes, engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some risks are simply unavoidable. The good news is indoor air pollution is one risk that you can do something about. Find out more below about what you are breathing and how to improve the indoor air quality (IAQ) around you.   Quick Finder Asthma Mold Radon IAQ Tools for Schools Smoke-free Homes and Cars Indoor airPLUS Program IAQ Design Tools for Schools IAQ Tribal Partners Program Partnership for Clean Indoor Air Carbon Monoxide CIAQ IAQ and Climate Readiness Ice Arenas Air Cleaners Floods Indoor Air Topics Asthma About 23 million people, including 6.8 million children, have asthma and 12 million people report having an asthma attack in the past year. Asthma accounts for nearly 17 million physician office and hospital visits, and nearly 2 million emergency department visits each year. Learn more about EPA's Asthma Program National Asthma Forum | Asthma Awareness Month | National Asthma Awards Radon Radon is the leading cause of lung cancer among non-smokers. Radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer in America and claims about 20,000 lives annually. Learn how you can protect your family. Learn more about EPA's Radon Program National Radon Action Month | Radon-resistant New Construction | Radon Leaders Savings Lives | How do I get a radon test kit? Tour the IAQ House Get a quick glimpse of some of the most important ways to protect the air in your home, tour the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) House. Room-by-room, you'll learn about and how to address key pollutants. Read "Care for Your Air" Indoor airPLUS Homebuyers today are increasingly concerned about the indoor air quality of their homes. To address these concerns, builders can employ a variety of construction practices and technologies to decrease the risk of poor IAQ in their new homes. Learn more about Indoor airPLUS Builders and Homebuyers: Watch the videos | Find Out How to Join | Follow us on Twitter and Facebook| Read Frequent Questions IAQ Tools for Schools Twenty percent of the U.S. population, nearly 55 million people, spend their days in our elementary and secondary schools. Students are at greater risk because of the hours spent in school facilities and because children are especially susceptible to pollutants. Learn more about the IAQ Tools for Schools Program IAQ Tools for Schools National Symposium | National Awards Program | IAQ Design Tools for Schools Mold and Moisture The key to mold control is moisture control. It is important to dry water damaged areas and items within 24-48 hours to prevent mold growth. If mold is a problem in your home, get rid of excess water or moisture and then clean up the mold. Read EPA's Mold Guidance. Online Mold Course | Floods | What are the basic mold cleanup steps? | What are ten things I need to know about mold?

News EPA Awards $2.4 Million to Improve Indoor Air Quality Nationwide. [10/20/2010] The goal of these projects is to educate Americans on how to reduce the environmental risks of indoor contaminants. Read the EPA Press Release. [10/5/10] Children’s Health Month – How are you Celebrating? An EPA Greenversation with Stacy Murphy, EPA Region 6 EPA supports new initiative to address cookstoves [9/21/2010] Secretary of State Hillary Rodham Clinton announced the Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves, a public-private partnership led by the United Nations Foundation, which focuses on creating a thriving global market for clean and efficient household solutions. The Global Alliance for Clean Cookstoves will build upon the extensive network of organizations that comprise the Partnership for Clean Indoor Air. Read the EPA Press Release. See www.epa.gov/iaq/pcia for more information. The next IAQ Tools for Schools National Symposium is January 13-15, 2011  Read more about the Symposium Registration for the Symposium is open. Register Today. Read about the winners of the National Excellence Award. EPA's National Asthma Forum was June 17-18, 2010 in Washington, DC. Read about the 2010 winners of the National Environmental Leadership Award in Asthma Management. [6/17/10] Read the EPA Press Release IAQ and Student Performance Make the case for comprehensive IAQ management in your schools. Read about the latest scientific evidence demonstrating how IAQ influences student health and performance. Ensure your school environments are helping students reach their full potential. Top Questions/Tasks Should I use bleach to clean up mold? What about radon and radioactivity in granite countertops? What are the basic mold cleanup steps? Additional Indoor Air Questions

via epa.gov