Indoor Pollutant Fact Sheet

Because Americans spend approximately 90% of their time indoors, it seems fitting that indoor air be a major concern inside the home. Asthma and allergic reactions are triggered or made worse by numerous environmental pollutants including fungi and molds, dust mites, pet and insect allergens, chemicals, dust and odors. Over 50 million Americans are affected by allergies and over 17 million suffer from asthma. Asthma is the most common chronic disease among children today.

Below are primary indoor pollutants that may affect the health of those in the home:

Mold and Fungi

  • 20% of homes have invisible molds.
  • Between 10% and 32% of all asthmatic persons are sensitive to fungal allergens, both indoors and outdoor.
  • Excessive moisture is the cause of most indoor mold.

Cockroach Allergens

  • Up to 60% of asthmatics in one study tested positive to cockroach allergen.
  • A cockroach expert at the U.S. Dept. of Agriculture actually counted all the German cockroaches in about 1,000 low-income apartments in Gainesville, FL. The average number of cockroaches was 13,000 per apartment.

Animal Allergens

  • Many people think that pet allergies are triggered by the fur of household pets. Actually, the allergens are proteins secreted by oil glands in the animals’ skin and shed as dander or dead skin.
  • These allergenic proteins are also found in saliva and urine.

Dust Mite Allergens

  • It is estimated that exposure to mite allergen may trigger attacks in up to 85% of asthmatics.
  • Mite allergens are found in bedding, upholstered furniture, and carpeted floorings.

Formaldehyde and VOCs

  • It is estimated that 10 to 20 percent of the U.S. population, including asthmatics, may have hyper-reactive airways, which may make them more susceptible to formaldehyde’s effects.
  • Elevated VOC levels may cause headache, eye, nose and throat irritation.

Other Gases

  • Carbon monoxide in the home causes over 1500 deaths per year.
  • Ozone is a strong pulmonary irritant that can result in lung damage.
  • Combustion gases such as nitrogen oxides and sulfur oxides are toxic and contribute to respiratory illnesses.

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