When you think of sources that cause air pollution, do you envision gas-guzzling cars and trucks that belch dirty air from their exhaust pipes? Or a fire that spews thick ash and soot into the sky?

But what about a humidifier that helps relieve a child’s stuffy nose, household cleansers, dust bunnies or the dander from Fido or Fluffy?

Those items can leave the air inside the average home just as dirty.

Mention air quality and people are likely to think about the air they breathe outdoors rather than what’s under their own roof. But dust, mold, certain cleaning agents, pet dander, chemicals and tobacco smoke are examples of pollutants that can make inside air just as toxic and a health concern.

In fact, the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency estimates that indoor pollution levels can be two to five times higher than outdoor pollution. Newer homes built to be more energy efficient tend to be more tightly sealed than their older counterparts. While that’s good in terms of saving money on heating and cooling costs, it’s not so good for indoor air quality because less fresh air gets circulated and pollutants stay trapped indoors.

And with Americans spending up to 90 percent of their time inside, exposure to indoor pollution can trigger a host of related health problems.

According to the National Safety Council, exposure to indoor pollutants and volatile organic compounds (VOCs) can trigger sneezing, coughing, nasal congestion, headaches, fatigue, dizziness, watery eyes and breathing difficulties. Exposure to irritants can be even more troublesome in people with allergies, asthma and other respiratory conditions.

To help people understand the hazards of indoor air pollution, the EPA and the American Lung Association have designed campaigns to educate the public about indoor air quality and what consumers can do to breathe cleaner air indoors.

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