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Indoor Air Quality

What is Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) relates to the characteristics of air inside buildings and how it affects the health and comfort of people in those spaces. People spend about 90% of their time indoors, so maintaining good IAQ is especially important for health. IAQ is important for everyone but may impact vulnerable populations, like children and older adults, more.

What impacts Indoor Air Quality?

Indoor and outdoor factors influence IAQ. Outdoor air pollution can enter the home through open doors and windows, vents, and any unsealed opening. Indoor sources of pollution may include combustion appliances (creating carbon monoxide and nitrogen dioxide), radon, secondhand smoke, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), mold and moisture, and asthma triggers, like dust mites, pests, pet dander, and pollen.

Health risks of poor indoor air quality

Poor IAQ can lead to a range of short-term and long-term health effects. Short-term exposure may cause headaches, dizziness, and irritation of the eyes, nose, or throat, while carbon monoxide exposure can be life-threatening. Long-term exposure increases the risk of chronic respiratory diseases, heart disease, and certain cancers.

How can I improve my indoor air quality?

You can improve your IAQ by reducing or eliminating pollutants at their source, improving ventilation, and filtering the air.

Source reduction:

  • Avoid smoking and vaping indoors or in your car.
  • If you smoke or vape, practice reducing secondhand smoke exposure by removing outer layers at the door and washing hands to limit exposure to others. Quitting is the only way to eliminate exposure. Seek cessation support programs to help you quit.
  • Use products with low VOCs – you can often smell them, especially when levels are high. Think fresh paint, new car smell, a strong candle – all of those things are off-gassing VOCs into the air you are breathing. However, smell is not always an indicator and not a reliable way to identify VOCs. Learn more about VOCs in your home.
  • Address mold and moisture issues.

Improve ventilation:

  • Open windows when the outdoor air quality is good. Check your air quality here.
  • Use kitchen and bathroom exhaust fans.
  • Maintain HVAC systems and ensure they are working.

Air filtering

  • Use high efficiency filters in HVAC systems.
  • Use portable air cleaners (filters) as needed.
  • Replace all filters regularly according to manufacturer instructions.

Contractor Information

Contractors working on heating, ventilation, and air conditioning (HVAC), weatherization, and other home renovations can impact indoor air quality. It is important to work with qualified professionals who follow best practices to minimize indoor air pollutants.

Contractors should protect indoor air by controlling dust and the work area and by ensuring the area is thoroughly cleaned during and after the work is complete. Mold, moisture, and other concerns should be communicated to the residents and addressed. Choose safer products with low VOCs and ensure adequate ventilation.

It is also important to understand how “tightening” a house – preforming any repairs that better seal the enclosure of the building – changes the indoor air quality. Training on building performance, indoor air quality, and healthy homes can provide more information.

Resources

Women for a Healthy Environment Fact Sheets

Local Allegheny County Resources on Air Quality 

Learn more about indoor air quality

Specific indoor air quality pollutants

What can I do about Indoor Air Quality?

Asthma and Indoor Air Quality

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