EPA Publishes New Indoor Air Quality Factsheet and Resources for Puerto Rico

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) has released a new factsheet, What is Indoor Air Quality?, outlining common sources of indoor air pollution and providing practical strategies to improve the air people breathe inside homes, schools, and workplaces.

Indoor air quality (IAQ) refers to the condition of the air inside buildings and its impact on the health and comfort of occupants. With individuals spending an estimated 90% of their time indoors, the EPA warns that indoor air can often be more polluted than outdoor air. Poor IAQ has been linked to health risks, reduced productivity, and higher operational costs in buildings.

The new factsheet identifies several contributors to indoor air challenges, including:

• Occupant activities and everyday behaviors
• Building materials, furnishings, and household products
• Gases such as radon seeping from the ground
• Indoor temperature, humidity, and moisture levels
• HVAC and plumbing system performance
• Outdoor air infiltration
• A building’s design, size, and age

To improve indoor environments, the EPA highlights three essential strategies:

1. Source Control – Remove or reduce pollutants at their origin.
   
   
2. Ventilation – Increase circulation of outdoor air to dilute contaminants.
   
   
3. Filtration and Air Cleaning – Use high-quality filters and air-cleaning devices to capture pollutants.
   
   

“Creating and maintaining healthy indoor air involves many interconnected factors,” said Harry Peña, President of Zimmetry Environmental. “Proper ventilation, balanced humidity, effective filtration, and monitoring for invisible threats like carbon monoxide and radon are all critical. By addressing these elements together, we can significantly reduce risks and create safer, more comfortable indoor environments.”

Zimmetry Environmental supports these efforts by providing indoor air quality testing, monitoring, consulting, and training services across Puerto Rico and the Caribbean. The firm has also produced an educational video on the EPA’s new factsheet, available at: https://youtu.be/U4d0F0-8iWM

For more information about Zimmetry Environmental’s IAQ and building science consulting 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.

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Paul Cochrane

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