Concerned that the air in your home or workplace may be harming your health? Do a little digging to find the likely culprit. Walk through the building and ask a few questions to discover if the indoor air is causing a problem. Then learn more about potential sources of indoor air pollution.
In Your Home
Do health symptoms improve when you leave the building? Do they return when you come back into the building? If so, you may have an indoor air pollution problem. Explore the following potential sources. Learn more about protecting your air below.
- Is anyone smoking indoors? No one should smoke indoors.
- Can you see or smell mold or mildew?
- Is the humidity regularly above 50 percent?
- Are there leaks or standing water anywhere—kitchen, basement, attic?
- Are all fuel-burning appliances (gas stoves, water heaters, fireplaces) fully vented to the outdoors and regularly serviced?
- Is there an attached garage or basement where cars, lawnmowers or motorcycles are stored?
- Are household chemicals, paints or solvents stored indoors or in an attached garage or basement?
- Have you recently remodeled or added new furniture, carpeting or painted?
- Do you use odor-masking chemicals or "air-freshening" devices?
- Has kitchen or food garbage been covered and removed?
- Have you used pesticides recently?
- Have you tested your home for radon? Although radon doesn’t cause immediate physical symptoms, indoor exposure to this dangerous gas can cause lung cancer.
Page last updated: July 26, 2023
