Why We Are Here

                  When you think about “air quality,” the first thing that may come to mind is smog or some other outdoor air contaminant. Yet we spend up to 90% of our lives inside buildings. Many of us even exercise indoors.  

                Indoor air is usually very different from outdoor air. In many larger buildings, windows do not open, and every teaspoon of air we breathe has been delivered through ducts by a heating or cooling system that may be contaminated with mold, yeast or bacteria. In homes, much of the “fresh” air can originate from a moldy or musty-smelling basement or crawl space.

                  If you filled a glass with tap water that was cloudy and green, you would know not to drink the water. Unfortunately, we can’t “see” the irritants and contaminants that are in the air that we inhale into our lungs and that can include:

• Mold spores
• Bacteria
• Chemicals and particles from carpets
• Chemicals from furnishings, paints, adhesives, and cleaning products
• Chemicals from office equipment like printers and copiers
• Fibers from insulation
• Pet dander
• Dust mite droppings
• Rodent and insect allergens

                These particles and vapors can accumulate in the indoor air and cause health effects such as eye and skin irritation, headaches, fatigue, and allergy and asthma symptoms; and can even lead to chemical hypersensitivity.

                In this blog, we will discuss the sources of indoor air quality problems, including mold, pests, pets, chemical emissions, heating and cooling equipment, and irritating or annoying building smells. We hope to foster discussions about how people have been affected by conditions in their indoor environments and to offer advice to those who wish to improve their indoor air quality.

               Jeff and Connie May, May Indoor Air Investigations LLC, www.mayindoorair.com, authors of:

       My House is Killing Me! The Home Guide for Families with Allergies and Asthma

       The Mold Survival Guide: For Your Home and for Your Health

       My Office is Killing Me! The Sick Building Survival Guide

       Jeff May’s Healthy Home Tips

       All published by The Johns Hopkins University Press.