The regulatory and legal communities have begun only recently to addre
ss the medicolegal issues surrounding indoor air quality. No single go
vernmental agency is responsible for indoor air quality issues. The fo
cus of the federal government's indoor air quality programs is on the
gathering and dissemination of information rather than on the regulati
on of indoor air pollution. Stare and local regulatory controls vary b
ut may include antismoking ordinances, building codes, and contractor
certification programs. Numerous lawsuits involving various parties an
d legal theories have been filed on the basis of illness allegedly rel
ated to indoor air quality. Further regulatory and legal review of ind
oor air problems will likely occur in the near future particularly as
a result of the characterization of environmental tobacco smoke as a c
lass A carcinogen.