In a world where smog, haze and ozone alerts are as common as gridlock, it's nice to know you can always come inside to catch a breath of fresh air. Or can you?

Did you know that most people spend more than 90% of their time indoors, and that 50% of all illnesses are either caused by, or aggravated by poor indoor air quality (IAQ)?

Worse yet, studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency have shown that exposure to air pollutants can be more than 100 times higher indoors than outdoors.

Feeling Out of Sorts?
It Could be Something in the Air

Thankfully, however, there are things you can do to help alleviate potential IAQ concerns. If you're experiencing headaches, itchy eyes, a runny nose or a persistent cough, you might have a cold. Then again you could be suffering the effects of poor indoor air quality. Poor indoor air quality can lead to significant health problems, so you might want to check with your family physician.

When it Comes to Clearing the Air, Prevention is the Best Medicine

It would be convenient to point at one single culprit in the battle against indoor air quality, but it is not that simple. Truth is, there are so many potential sources that it is impossible to devise a blanket solution. Chemicals in carpets, household cleaners, furniture and building materials all contribute to poor indoor air quality.