| • |
Air pollution
contributes to lung disease, including respiratory
tract infections, asthma and lung cancer. Lung disease
claims close to 335,000 lives in America every year
and is the third leading cause of death in the United
States. Over the past decade, the death rate for
lung disease has risen faster than for almost any
other major disease. — American Lung Association |
| • |
Indoor air quality is
two to five times — and occasionally 100 times
worse than outdoor air! And it is estimated most
people spend 90% of their time indoors! — U.S.
Environmental Protection Agency |
| • |
87% of American homeowners are not aware that
pollution may be worse inside their homes than outdoors.
— American Lung Association |
| • |
Six out of 10 homes and buildings are "sick"
and are hazardous to occupants. — U.S. Environmental
Protection Agency |
| • |
Allergy and asthma are increasing at epidemic
proportions — affecting one out of five Americans.
— American Journal of Respiratory and Critical
Care Medicine |
| • |
More than 15 million Americans are estimated to
have asthma, including one in 13 school-age children.
— U.S. Environmental Protection Agency |
| • |
About 500,000 hospital admissions and 5,000 deaths
are attributed to asthma annually. — Online
Allergy Center |
| • |
An estimated 100 million days are lost to asthma
each year and asthma causes 10 million days of school
absences annually. Direct and indirect expenses
related to asthma are estimated at more than $6
billion a year. — Online Allergy Center
|
| • |
Dust, dander, mold, mites, pollen and other allergens
make millions of allergy and asthma sufferers miserable
in their own homes. Homes with pets require extra-thorough,
deep cleaning. |
| • |
Homes built after 1979 have tighter insulation
wraps — trapping smoke, odors and other contaminants
indoors. |
| • |
Central vacuum systems provide cleaner indoor
air by efficiently removing particles without stirring
up microscopic dust particles and re-emitting them
into the interior of the home. The vacuum receptacle
is vented outside of the living space keeping the
air inside free of pollutants. — The Healthy
House Institute |
