Clean air at home is essential for everyone’s health. Yet, indoor air can be two to five times more polluted than the air outside. Poor indoor air quality can cause or contribute to the development of infections, lung cancer and chronic lung diseases such as asthma and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To help families protect themselves from indoor air pollution, the American Lung Association is launching the Healthy Home, a customizable and interactive indoor air quality educational tool to help people learn the causes of unhealthy air and what they can do to breathe easier at home.
Poor air quality at home impacts everyone, but children, older adults, pregnant individuals and people with lung disease, like asthma and COPD, and other underlying health conditions are especially vulnerable. Poor indoor air quality can cause severe allergic reactions, asthma flares, COPD exacerbations, headaches, fatigue and contribute to the spread of airborne bacteria and viruses.
“Air pollution is an invisible danger that too many people encounter in their homes. Commonly-found pollutants like chemicals from cleaning products, dust, cigarette smoke, e-cigarette vapor and radon can all be harmful to everyone’s health—especially for children, whose lungs are still developing,” said Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association. “With the Healthy Home, we’re helping people understand why indoor air quality is important for their family and provide actionable steps to ensure the air we breathe in our homes is as healthy as it can be.”
During the Healthy Home experience, participants will be virtually guided room-by-room through one of three home types (single-family, multi-unit and manufactured) to identify air quality risks, such as cleaning products, fuel burning appliances, fireplaces, excessive moisture and building construction and furnishings and learn what to do to improve the air quality in their own home.
The most common air pollutants found in homes include particulate matter, gas contaminants, mold and mildew, dust and dust mites, cockroach allergens, pet dander, smoke from cigarettes and candles, vapor from e-cigarettes, fragrances and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) from many household products. Radon can also be a big concern in homes nationwide. It is the second leading cause of lung cancer and a colorless and odorless gas that can build up indoors. Additionally, outdoor pollutants like pollen, vehicle exhaust, factory emissions and wildfire smoke can enter homes and make air unhealthy.
After completing the Healthy Home experience, participants will have access to free one-on-one education and support via the Lung HelpLine and Lung Health Navigator program, which is staffed by professionally trained lung health experts such as registered nurses and respiratory therapists. Participants will also receive an Indoor Air Quality Action Plan that can be personalized and other Lung Association educational resources.
This project has been partly funded by the United States Environmental Protection Agency under assistance agreement 84098901 to the American Lung Association. The contents of this site do not necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency, nor does the Environmental Protection Agency endorse trade names or recommend the use of commercial products mentioned in this document, as well as any images, video, text, or other content created by generative artificial intelligence tools, nor does any such content necessarily reflect the views and policies of the Environmental Protection Agency. Additional funding for Healthy Home comes from the Marilyn Brachman Hoffman Foundation, Knauf and Airthings.
Learn more about indoor air quality and complete the Healthy Home at Lung.org/healthy-home.
