Indoor Air Quality

Children and Asthma

Asthma and Indoor Air Quality *

Asthma is a serious problem in our country. It kills about 4,000 people a year and was estimated to cost $6.2 billion in medical care and lost time from school and work in 1990. Asthma is the leading chronic illness of children in the United States and the leading cause of school absenteeism due to chronic illness. Asthma deaths and the number of Americans diagnosed with asthma continue to increase each year.

Asthma can be aggravated by exposure to pollutant “triggers,” such as certain components of vehicle exhaust and industrial emissions, tobacco smoke, pollen, and allergens from animals and insects.

People need to understand how air pollution can affect asthma and how to prevent asthma episodes by reducing or avoiding exposure to potential triggers.

Steps for Reducing or Avoiding Pollutants that may Trigger Asthma Episodes

• Stay inside or avoid heavy outdoor exercise on days when pollutants such as ozone, sulfur dioxide, or pollen are high.
• Don’t smoke indoors unless you are in a room just for smokers, with a separate ventilation system to exhaust smoke outside. Never smoke around children or people with asthma.
• Combustion gases and particles can cause breathing difficulties for people with asthma. Call a service representative to check combustion-powered furnaces, stoves, or heaters every year to make sure they’re operating properly. Change furnace filters according to manufacturer’s instructions or every month during periods of use. Consider installing high efficiency filters to reduce the number of particles in the air. Never use a gas stove to heat the home, and always use the exhaust fan when cooking on a gas stove.
• Try to keep humidity levels between 30 and 50 percent, because high humidity can promote growth of biological agents that may trigger asthma episodes. Use exhaust fans or open windows in kitchen or bathroom areas when taking showers, cooking, or using the dishwasher. Make sure clothes dryers are vented to the outdoors, and use a dehumidifier if necessary.
• If you use a humidifier, clean it according to the manufacturer’s instructions, and refill with fresh water every day so harmful microbes will not grow and be dispersed into the air.
• Keep the house clean to reduce allergy-causing agents like microscopic dust mites, animal dander, and pollen. If you’re allergic, use an allergen-proof comforter and mattress covers, wash bedding in hot (130 degrees F) water, and avoid furnishings which can collect dust. Get rid of cockroaches, and consider keeping pets out of the bedrooms of family members with asthma. Consider using a high efficiency vacuum filter or a vacuum system that’s vented to the outside.
• Keep classroom pets’ cages clean, and don’t let animals roam.
• Make sure ventilation is adequate where there are strong-smelling chemicals or art supplies.
• Gyms, locker rooms, and libraries should be cleaned regularly and humidity levels kept between 30 and 50 percent.

 

* This information is adapted from the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s Asthma, Air Quality and Environmental Justice: EPA’s Role in Asthma Education and Prevention, EPS-402-F-95-001, July 1995.