When the shoe fits the foot is forgotten.
When the belt fits, the belly is forgotten.
When the heart is right, "for" and "against" are forgotten.

It is our mission to make the positive change our community needs regarding indoor air quality. After gaining the knowledge and seeing the choices available, our goal is to gain your support for the change that needs to happen. Use companies who support clean indoor air quality through their demonstration. We will help you make the changes to be a good example for others to learn from. We will bring the awareness of the environmental health problems to the policymakers who will in turn make the change needed within our communities. In collaboration with the community, business and government leaders, we will make our public’s health a top priority. In order to make the right decisions about protecting the health of our communities, policymakers, citizens and researchers need to know more about how the environment impacts our health. Join organizations that strive to make a difference in our indoor air quality.

1. What can I do to make a change?                          
2. How do we properly control moisture in our enviroment?
3. What is relative humidity and how do you measure it?
4. What are the proper selections of products for indoor air quality?                      

5. What can I do to make change?                                                                                         

Send letters to senators and representatives regarding issues that affect you :

Clean Indoor Air In Our Nation's Schools:

Our schools should be healthy and promote the core mission "to educate our children." Yet there are estimates that half our nations schools have indoor air problems. We need national clean indoor air
quality standards for our nation's schools to insure our children are being protected from harmful air that will affect their health. Many schools are voluntarily using the Environmental Protection Agency's
Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools Kit to help in this problem, but it is not mandated. OSHA (Occupational Standards) regulates occupations, yet no one is overseeing our most precious commodity, our children. Our schools should be a safe haven for our children. Be your child's
voice in demanding clean learning environment for our children's health.

Find out about more the Nationwide Health Tracking Act of 2002

This legislation was introduced in both the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives to track chronic diseases, when and where they occur as well as potential links to environmental factors. There are systems to track infectious disease which has eradicated polio and other diseases in the United States. Since more than one-third of the U.S. population (approx. 100 million Americans) have some form of chronic disease such as asthma, this tracking is essential to help our public health officials and communities identify chronic disease and help prevent illness.Representatives - reference H.R. 4061 Nationwide Health Tracking Act of 2002 Senators-reference S.2054. Nationwide Health Tracking Act of 2002 Introduced by: Senators Hillary Rodham Clinton (D-NY), Harry Reid (D-NV), and Edward Kennedy (D-MA) Representatives Nancy Pelosi (D-CA), Peter King (R-NY), Stephanie Tubbs Jones (D-OH), Louise Slaughter (D-NY)

Join organizations that support this issue. These organizations make change happen through education, awareness and lobby legislation...there is also strength in numbers.

How do we properly control moisture in our environment.  

 Since mold only grows where there is moisture, it must be controlled According to The American Society of Home Inspectors in 2002, "about 38% of homes have mold and fungus growth due to elevated

moisture." Elevated moisture can come from leaks, flooding or hurricanes, condensation on cold surfaces or too much humidity. Leaks from windows, roofs, or pipes must be inspected to insure they are properly repaired or replaced. If there has been water intrusion, it must be dried properly within 48 hours to insure mold growth does not occur. This would also include using a dehumidifier
to remove moisture in the air. Although building defects like roof leaks, or ruptured pipes are considered the main sources for too much moisture in schools, it is commonly the ventilation system to blame. In a residential ventilation system no fresh air is introduced, but, in public spaces there are "fresh air" requirements by ASHRAE (American Society of Heating) Simply put, public buildings are required to have a percentage of outside air enter a space. Water brought into a building through
ventilation is sufficient to sustain mold growth, unless the air conditioner is equipped to handle this excess moisture. Delayed maintenance or insufficient maintenance are also associated with moisture problems in schools and large buildings. Fixing the building defects alone may not be enough. You must control the relative humidity within a space in order to control mold growth.

What is relative humidity and how do you measure it?                                                  
Relative humidity is the ratio of the amount of water vapor actually present in the air to the greatest amount possible at the same temperature. By using a moisture meter or hygrometer, you can check the relative humidity within your environment. A hygrometer is an inexpensive (usually $50.00 or less) item that measures the temperature and relative humidity in a space and available in most hardware stores. Since mold will grow in humidity levels between 65% - 99%, it is recommended to have the relative humidity within a space to be below 60%, ideally below 50%. In northern climates during the
winter months the recommendation is between 30% - 40% to prevent condensation build up on windows and other surfaces. According to the American Lung Association and U.S.Consumer Product Safety Commission, one third of all structures have damp conditions that may encourage development of pollutants such as mold and bacteria, which can cause allergic reactions -including asthma- and spread infectious diseases.

