Links and Resources Related to Indoor Air Quality
- U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
- U.S. Public Health Service (PHS)
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC)
The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission protects the public from the unreasonable risk of injury or death from 15,000 types of consumer products under the agency's jurisdiction.
To report a dangerous product or a product-related injury, you can go to:
- CPSC's File a Report
- Or, you can call CPSC's Product Safety Hotline at:
- (800) 638-CPSC | (800) 638-2772
- Maryland only – (800) 492-8104
- CPSC's teletypewriter – (800) 638-8270
- or send the information to CPSC at info@cpsc.gov.
Recorded information is available 24 hours a day when calling from a touch-tone phone. Operators are on duty Monday to Friday from 10:30 to 4 EST to take complaints about unsafe consumer products. For further information, State Offices.
U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD)
- Office of Energy and the Environment, Washington, DC 20410
- HUD USER National toll-free number – (800) 245-2691
- In Washington, DC area – (301) 251-5154.
- HUD - Energy Efficiency and Indoor Air Quality
U.S. Department of Energy (DOE)
Energy Efficiency & Renewable Energy (EERE) invests in clean energy technologies that strengthen the economy, protect the environment and reduce dependence on foreign oil.
Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, Indoor Environments Department, IAQ Scientific Findings Resource Bank
- (510) 486-6591
- IAQ Scientific Findings Resources Bank
U.S. Public Health Service
The Division of Federal Occupational Health, Office of Environmental Hygiene provides indoor air quality consultative services to federal agency managers.
- (215) 596-1888
- Fax – 215-596-5024
- FOH Division of Environmental Health Services
Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)
- National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) (800) 35-NIOSH | ((800) 356-4674)
- NIOSH Topics: Indoor Environmental Quality
- Lead Poisoning Prevention Branch – (800) 488-7330
- Office on Smoking and Health – (404) 488-5701
Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA)
- Office of Information and Consumer Affairs:
- (800) 321-6742
- Local – (202) 219-8151
- OSHA's Safety and Health Topics Page on Health Hazards in Nail Salons
The more than 375,000 nail technicians working in salons across the U.S. face possible health hazards every day. The hazards include:- exposure to chemicals from glues, polishes, removers and other salon products
- muscle strains from awkward positions or repetitive motions
- and risk of infection from contact with client skin, nails or blood
- Radon Hotlines
- National lead Information Center Hotlin
- National Pesticides Telecommunications Network
- RCRA/Superfund Hotline
- Safe Drinking Water Hotline
- TSCA Assistance Information Service
Radon Hotlines
EPA supports the following hotlines to best serve consumers with radon-related questions and concerns:
- (800) SOS-RADON (767-7236)* Purchase radon test kits by phone.
- (800) 55RADON (557-2366)* Get live help for your radon questions.
- Radon Fit-It Hotline – (800) 644-6999* For general information on fixing or reducing the radon level in your home.
- Safe Drinking Water Hotline – (800) 426-4791
For general information on drinking water, radon in water, testing and treatment and standards for radon drinking water. Operated under a contract with EPA
* Operated by Kansas State University in partnership with EPA
National Lead Information Center Hotline
- (800) 424-LEAD | (800) 424-5323
The National Lead Information Center (NLIC) provides the general public and professionals with information about lead hazards and their prevention. NLIC operates under a contract with the EPA, with funding from the EPA, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) and the Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD).
National Pesticides Telecommunications Network
- National toll-free number – (800) 858-PEST
- In Oregon – (800) 858-7378
Operates Monday to Friday from 6:30a.m. to 4:30p.m. Pacific Time. Provides information about pesticides to the general public and the medical, veterinary, and professional communities.
Medical and government personnel may call 800-858-7377.
RCRA/SUPERFUND Hotline
National toll-free number – (800) 424-9346In Washington, DC area – (703) 412-9810
Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 7:30p.m. EST. Provides information on regulations under both the Resources Conservation and Recovery Act (including solid and hazardous waste issues) and the Superfund law.
Safe Drinking Water Hotline
- (800) 426-4791
Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. EST. Provides information on regulations under the Safe Drinking Water Act, lead and radon in drinking water, filter information, and a list of state drinking water offices.
TSCA Assistance Information Service
- (202) 554-1404
Operates Monday to Friday from 8:30a.m. to 5p.m. EST. Provides information on regulations under the Toxic Substances Control Act and on EPA's asbestos program
Information on Indoor Air Quality and Remodeling
EPA's Indoor Environments Division maintains a complete list EPA publications on indoor air quality, including many available online. Most of these publications are available free to the public. EPA publications and websites of special interest to those considering a home remodeling or renovation project are listed below.
- EPA Publications and Resources
- Consumer Product Safety Commission
- Remodeling
- Lead
- Ventilation
- Moisture Control
- Windows
- Combustion
- Other
EPA Publications and Resources
Lead Documents and Outreach Materials
Asthma Publications and Resources
Publications about Indoor Air Quality
Consumer Product Safety Commission
Biological Pollutants in Your Home. This document explains indoor biological pollution, health effects of biological pollutants and how to control their growth and buildup. One third to one half of all structures have damp conditions that may encourage development of pollutants such as molds and bacteria, which can cause allergic reactions — including asthma — and spread infectious diseases. Describes corrective measures for achieving moisture control and cleanliness. This brochure was prepared by the American Lung Association and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission.
