We spend more time indoors than outdoors.  Due to this behavior, the air inside our homes can drastically affect our health.  As new homes are built, the air exchange rate lessens due to better insulation and construction methods.  There is not much leakage to the outside or allowance of outdoor air to enter the house.  Homes running air conditioners or heaters constantly do not allow for fresh air to enter and replace the old air.  Lead dust, carbon monoxide, and radon are some of the indoor air quality issues that can cause health problems.

• Healthy Indoor Air for America's Homes
• Introduction to Indoor Air Quality
• Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools

CARBON MONOXIDE

Carbon monoxide is a colorless, odorless gas that can cause death if too much is inhaled.  The causes of carbon monoxide poisoning are malfunctioning gas stoves and furnaces, running vehicles in attached garages, and kerosene heaters.  Carbon monoxide detectors should be placed on each floor of your house.  Check the batteries regularly to ensure the detectors are functional.

• Protect Yourself and Your Family from Carbon Monoxide Poisoning (PDF) (En Español) (Burmese)
• Carbon Monoxide Detectors (En Español) (Burmese)
• An Introduction to Carbon Monoxide
• Carbon Monoxide Fact Sheet (En Español)

ENVIRONMENTAL TOBACCO SMOKE

Environmental tobacco smoke or secondhand smoke can cause serious health effects to people living in a home of a smoker, especially children because their lungs are still developing.  Secondhand smoke contains more that 4,000 substances, several of which are known to cause cancer in humans or animals (EPA).

• Health Effects of Exposure to Secondhand Smoke
• Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and the Health of Your Family (En Español)
• Smoke-Free Homes and Cars Program
• Secondhand Smoke Information
• The Health Consequences of Exposure to Involuntary Exposure to Tobacco Smoke

FORMALDEHYDE / WOOD-PRESSED PRODUCTS

We are exposed to formaldehyde in our homes from wood-pressed products, gas stoves, kerosene heaters, and secondhand smoke.  The highest exposure comes from the glue in wood-pressed products.  "Exterior-grade" wood-pressed products should be purchased for use in your home.

• An Introduction to Formaldehyde
• Formaldehyde Fact Sheet

LEAD

• Please visit the Lead and Healthy Homes Program's web page.

RADON

Radon is a natural, radioactive gas that is colorless, tasteless, and odorless and has no warning symptoms.  Long-term exposure to radon can lead to lung cancer.  It is the leading cause of lung cancer in non-smokers and second-leading cause of lung cancer in the United States of America (EPA). 

Radon gas is formed from the natural breakdown of uranium in the soil, rocks, and water under our homes.  The gas seeps up from the ground into buildings through cracks in foundations, basement walls, and sump pumps.  Allen County is in Zone 1, meaning we are at the highest risk of radon exposure.

The only way to know if you are being exposed to radon in your home is to run a test.  Free radon test kits are available through the Fort Wayne-Allen County Department of Health while supplies last. You can pick one up at the main office on the 5th floor of the City-County Building, 1 E. Main St., or at the Vector Control and Environmental Services office at 2242 Carroll Road.  Kits can also be purchased at hardware and home improvement stores for about $30.00.  If your test result is high, a mitigation system should be installed to remove the radon gas from beneath your home.  These systems can cost between $500 - $2500, with an average cost of $1200.

• Radon Information
• Health Risks of Radon
• A Citizen's Guide to Radon [PDF] (En Español)
• EPA Map of Radon Zones
• Radon:  A Physician's Guide
• ISDH Radon Information
• List of ISDH-Approved Radon Testers and Mitigators
• National Radon Action Month

Secondhand Tobacco Smoke and the Health of Your Family (English/Español)