• Airborne Particles
• Biological Contaminants
• Gasses and Odors

Pollen, dryness, dust mites, mold, and more can affect the quality of the air in your home and your health. Asthma afflicts about 20 million Americans, including 6.3 million children. Since 1980, the biggest growth in asthma cases has been in children under five. In 2000, there were nearly 2 million emergency room visits and half a million hospitalizations due to asthma, with an estimated cost of almost $2 billion, and 14 million missed school days each year. For more information, visit the EPA’s Indoor Air Quality website at http://www.epa.gov/iaq/.

There are three main sources of indoor pollutants. By learning more about these, you will be better equipped to control them.

Airborne Particles

Airborne particles include dust, pollen, dirt, pet dander, insulation, and carpet fibers. Particles are often the largest of the pollutants, but are not visible to the naked eye.

Biological Contaminants

Biological contaminants include mold spores, dust mites, viruses, fungi, bacteria, yeasts, and algae. Also known as bioaerosols, they can be living or non-living organisms.

Gasses and Odors

Gasses and odors are made up of chemical vapors from gas appliances, fireplaces, carpets, garages, cleaning products, furniture, paint, perfumes, pesticides and tobacco smoke.