Indoor Air Quality Facts

• About 40,000 dust mites, a common cause of household allergies, can be found in only one ounce of dust.
• The EPA ranks indoor air pollution among the top five environmental risks to public health.
• 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.
• In the last 30 years, the number of people with asthma has gone up by almost 60%.
• 87% of American homeowners are not aware that pollution may be worse inside their homes than outdoors.
• 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.
• Over 28 million Americans suffer from hay fever and other allergies.
• According to a study by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, indoor air contaminants are responsible for half of all illnesses.
• Many ordinary activities such as cooking, cleaning and redecorating can spread indoor pollutants.
• Most homes generate about 40 pounds of dust per year for every 1.500 square feet of space.