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The EPA divides air pollutants into two categories: criteria pollutants and hazardous air pollutants (HAPs). Criteria pollutants are those for which a toxicological health-based regulatory criteria can be set to protect the most susceptible in our population. These include: carbon monoxide, lead, nitrogen dioxide, ozone,sulfur dioxide, and particulate matter. Most affect the respiratory system. Particulate matter worsens asthma and allergic attacks and can trigger heart attacks and strokes, leading to death. EPA classifies 188 chemicals as HAPs. They're referred to as hazardous because their toxicities are much more varied, and many have the ability to cause cancer, such as benzene, and vinyl chloride. Many of the HAPs are volatile organic compounds (VOCs) and when inhaled have the ability to distribute throughout the body causing damage to the cardiovascular, immune, neurological, and reproductive systems. HAPs are regulated principally through setting emission standards for their particular source.

Some criteria pollutants and HAPs are also present in indoor environments. Over the years it's become apparent that everyday exposure to potentially toxic pollutants occurs more often indoors than outdoors⁽³⁾. Most individuals spend 80 to 90% of their time indoors. This is especially true for very young children, the elderly and those chronically ill. The indoor environment contains materials and surfaces that can act as emitters and reservoirs of pollutants. Finally, concentrations of pollutants can be several times higher in indoor air than in outdoor air.

The modern indoor environment contains a variety of sources of VOCs, including building materials and consumer products. One component of LEED^® certification is based on the use of materials, such as paints, that have reduced VOCs. Environmental tobacco smoke (ETS) is a major source of irritants, toxic chemicals and carcinogens, such as benzene. Poorly ventilated gas stoves are a source of nitrogen dioxide, a respiratory irritant. There are also biological sources of indoors air pollutants such as such as mildew and molds.

The “State of the Air” report 2007 states that dust, dander, spores, bacteria, and other irritants appear in 91% of homes.

Marketing A Healthy Home Environment

Understanding that there are susceptible individuals allows you to identify customers who are at risk and need improvement in the Indoor Air Quality of their homes. Technical tools help determine the source and the amount of potentially toxic chemicals in the indoor air environment and professionally, ethically and visibly demonstrate to the customer whether to be concerned. Marketing tools educate the customer about the multiplicity of services and products available from your company to protect their health and the health of their families. Educate the technician on how to communicate the facts.

Show the the customer how these options can be made available in affordable, budgeted packages.

John LaPlant, along with his wife Vicki LaPlant, are co-owners of Vital Learning Experiences Enterprises (VLE Enterprises), Pottsboro, TX. VLE is a training and consulting business focused on the hvacr and plumbing industry. Visit www.vitallearningexperiences.com or call 903/786-6262 for additional information.

Michael Trush, Ph.D., is deputy director, Johns Hopkins Center for Urban Environmental Health, Baltimore, MD. He can be reached by email at mtrush@jhsph.edu.

References

1. David Ewing Duncan, “The Pollution Within,” National Geographic, 240:116-143,2006.
2. Casarett and Doull's “Toxicology; The Basic Science of Poisons,” 6th edition (C.D. Klassen, ed.), McGraw Hill, 2001.
3. Wayne R. Ott and John W. Roberts, “Everyday Exposures to Toxic Pollutants,” Scientific American, 278:86-91,1998.

Be an Information Source

• Develop marketing tools to educate customers about the toxic chemicals in their home and the negative health effect of these chemicals to babies developing in the mother's womb, children, and the elderly.

• Have technicians provide a fact sheet to the customer. The fact sheet can contain references about toxic chemicals found in homes and solutions your company can provide to dilute or remove toxic chemicals.

• Add a section on your website about toxic agents, with links to third party websites such as the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Let the neutral third party provide the information so that you never appear to be using a scare tactic.