Cooperative agreements awarded recently aim to reduce the possible health risks associated with poor indoor air quality.
The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) awarded more than 30 cooperative agreements totaling approximately $4 million to improve indoor air quality by reducing the environmental health risks of such pollutants as asthma triggers, secondhand smoke, radon and other contaminants, according to the EPA Web site. The agreements were selected from 180 applications and aim to reduce the environmental health risks from contaminants indoors through demonstrations, trainings, education and outreach projects.
Indoor levels of air pollution may be 2 to 5 times higher than outdoor levels, according to the EPA. To address indoor air issues, these cooperative agreements will promote positive indoor air quality management practices in schools nationwide, including holistic approaches to environmental issues. They will also increase effective indoor air quality practices in office buildings. Awareness of measures which can be taken in the home will also be addressed.
