:: Indoor Air Quality
Elements within our homes and workplaces have been increasingly recognized as threats to our respiratory health. The EPA lists poor indoor air quality as the fourth largest environmental threat to our country. Air pollution levels inside may be five times as high – and in some cases, 100 times as high – as air pollution levels outside. Common pollutants, such as radon, mold, pet dander, pollen, combustion products and more, can enter our houses through air leaks in the structure or as a result of materials brought into the home. Individuals who suffer from asthma or other respiratory illnesses may potentially be at greater risk for health complications associated with poor air quality in their homes.

:: Radon
Radon is a colorless, odorless, tasteless radioactive gas caused by the natural decay of uranium which is present in all rock and soil. It enters a building through cracks in walls or foundations and is found in all types of homes. EPA studies have identified radon exposure as the second leading cause of lung cancer. The only way to determine if radon exists in your home is to test for it. The Lung Association offers two options to test for radon: the short term test measures the presence of radon for just 2-3 days; the long-term measures it over a period of 6-9 months. The short-term test is available for $12 + tax; the long-term test is $22 + tax. A combo kit (both short-term and long-term) costs $28 + tax. For information on radon or to order a Radon Test Kit, email us at radon@marylandlung.org.

:: IAQ Tools for Schools
(As seen on The Today Show, October 5, 2006) 
The American Lung Association of Maryland promotes the Environmental Protection Agency's Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools program in schools throughout the state. The program and its easy-to-use kit help school personnel identify, resolve and prevent indoor air quality problems. The kit provides simple to follow checklists, background information on indoor air quality, sample memos and policies and a recommended management plan to establish a healthy indoor environment. The goals of the program are to increase well-being and reduce school absenteeism. If you are an education professional and would like more information about this program, send us an email at toolsforschools@marylandlung.org. For your free kit, click here.


:: Secondhand Smoke
The American Lung Association of Maryland's "Tobacco Smoke Hurts My Lungs…" is a public awareness campaign designed to 1) educate smokers, especially parents or guardians who smoke, about the effects of secondhand smoke on children's health and 2) encourage them to protect children from exposure. The message will affect change in the behavior of the target community and the Maryland smoking community at large.

This campaign consists of printed materials including a brochure, a poster and a static cling sticker that reads, "Children Breathing. Please don't smoke here." Maryland residents, who want to help spread the message and increase the awareness of the dangers of exposure to second hand smoke, can e-mail indoorair@marylandlung.org to receive a static cling sticker. For residents of other states you can contact your local lung association at 800.LUNG.USA.

:: Health House
To address the increased concern citizens have about indoor air quality, a national program called Health House has been been developed. Builders and consumers work together to create homes that are not only energy-efficient (EnergyStar) but also environmentally friendly. Visit www.healthhouse.org for more information on Health House and indoor air quality.

E-mail indoorair@marylandlung.org to request more information about indoor air.

:: Outdoor Air Quality
The quality of air we breathe has a great impact on lung health. Fragile lung tissue is easily damaged by pollutants in the air, resulting in increased risk of asthma and allergies, chronic bronchitis, lung cancer and other respiratory diseases. Although the U.S. has made great strides in cleaning up smog and soot, outdoor air pollution continues to threaten more than 3.7 million Marylanders. Many areas of the state continue to exceed federal standards for ground-level ozone. The Baltimore/Washington region remains high on the list of the most ozone-polluted areas in the nation. In a recent study of 120 metropolitan areas, Baltimore/Washington ranked 12th most polluted for ozone and short-term particulate exposure and 21st for year-round exposure to particle pollution. As Maryland faces growing populations, sprawling cities and increased dependence on automobiles, protecting our environment is more critical than ever and lays the groundwork for a healthier future for generations to come.

Ozone Education Builds Support for Air Pollution Solutions Each summer, we sponsor a public awareness campaign to educate the public on outdoor air pollution. Our annual air quality assessment, State of the Air, provides the foundation for these programs presenting the public with easy-to-understand information. By communicating to the public the challenges we face with ground-level ozone, we can begin to build support for solutions.

Past projects have included the development of a video on ozone air pollution which was incorporated into driver's education curricula; the production of a DVD featuring different air quality messages now shown in Vehicle Emission Inspection Program stations; and the implementation of a high profile billboard campaign. To help raise awareness on an individual level, Ozone Detector Cards were distributed to the public. These cards provided an educational and fun method to determine ground-level ozone concentrations in the immediate environment. 

To check the daily air quality of your area, click this link: http://www.air-watch.net/

E-mail outdoorair@mayrlandlung.org to request more information on outdoor air quality.

Resources
The Health Effects of Pollution from Power Plants
The State of the Air 2004  www.stateoftheair.org
Learn How your Respiratory System Works  http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=22576&Air
Toxics: Benefits from Vehicle Inspection & Maintenance Programs in select US cities www.lungusa.org/im/download/maryland.pdf
Environmental Protection Agency  www.epa.gov/iaq/
American Lung Association - National  http://www.lungusa.org/site/pp.asp?c=dvLUK9O0E&b=33691
Health House  www.healthhouse.org/