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Indoor Air Quality
Most Americans spend about 90 percent of their time indoors. By not bringing in enough outdoor air to dilute emissions from chemicals, gases from building materials, high humidity, sources that release gases or particles into the air are the primary cause of indoor air quality problems in homes.
Programs
Radon
Radon is a naturally occurring gas found all over the U.S. It can get into any building – homes, offices and schools – where we spend most of our time. When radon is trapped in buildings and concentrations become high, radon becomes a concern. The Surgeon General recommends testing for radon in your home since it is colorless, odorless and tasteless and is the second leading cause of lung cancer, after smoking, in the U.S. today. The good news is that you can easily and cheaply test your home, schools and buildings for radon. High radon levels can be easily and inexpensively lowered in your home.
Contact: Cornelia Maes
(303) 312-6031
maes.cornelia@epa.gov
Tools for Schools
Tools for Schools is an activity designed especially for school districts that need to deal with indoor air quality issues on a limited budget. EPA Region 8 offers free training and on-site technical assistance to school districts that need help in implementing this Program. School Districts that are currently using Tools for Schools in Region 8 include Adams 12, Salt Lake City Schools and Rapid City School District 51-4.
Contact: Ron Schiller
(303) 312-6017
schiller.ron@epa.gov
Asthma
The Rocky Mountain region experiences some of the highest rates of asthma in the nation. The EPA works in partnership with other government agencies and non-profit organizations in providing information and education opportunities to the public on recognizing and avoiding indoor environmental asthma triggers.
Contact: Ron Schiller
(303) 312-6017
schiller.ron@epa.gov
Environmental Tobacco Smoke (ETS)
Second hand smoke has been classified by the EPA as a known cause of lung cancer (Group A carcinogen). Passive smoking is estimated by EPA to cause approximately 3,000 lung cancer deaths in nonsmokers every year. EPA Region 8 provides information to the public on the dangers of second hand smoke, and encourages adults not to smoke in front of children through the EPA’s Smoke Free Home Pledge campaign.
Contact: Ron Schiller
(303) 312-6017
schiller.ron@epa.gov
Mold and Other Indoor Air Contaminants
While mold is not as much of a problem in the semiarid Midwest as it is in other parts of the country, homeowners and renters can contact the EPA when they believe they may have a mold problem. Carbon monoxide from improper venting of appliances, or volatile organics from various indoor sources can pollute our indoor environments. The EPA provides consumer information and advice to the public on these and other indoor air pollutants.
Contact: Ron Schiller
(303) 312-6017
schiller.ron@epa.gov
Projects Currently Funded by the EPA Region 8 Indoor Air Program
Some of the sites
listed on this page are not on the EPA Web site. Please
see our disclaimer information.
EPA Region 8 regularly holds grant competitions to select qualified applicants that are awarded funding for indoor environment related activities. The most recent competition resulted in the following organizations being awarded funds:
National Jewish Medical and Research Center
National Jewish (www.njc.org) received funding for their proposal to work with primary care facilities in rural areas of Colorado on ways to reduce asthma rates through improved ETS education. Lessons learned from this activity can then be used to improve asthma and ETS education and intervention in other areas of the region.
Aberdeen Area Tribal Chairmen’s Health Board (AATCHB)
The AATCHB (www.aatchb.org), headquartered in Rapid City South Dakota, is using funding from EPA Region 8 to work with Native Americans on reservations and in Native American communities throughout North and South Dakota. Through this project, parents and caregivers are being encouraged to not smoke indoors when children are present. The AATCHB is using information and materials from EPA’s Smoke Free Homes Pledge campaign to support this activity, adapting the material when necessary to make it more appropriate for Native American populations.
Montana State University Extension – Housing and Environmental Health Program
Montana State University (www.extn.msu.montana.edu) received a grant to provide education opportunities to Native American youths and their families on recognizing and addressing indoor environmental asthma triggers commonly found in homes, schools and daycares. This will be accomplished through working with local partners at the tribal community level. Education will include visits to the homes of children with asthma, where on-site advice and guidance will be given.
American Lung Association of the Northern Rockies (ALA-NR)
The American Lung Association (www.lungusa2.org/northernrockies) will use funding from the EPA to conduct an ETS awareness media outreach campaign that is directed primarily at tribal communities and reservations in Montana and Wyoming. Materials and methods that have been used in previous successful outreach efforts will be duplicated and used in the current campaign.
For more information on current indoor air projects and the grant competition process please contact:
Contact: Ron Schiller
(303) 312-6017
schiller.ron@epa.gov
