Indoor Air Quality

Though often taken for granted, indoor air quality is an important concern. Most people spend more time indoors than out, consequently the health risks posed by pollutants trapped within buildings can be significantly greater than those associated with outdoor air pollution. The main causes of poor indoor air quality fall into two broad categories: (1) emissions from building materials and furnishings, dirt and molds, chemical cleaning supplies, heating and air conditioning system fuels and filters, and site characteristics; and (2) poor ventilation that concentrates interior pollutants by preventing exchange with the outside air.

The heavy use of asbestos as a building material has resulted in major health problems, leading to extensive litigation against manufacturers over its use

Source: iStockphoto

Emissions from building materials and furnishings emerged as a ...