about our day to day lives. Driving in cars, flying in planes,
engaging in recreational activities, and being exposed to
environmental pollutants all pose varying degrees of risk. Some
risks are simply unavoidable. Some we choose to accept because to
do otherwise would restrict our ability to lead our lives the way
we want. And some are risks we might decide to avoid if we had
the opportunity to make informed choices. Indoor air pollution
is one risk that you can do something about.
In the last several years, a growing body of scientific
evidence has indicated that the air within homes and other
buildings can be more seriously polluted than the outdoor air in
even the largest and most industrialized cities. Other research
indicates that people spend approximately 90 percent of their
time indoors. Thus, for many people, the risks to health may be
greater due to exposure to air pollution indoors than outdoors.
In addition, people who may be exposed to indoor air
pollutants for the longest periods of time are often those most
susceptible to the effects of indoor air pollution. Such groups
include the young, the elderly, and the chronically ill,
especially those suffering from respiratory or cardiovascular
disease.
