As we push for solutions like energy efficiency to lower electric bills, reduce air pollution and address climate change we also must ensure people are not being sealed into environments with toxic indoor air. Air pollution isn’t just about cars or smokestacks—what you buy or how your home is built can lead to indoor air pollution.
People spend about 90 percent of their time indoors according to the EPA. Some pollution is often found inside people’s homes at levels that are 2-5 times higher than outdoor amounts. Many people are unaware that nonstick pans can release chemicals that cause cancer in most animals or that air fresheners usually don’t list 90% of the chemicals they use! This toolkit is designed to help you clean up the air indoors. Mothers & Others for Clean Air, in partnership with Wellness Within Your Walls, designed this toolkit with easy to use sections to help you clean up your home or to use when making your next shopping list. In each section you will learn:
- Important Pollutants
- Potential Health Problems in Children and Adults
- What to Avoid
- What to Buy
- Terms to Look For
- Specific Guidelines
Common Sources of Indoor Air Pollution
Common Pollutants and General Health Effects
| Affects hormones | Builds in blood stream | Cancer | Cognitive effects | Developmental problems | Env. persistent | Heart disease | Irritant | Lung disease | Nausea | Poisonous | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Asbestos | • | • | |||||||||
| Carbon monoxide | • | • | • | ||||||||
| Flame retardants (PFC, PBDE) | • | • | • | • | |||||||
| Formaldehyde and acetaldehyde | • | • | |||||||||
| Lead | • | • | |||||||||
| Nitrogen Dioxide | • | • | • | ||||||||
| Particulates | • | • | |||||||||
| PFAs, PFOAs | • | • | • | • | |||||||
| Phthalates | • | • | |||||||||
| PVC/dioxin | • | • | |||||||||
| VOCs | • |
Further Reading & Resources
- Mothers & Others For Clean Air Searchable Research Hub
- Wellness Within Your Walls
- Air Monitoring Apps For IPhone & Android
- AirNow For Local Air Quality Updates
- Center for Sustainable Communities
- CDC – Indoor Air Pollution
- CDC – Healthy Housing Reference Manual
- Consumer Reports Air Purifier Buying Guide
- EPA – Consumer’s Guide to Radon Reduction
- EPA – Indoor Air Quality
- EPA – Safer Choice A Purchasing Guide
- EWG’s-Guide To Healthy Cleaning
- EWG’s-Healthy Home Guide
- National Center for Healthy Housing state-specific guides
- PurpleAir – Real-Time Air Pollution Map
- EPA report on PurpleAir accuracy, read alongside the above link