Clean Air Month in Puerto Rico and Identifying Sources of Indoor Pollution

Clean Air Month takes place during May and is recognized in Puerto Rico and throughout the rest of the United States. The month of recognition began back in 1972 when the American Lung Association (ALA) sponsored Clean Air Week to educate the public about the connection between clean air and respiratory health. In 1994, Clean Air Week was expanded to become Clean Air Month.
 
Clean Air Month is an opportunity to raise awareness of the importance of the air we breathe for everyone’s health. This is significant as the United Nations Environment Programme (UNEP) recently reported, “Air pollution, which kills more than 6 million people every year, is the biggest environmental health risk of our time.” The UNEP goes on to state, “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 it can be a challenge for an individual to control what they are exposed to in the air outdoors, people have significantly more control of their indoor air quality (IAQ). Considering that in many countries, such as the United States, people spend up to 90% of their time indoors, the air they breathe in homes, schools and work environments can have a major impact on their wellbeing.
 
A few of the IAQ pollutants that can be found indoors include, but are not limited to:

• Radon
• Mold
• Pollen, Dust Mites, Animal Dander and Insect Allergens
• Bacteria
• Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)
• Carbon Monoxide
• Particulate Matter
• Tobacco Smoke
• Asbestos Fibers
• Lead Contaminated Dust
• Pesticides and Cleaning Chemical Fumes
• Sewer Gas

 
“Recognizing what indoor pollutants may be present and their sources is a first step towards mitigating or eliminating exposure risks,” said Harry Pena, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “At Zimmetry we offer comprehensive indoor environmental quality (IEQ) testing and consulting services to identify and resolve a wide range of chemical and microbial exposure risks from residential, commercial, industrial and institutional properties. These services are available in Puerto Rico and across the Caribbean.”
 
Zimmetry also recently sponsored an educational video about Clean Air Month and IAQ that can be seen at: https://youtu.be/mw1HtEJqVyU  
 
To learn more about Zimmetry Environmental and their indoor air quality, building science, environmental, occupational, and compliance consulting and testing services, please visit www.zimmetry.com, call (787) 995.0005 or email info@zimmetry.com .
 
About Zimmetry Environmental
Since 2002, Zimmetry Environmental has been providing environmental consulting services to building owners and managers, architects, engineers, EHS professionals and Fortune 500 companies. The company is based in Puerto Rico and provides services across the Caribbean and Central America. The professionals at Zimmetry offer environmental compliance, indoor air quality, asbestos, lead-based paint, Phase I ESAs and general environmental consulting services.

Contact Information

Paul Cochrane

President

Cochrane & Associates, LLC

Contact via E-mail