Allergens or irritants such as mold, smoke, dust, dust mite, cat & cockroach allergen or pollen can cause the airways to become inflamed and narrow.

Washington, DC –Asthma is the most common chronic disease affecting more than 35 million people, including 6 million children. Each year, the prevalent disease causes more than 5 million emergency room visits and 500,000 hospitalizations.

According to EPA “Americans spend up to 90 percent of their time indoors. Indoor allergens and irritants play a significant role in triggering asthma attacks. Triggers are things that can cause asthma symptoms, an episode or attack or make asthma worse. If you have asthma, you may react to just one trigger or you may find that several things act as triggers. Be sure to work with a doctor to identify triggers and develop a treatment plan that includes ways to reduce exposures to your asthma triggers.”

Allergens or irritants such as mold, smoke, dust, dust mite, cat & cockroach allergen or pollen can cause the airways to become inflamed and narrow. If one parent has asthma, chances are one in three that each child will have asthma. If both parents have asthma, it is much more likely (7 in 10) that their children will have asthma. Symptoms may include wheezing, coughing, pain or tightness in the chest and shortness of breath. Not all asthma attacks are the same. In severe attacks, the airways can close so much that not enough oxygen gets to vital organs. This condition is a medical emergency.

The assessment of allergens in a house dust sample is an essential step for allergen-avoidance and provides information essential for allergen-reducing measures, in addition to managing the indoor environment from a health and hygiene point of view. Here are some IAQ links:

Allergy and Asthma Network-Mothers of Asthmatics, Inc.:
This site has all program and publication information to help all people affected by allergies and asthma.

American Academy of Allergy Asthma and Immunology:
This site has educational information about allergies and asthma

American Academy of Environmental Medicine
An international association of physicians and other professionals interested in the clinical aspects of humans and their environment.

American College of Allergy, Asthma & Immunology (ACAAI):
The American College of Allergy, Asthma, and Immunology (ACAAI) is a professional association of allergists and the leading authority on allergic conditions such as allergies and asthma.

American Cleaning Institute (formerly the Soap and Detergent Association):
This site has general consumer information about household products including safety, testing, and indoor air quality.

Asbestos.com
The Leading Mesothelioma Cancer Resource.

Association of Home Appliance Manufactures:
This site has information on room air cleaners based on testing and the Clean Air Delivery Rate (CADR)

Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America:
This site has educational information about asthma and allergies.

Carpet and Rug Institute:
The Carpet and Rug Institute (CRI) is the science-based source for the facts about environmental effects of carpet and rugs.

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC):
National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) – Building Air Quality Action Plan

Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC): National Center for Zoonotic, Vector-Borne, and Enteric Diseases:
A-Z index for foodborne, bacterial and mycotic diseseases

Children’s Television Workshop:
This site has information about Sesame Street and the Sesame Street-A is for Asthma video.

Environmental Protection Agency:
Indoor Air Quality (IEQ) Tools for Schools (TfS) Program
EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Web page

HomeSafe.com:
This is a site advertising Carbon Monoxide alarms. Many other companies advertise CO alarms on the internet.

Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance :
The Mesothelioma Cancer Alliance is dedicated to serving mesothelioma victims and their families.

MMWR Weekly publication, March 10, 2000 / 49(09);180-4
Update: Pulmonary Hemorrhage/Hemosiderosis Among Infants — Cleveland, Ohio, 1993-1996

National Academy Press:
Health effects of exposure to Radon – (BEIR) VI

National Center for Environmental Health:
Questions and Answers on Stachybotrys chartarum and other molds

National Jewish center for Immunology and Respiratory Medicine:
This site has medical information and practical advice on allergies, asthma, and other respiratory problems related to IEQ.

Pure Air Control Services:
This site contains information on Pure Air Control Services, a national IEQ consulting firm offering total IEQ solutions.

University of Minnesota Extension Service and Minnesota Department of Environmental Health and Safety:
Indoor Air Quality in Schools
Airborne Fungal Glossary