- Biological Pollutants in your Home [EPA 402-F-90-102, January 1990]
Healthy Indoor Painting Practices (EPA 744-F-00-011), May 2000. This brochure by EPA and the U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission discusses safety practices for residents, property managers and painters.
What You Should Know About Using Paint Strippers (CPSC-F-747-F-95-002), February 1995. Paint strippers contain chemicals that loosen paint from surfaces. These chemicals can harm you if not used properly.
- Some paint stripping chemicals can irritate the skin and eyes, or cause headaches, drowsiness, nausea, dizziness, or loss of coordination.
- Some may cause cancer, reproductive problems or damage of the liver, kidney or brain.
- Others catch fire easily.
Proper handling and use of paint strippers will reduce your exposure to these chemicals and lessen your health risk.
An Update on Formaldehyde: 1997 Revision (CPSC publication #725) The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission, with assistance of EPA, developed this brochure to provide information about formaldehyde in indoor air. The brochure tells consumers where they may come in contact with formaldehyde, how it may affect their health and how their exposure to formaldehyde might be reduced.
In addition to information available from EPA, there are a variety of other resources available which may be of interest to those considering a home remodeling project. Note that, since the following documents are not published nor maintained by EPA, there may be some differences EPA's recommendations.
Remodeling
- Builder's Guide - Mixed Climate; Builder's Guide - Cold Climate; Builder's Guide - Hot-Dry & Mixed Dry Climates. By Joseph Lstiburek. 1998. Energy Efficient Building Association
Guides are well-illustrated and contain recommendations for:
- foundations
- framing
- heating and cooling
- insulation
- drywall
- plumbing
- electrical systems
- painting
- sheathings and windows all with respect to moisture control
- energy efficiency
- ventilation
Lead
- U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development's Office of Healthy Homes and Lead Hazard Control - HUD
Ventilation
- Understanding Ventilation: How to design, select and install residential ventilation systems. By John Bower. 1995. The Healthy House Institute. Broad and extensive overview of ventilation with illustrations.
- U.S. Dept. of Energy, Energy, Efficiency & Renewable Energy's "Guide to Home Ventilation"
Moisture Control
- Moisture Control Handbook: Principles and Practices for Residential and Small Commercial Buildings. By Joseph Lstiburek and John Carmody. 1995. John Wiley & Sons. Extensively addresses:
- moisture and water management, including moisture movement
- wall construction in various climates
- moisture control practices in various climates
- case studies/moisture problems that create mold, odor, roof decay and condensation
- peeling paint
Windows
- Residential Windows: A Guide to New Technologies and Energy Performance by John Carmody, Stephen Selkowitz, Lisa Heschong. 1996. W.W. Norton & Company. A comprehensive look at windows, window technology and window selection for homes.
Combustion
- Combustion Gases in Your Home by the Canada Housing and Mortgage Corporation (CHMC). This online publication provides a good, easy- to-understand discussion of combustion spillage. The site also contains other publication from the CHMC's "About Your House" series.
Other
- American Lung Association. The ALA site has a variety of information on indoor air quality issues related to respiratory problems.
- Regional, State and Local Health Departments often have a great deal of information and experience with issues in the local housing stock.
General
- U.S. Dept. of Homeland Security: Federal Emergency Management Agency (FEMA) portal to Disaster Events
- U.S. EPA: Natural Disasters
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): Emergency Preparedness Information
- American Red Cross
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - Emergency Prepardness
- Particulate Respirators (including N-95 respirators
CDC - NIOSH-Approved Particulate Filtering Facepiece Repirators
Dust Storms
- Victoria Australia - Dust Storms Health Effects
- State of New Mexico Dept. of Health - Dust Storms and Health (PDF) (1 pp, 39 K, About PDF)
Wildfires and Agricultural Fires
- The AIRNow website
- The U.S. EPA, NOAA, NPS, tribal, state and local agencies developed the AIRNow website to provide the public with easy access to national air quality information. The website offers daily Air Quality Index (AQI) forecasts as well as real-time AQI conditions for over 300 cities across the US, and provides links to more detailed State and local air quality websites.
- Outdoor Air Quality & Visibility Indices
- Federal Air Quality Index (AQI) Basics
- EPA AQI Map
- State of Montana Department of Environmental Quality - Fire Updates Exit
- State of Colorado - Wildfire Information Exit
- State of Washington - Air Quality Advisory (PDF) (1 page, 42 K) Exit
- U.S. Dept. of Agriculture - Visibility Indices - Bitterroot, 2000, Wildfire Smoke (PDF) (6 pp, 79 K)Exit
- AIRNow - Smoke from Agricultural and Forest Fires
- American Red Cross - Wild Fire Safety Checklist (PDF) (1 page, 257 K) Exit
- EPA - Particle Pollution Brochure (2003) (PDF) (2 pp, 318 K)
- EPA - Smoke from Fires Brochure (2003) (PDF) (2 pp, 386 K)
- State of California Air Resources Board - Wildfire Smoke Guide (2008) (PDF) (53 pp, 1.35 M) Exit
- CDC
- Wildfires
- CDC Blog (November 2011): Wildfires: What You Need to Know
Volcanic Eruptions
- CDC - Key Facts About Protecting Yourself During a Volcanic Eruption Exit
- The International Volcanic Health Hazard Network (pamphlets) Exit
Supply Kit Recommendations
- Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) - Supply Kit Recommendations Exit
- American Red Cross - Supply Kit Recommendations Exit
- Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) - Emergency Preparedness Exit