Indoor Asthma Triggers: Links and Resources 

For information on how to control allergens in the home to help control asthma, visit the following web sites:

www.lungusa.org/asthma/asthomecon.html#triggers www.lungusa.org/air/air_indoor_redux2.html 
www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/asthma.html. 

For people without access to the Internet, call the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) at 1-800-438-4318 to speak to an indoor air quality (IAQ) information specialist.

For more information about asthma and secondhand smoke, see the following:

Michigan Department of Community Health’s “Smoking around children” at http://www.michigan.gov/mdch/0,1607,7-132-2940_2955-16780--,00.html.

The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency’s (USEPA) “Take the Smoke Free Home” Pledge Campaign at www.epa.gov/iaq/ets.

For more information about asthma and mold, see the following: 

Michigan Department of Community Health’s “Molds in Your Home” fact sheet, www.lungusa.org/asthma/asthomecon.html#triggers, www.lungusa.org/air/air_indoor_redux2.html, and 
www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/asthma.html.

For more information on pests, see the following:

www.lungusa.org/asthma/asthomecon.html#triggers, www.lungusa.org/air/air_indoor_redux2.html, and 
www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/asthma.html.  

For more information on asthma and pets, see the following:

www.lungusa.org/asthma/asthomecon.html#triggers, www.lungusa.org/air/air_indoor_redux2.html, and
www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/asthma.html. 

For more information on dust mites, see the following:

www.lungusa.org/asthma/asthomecon.html#triggers,
www.lungusa.org/air/air_indoor_redux2.html, and 
www.epa.gov/iaq/pubs/asthma.html.

Links and resources for indoor air quality problems related to the home:

For more information on maintaining good ventilation in your home, download the “Homeowner’s Guide to Ventilation” from The New York State Energy Research and Development Authority (NYSERDA) and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) at the following web site:

www.nyserda.org/guide.pdf.

For more information on indoor air quality see the following web site for USEPA’s “Introduction to IAQ”:

www.epa.gov/iaq/ia-intro.html.

For further questions and concerns about home indoor air quality, see the following U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (USEPA) websites for useful information on how to identify and minimize indoor air pollutants in the home:

www.epa.gov/iedweb00/pubs/index.html#homes and www.epa.gov/iedweb00/homes.html. 

For people without Internet access, call the USEPA at 1-800-438-4318 to speak to an IAQ information specialist.

USEPA’s booklet “The Inside Story” on improving indoor air quality can also assist in selecting building materials to minimize indoor air irritants and allergens that may asthma symptoms. It is available at the following web site: www.epa.gov/iedweb00/pubs/insidest.html.

Tour USEPA Region 5’s virtual home to learn about potential air pollutants in every room at the following web site:

www.epa.gov/grtlakes/seahome/indoor.html

Take a tour of potential trouble spots on the Minnesota Indoor Air Quality Consortium website:

www.dehs.umn.edu/homeiaq/

When remodeling the home, do not forget to consider indoor air quality.  The USEPA offers some helpful tips at the following web sites:
www.epa.gov/iedweb00/homes/hip-front.html and www.epa.gov/iedweb00/pubs/insidest.html.

The American Lung Association also has the following two useful websites on home building materials and appliances that promote good indoor air quality: www.alam.org/programs_services/Air_Quality/grand_rapids.asp/ and www.healthhouse.org/.