Most people know that outdoor air pollution can damage their health, but over the last several years studies have shown that indoor air pollution may be even worse than that of outdoors.

The recent trends have been for residences to be sealed as tight as possible to conserve energy, thus trapping many pollutants in our homes. This also leads to the increase in chemical exposure, in part due to more synthetic materials and products, chemically formulated personal care products, pesticides and household cleaners.

Since nearly 90% of an average person's time is spent indoors, it is necessary that you become well educated and take the appropriate actions necessary to maintain the best Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) possible.

Following are six simple steps that you can do to help prevent IAQ problems as recommended by the National Association of County & City Health Officials:

1. Housekeeping - Maintain a written housekeeping checklist; have workers document housekeeping that is completed; keep a record of all cleaning supplies used in the building; and avoid using cleaning supplies with strong odors. Keep the building/residence clean and dust levels low.
2. Building Maintenance - Set a maintenance policy and stick to it for either a residence or building; keep records of work done and any inspection, maintenance, etc. Retain all manuals, warranties, and other documents related to building/residence systems. Keep the building/residence in good working order. If things break, fix them.
3. Heating Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) Maintenance - Keep the temperature and humidity at comfortable levels. Make sure the HVAC system is properly maintained. (i.e.; have qualified HVAC contractors maintain the system regularly; change filters according to instructions; keep vents and ductwork clean and in good condition to maintain proper control.) See Carbon Monoxide link at bottom of page.
4. Mold and Mildew - If mold and mildew are present; most importantly, find and remediate the sources of air pollution (i.e.; leak in wall, roof and plumbing). Remove any porous materials (carpets, insulation, sheet rock) that have been wet. Clean remaining smooth surface areas with a 1-3% bleach solution.
5. Organic Contamination - Follow directions above for minimizing mold and mildew. Use throw rugs as an alternative to wall-to-wall carpeting. If using wall-to-wall carpeting ensure that carpets are kept clean.
6. Chemicals - Minimize chemical use and make sure that chemicals are used according to instructions. Do not mix chemicals. Take measures to ensure chemicals are stored and disposed of properly. If you must use chemicals, use them in a well ventilated area.