Indoor Air Pollutants and Residential Chemical Exposures

I know that outside air pollution can be bad sometimes, but what about the air in my house? What kinds of air toxicants could make me sick right in my own home or office? Over the last 20 to 30 years as the quality of outdoor air has improved, indoor air pollutants have become more of a concern (1). Research indicates that people spend as much as 90 percent of their time indoors (2). Because we spend so much time indoors, awareness of the potential effects of indoor air pollution on human health is vital. This page is designed to educate people on sources and human health effects associated with indoor air pollution.

The following indoor air topics are addressed:

External Links Pertaining to Indoor Air

• The Inside Story - A Guide to Indoor Air Quality
• Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes
• An Introduction to Indoor Air Quality
• EPA's Indoor Air Quality Home Page
• American Lung Association Air Quality Section

References

1. Amdur, Mary O. (and others), eds. Casarett and Doull's Toxicology: The Basic Science of Poisons. McGraw-Hill. New York, NY, 1996.

2. The Inside Story, A Guide to Indoor Air Qaulity. April 1995. EPA., Office of Radiation and Indoor Air. URL: http://www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/insidest.html#Intro

This page was prepared by B.T. Johnson, November 1997. UCD EXTOXNET FAQ Team.