Program Information - Background & Impacts

	"Ten Years of Work So You Can Breathe Easier" - 10 Years of Accomplishments 1995-2005
	To order a copy of the 10-Year Project Report, please contact Barbara Allen at (406) 994-3531 or by email at blallen@montana.edu. Price = $1.25 each.

 

You don't have to be a building scientist to deal with the quality of air in homes; however, you should understand a few basics. The Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes project is a collaborative interagency effort developed to provide basic knowledge and understanding of residential indoor air quality (IAQ) issues by the general public. The goal is to protect public health by reducing risks associated with indoor air contamination.

As a first step toward this goal, a pilot course was given in Nashville, Tennessee in August 1994 to educate Cooperative Extension educators. With funding from the U.S. EPA - Indoor Environments Division, EPA Region IV, the American Lung Association of Tennessee, and the USDA - CSREES, a residentially-oriented version of the Orientation of Indoor Air Quality (OIAQ) course was delivered to 40 cooperative partner affiliates and USDA State Extension Housing and Environment Specialists. In September 1995, with funding provided by EPA Region VII and the USDA - CSREES, a second residentially-oriented version of the OIAQ course was delivered to 50 cooperative partner affiliates and USDA State Extension Housing and Environment Specialists in Nebraska City, Nebraska. These courses were a success and served as a foundation for this relationship. 

In July 1995, twelve Extension Housing and Environment state extension staff met with Washington, D.C.-based EPA and CSREES staff to design a national indoor air quality extension educational program. The program includes: 

1. A national IAQ program training manual (including both subject matter content and process information) for Extension staff
2. A train-the-trainer workshop to train Extension program managers from each state 
3. A train-the-trainer program by state program managers to train county Extension educators 
4. A training program by county educators to educate consumers who are most at risk concerning IAQ issues and encourage them to reduce their health risks from IAQ problems

The training manual is available from Montana State University with portions presented at this web site. Again, we welcome you to the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes Program.
 
 

Why Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes?
Most Americans spend much of their time indoors. Research has found that in homes across America, the quality of indoor air can be worse than outdoor air; that’s because many homes are being built and remodeled more tightly. Consumers are using more products and furnishings containing compounds sensitive to occupants. Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes was developed to provide basic but comprehensive information for consumers to take steps to improve indoor air quality in the home.

What is the Impact of Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes?

Ten Years of Work So You Can Breathe Easier...
As a result of the Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes program...  

• 40,980 families stopped exposing children to secondhand smoke 

• 55,108 families tested their homes for radon and 9,044 families mitigated their homes for radon 

• 84,304 families took action against carbon monoxide and hazardous combustion gases 

• 31,351 families dealt with problems associated with household sources of lead 

• 54,274 families reported reducing sources of moisture and biological hazards

• 24,966 families selected and used household products (cleaning, hobby, auto) more wisely

• 38,479 families selected and used home pesticides more wisely to avoid IAQ-related health problems

For more impact information click here!

How Can I Find Out More About Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes?
Contact your local Cooperative Extension office (check the phone directory under county government listing), call the state program manager for your state, or visit the Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes website at www.healthyindoorair.org. To work with the USDA Cooperative Extension Service System and EPA to expand Healthy Indoor Air for America’s Homes nationally, contact Montana State University at (406) 994-3451.