setter
H E A L T H
2 1 3
F A M IL Y
2 3 0
b re a th e
e a s y
You know that air pollution is bad for
the planet. But what’s happening to
the air inside your home?
by VIRGINIA SOLE-SMITH photos KATHRYN GAMBLE
produced by MEREDITH DRUMMOND and JEAN NORMAN
Your home should be your haven. But for many people,
including allergy sufferers and young children, the
average house can be a lot less welcoming. New studies
show that the air you breathe inside your home can be
more polluted than outdoors. And now that spring—and
pollen—are here, the situation is at its seasonal worst.
So just what’s in your air? Anything that releases gases
or particles—from the dust bunnies under your bed, to
the scented candle in your bathroom, to your kitchen
stove—can be a culprit. “Dust and mold can aggravate
asthmaand allergies,” explains Jeffrey Siegel, Ph.D., an
indoor air quality scientist at the University of Texas at
Austin. The good news is there are lots of things you can
do to improve your indoor air quality—and most are as
simple as opening a window.
BETTER HOMES AND GARDENS MAY 2010
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