The indoor air we breathe

INCREASINGLY RECOGNIZED as a potential public health problem since the outb reak of Legionnaire's disease in Philadelphia in 1976, polluted indoor air has been associated with health problems that include asthma, sick building syndrome, multiple chemical sensitivity, and hypersensitivity pneumonitis. Symptoms are often nonspecific and include headache, eye and throat irrita tion, chest tightness and shortness of breath, and fatigue. Airborne contam inants include commonly used chemicals, vehicular exhaust, microbial organi sms, fibrous glass particles, and dust. Identified causes include defective building design and construction, aging of buildings and their ventilation systems, poor climate control, inattention to building maintenance. A majo r contributory factor is the explosion in the use of chemicals in building construction and furnishing materials over the past four decades. Organizat ional issues and psychological variables often contribute to the problem an d hinder its resolution. This article describes the health problems related to poor indoor air quality and offers solutions.