What if your relative humidity is higher than 60% after repairing building defects?  
Once you determine your relative humidity is too high, there are solutions available to correct the problem. If all building defects have been repaired, it may be the ventilation system that is not adequately drying out the space. This can be determined by a HVAC expert or Indoor Air Specialist. A dehumidifier will control excess humidity within a space, but may only be a temporary answer. The HVAC system should be modified or replaced to properly control the moisture within the environment. There are instances where the HVAC system installed has been incorrectly "over-sized" for a space and will never be able to do the proper job of controlling the humidity. There are other times when the lack of maintenance has damaged the system. Dehumidifiers may be necessary in addition to the HVAC system in schools and office buildings located in geographically hot, humid locations. Routine activities such as cooking, laundering and bathing also adds to moisture within a home. Exhaust fans will help regulate the moisture levels within areas where these activities are located. Clothes dryers should
also be exhausted to the exterior of the building. Concrete slabs are a large source of moisture. The average basement lets in 18 gallons of moisture each day. By properly sealing the concrete against water migration, the problem may be resolved without the use of a dehumidifier.

Proper selections of building products                                                                             
Everything you bring into your indoor environment, every activity you perform and all that is on your body affects your indoor air quality.
The proper selection of building products will help in providing a healthy living environment.   Asbestos is a commonly known building material that is hazardous to the occupants health. If disturbed or not properly sealed the fibers are shed into the indoor air. Because of this, it is recommended by EPA that if you have asbestos in your indoor environment do not disturb the material. If removal is required, it should only be done by trained contractors. This material became the first regulated material in the workplace by the U. S. Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA). It was not until 1989
that the EPA regulated asbestos beyond the workplace. It was completely banned in some building materials as well as brake linings and the manufacturing and exporting were ordered to be reduced 94% by 1996. Many building products contain formaldehyde which is in pressed wood products as well as in the glues and adhesives in particleboard and fiberboard.  Products made with formaldehyde are continually "off-gassing" toxins. These toxins are more concentrated when the products are new. In some man-made wood products, it has a half-life of 3 to 5 years. This means that during the first 3 to 5 years, half of the formaldehyde present will be released.During the next 3 to 5 years, half of what remains will be off gassed, and so on. Because of this, you may consider letting the products "air out" and "off-gas" for a period of time (the longer the better) in a well ventilated area prior to installation. Commonly in construction, whether new or remodeling, materials are ordered as needed and installed immediately. Though this may be the most efficient method, the products are being installed when the toxins released are at the most concentrated levels. Another factor in the rate of formaldehyde release is the amount of water vapor present and the temperature in your space. Both a higher temperature and relative humidity will cause the toxins to be emitted into the air at a faster rate. Some synthetic and
natural materials in carpeting, insulation, wall coverings, and furniture are also sources of indoor air pollution. Latex carpet is a source of phenylcyclohene. If possible, consider alternatives such as using pedestal sinks with a linen closet for storage as opposed to a large cabinet made from pressed wood.
If you must choose products that are known to off-gas toxins, request the particleboard be sealed, making sure all areas are covered, as the gas will release from a very small area. Or, request the products be aired out by the installer or manufacturer prior to installation. There are many manufacturers and installers who are willing to work with your needs at little to no extra charge because the public is becoming more educated about this issue. Carpet installers can "roll out" carpet in their warehouse or in your enclosed garage for a period of time prior to installation as one example.

Proper selection of interior furnishings
Interior furnishings such as fabrics, wall coverings, window treatments and floor coverings also release toxins within a space. Many stain resistant chemicals that are applied for long lasting wear to our textiles are affecting our indoor air quality. There are Material Safety Data Sheets (MSDS) which contain information regarding the toxicity, composition, scientific names and degree of hazard associated with the solvent in question. Unfortunately, the information may be incomplete or confusing. Consumer product labels are not presently required to list specific ingredients and the inert ingredients are solvents that have lax regulation. Until products are clearly labeled, allowing consumers to make informed choices, it is recommended to purchase water based products whenever they are available.