| “Most
people are aware of the health problems that can be caused
by outdoor air pollution, but few aware that pollution
in their own homes could also have an effect on their
health,” says John Roberts, one of the founders
of the Master Home Environmentalist program at the American
Lung Association of Washington.
Roberts designed this program in 1991, along with
a team of volunteers, after a study he conducted in
the late 1980s for the Puget Sound Clean Air Agency
indicated home air-quality levels were lower than those
outdoors.
 |
John Roberts is in a 16-year dust-up
with indoor allergens.
Photo by Mark Sullo. |
Poor indoor air quality can result in allergies, asthma,
and other health problems. Volunteers attending this
program become knowledgeable about a variety of indoor
air quality issues and are given simple guidelines for
reducing their exposure to lead, allergens, pesticides,
and carcinogens in the home.
“The risks of house dust are high and the costs
of monitoring and control are low,” explains Roberts.
“By teaching people the best ways to protect themselves,
we can truly improve the health of individuals and their
families.”
—Amy Besunder
|
