Indoor pollution can be as hazardous as heavy smog

Janine Montoya, with her husband, Ted, owns Tri County Air Conditioning and Fireplaces, Ventura County's oldest indoor air quality experts. Montoya recently commented on air quality, both indoors and outside.

She said many area residents return home after a trip to find themselves shocked at the heavy smog surrounding LAX.

But air pollution has long been a concern, and since the 1970 founding of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), there have been many mandates, especially regarding auto emissions. Laws and regulations such as 1990's Clean Air Act have consistently improved the quality of outdoor air.

Surprisingly, Montoya said, indoor air is now known to be an even greater health threat. According to the EPA, indoor air is three to five times more polluted than outdoor air. This problem is of great concern since people spend 90 percent of the time indoors. Homes with "efficient" double-paned windows and weather-stripped doors are even worse because pollutants cannot escape.

Causes of this pollution include:

+Chemicals in carpet, upholstery and paint.

+Cleaning product solids and fumes.

+Air fresheners.

+Makeup, perfume and hair products.

+Synthetic building materials and fabrics.

+Dust and dust mites that vacuums never completely eliminate.

While clean air is a significant factor in creating a healthy environment and in living a vibrant life, Montoya said, many people are unaware of the effects polluted air can have on the body.

According to data from the American Medical Association, a third of the country's national health bill is directly related to indoor air pollution. Deaths from asthma in children under 11 are increasing at the rate of 7 percent per year and polluted air is the cause of 97 percent of respiratory disease. There are also 40 million allergy sufferers in the U.S., many of whom believe they have hay fever.

Montoya said Tri County, which has served the community since 1973, offers ways to improve the quality of indoor air. Technology designed for this purpose is available to any concerned home or business owner.

A visit with a trained Comfort Consultant is complementary. Please call (805) 499-4343 for an in-home appointment.