Clean Air Month and Identifying Indoor Air Quality Issues in Homes, Schools and Work Environments

Back in 1972, the American Lung Association (ALA) first sponsored Clean Air Week. It was meant to be a time to educate the public about the connection between clean air and respiratory health. In 1994, due to the importance of healthy air, Clean Air Week was expanded to become Clean Air Month which takes place in May.

The quality of the air all living things breathe has a direct impact on their health and wellbeing. Unfortunately, not everyone has access to clean air and the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently stated, “Air pollution, which kills more than 6 million people every year, is the biggest environmental health risk of our time.” The UNEP continued, “Airborne pollutants are responsible for about one third of deaths from stroke, chronic respiratory disease and lung cancer, as well as one quarter of deaths from heart attack.”

While the quality of the air people breathe outdoors is often dependent upon where they live, limiting a person’s ability to avoid certain pollutants when outside, the air quality in their homes, schools and businesses can usually be more easily controlled. This is significant as many people spend up to 90% of their time indoors. Just a few of the indoor pollutants that can be found inside a home or building that can directly impact indoor air quality include, but are not limited to things like radon, mold, pollen, dust mites, animal dander, insect allergens, bacteria, volatile organic compounds (VOCs), carbon monoxide, tobacco smoke, particulate matter, asbestos fibers, lead, pesticides, cleaning chemical fumes and sewer gas.

“The good news is there are ways to test for indoor pollutants so that steps can be taken to eliminate or minimize any exposure risks found,” said Joe Frasca, Senior Vice President of Marketing at EMSL Analytical, Inc. “At EMSL Analytical, we offer quick and affordable indoor environmental quality testing services, all of the sampling supplies necessary to collect and submit samples, a number of easy to use test kits, building inspection tools and air monitoring instruments to help people analyze, control and improve their IAQ.”

To help spread awareness about Clean Air Month, EMSL recently sponsored an educational video about it and the importance of indoor air quality. The video can be seen at: https://youtu.be/mw1HtEJqVyU.

To learn more about air quality or other environmental, health and safety testing services, please visit www.EMSL.com, call (800)220-3675 or email  info@EMSL.com . For access to indoor environmental quality test kits, visit www.EMSLTestKits.com.


About EMSL Analytical, Inc.
EMSL Analytical is one of the leading testing laboratories with over 46 locations throughout the United States and Canada. EMSL is a nationally recognized and locally focused provider specializing in fast laboratory results for mold, bacteria, Legionella, USP 797, pathogens, asbestos, lead, soot, char & ash from fires, VOC’s, odors, radon, formaldehyde, indoor air quality, microbiology, environmental, industrial hygiene, radiological, food, beverage & consumer products and material testing services for the identification of unknown substances. EMSL services both professionals and the general public. EMSL maintains an extensive list of accreditations from leading organizations as well as state and federal regulating bodies including, but not limited to A2LA, AIHA LAP, LLC. (AIHA EMLAP, AIHA IHLAP, AIHA ELLAP), NVLAP, CDC ELITE, CPSC, CA ELAP, NY ELAP, TX DOH, NJDEP and multiple other state accrediting agencies. Please visit our website at www.EMSL.com for a complete listing of accreditations. In addition, EMSL carries a wide range of Sampling Equipment and Investigative Products for environmental professionals.

Contact Information

Joseph Frasca

Senior Vice President of Marketing

EMSL Analytical, Inc.

(1) 856-303-2503

Contact via E-mail