Indoor Air Pollution as Hazardous as Smog

July 24, 2002

Sun Jul 21,11:48 PM ET

SUNDAY, July 21 (HealthScoutNews) -- It's not only the smog outside that you

have to worry about.

Indoor air pollution could be a potential health threat for you and your

family, too.

That may be especially true if you live in a low-income household, says a

Cornell University study that measured levels of such indoor pollutants as

radon, mold, lead and asbestos in 328 houses and 75 child-care facilities in

six New York state counties.

" We found levels of pollutants in homes and child-care facilities that we

should be concerned about, " says study author ph Laquatra, an associate

professor of design and environmental analysis at Cornell's New York State

College of Human Ecology.

The study was presented at the recent International Conference on Indoor Air

and Climate held in Monterey, Calif.

" Even low levels of exposure to some of these pollutants is dangerous, and

if you have a child who lives in a home with high radon, lead and mold

levels and then spends the day being exposed to those same pollutants in a

child-care facility, that child may be at significantly higher risk for lead

poisoning, cancer, asthma attacks and allergies, " Laquatra says in a

prepared statement.

The study found people in low-income households have more exposure to indoor

pollutants than people in higher-income homes. That's probably because

lower-income residents live in poorer quality buildings more likely to have

such problems as foundation cracks and dirt basements that allow pollutants

to get into the homes.

Carbon monoxide, chipping lead paint and asbestos are other potential

hazards. However, it can be difficult for low-income homeowners to find the

money to make needed repairs and that can lead to serious health problems,

Laquatra says.

" Lead poisoning in children leads to lowered intelligence and behavioral

problems. Mold is a trigger for allergies and asthma, both of which lead to

school and work absences, productivity losses and increased health costs, "

Laquatra says.

More information

The Environmental Protection Agency ( news - web sites) says indoor air

pollutant levels may by two to five times higher than outdoor pollutant

levels. For more details about indoor air quality, visit this EPA site.

Recommended Posts