Indoor Air Quality and Health

As Canadians, we spend over 90% of our time indoors, so the quality of our indoor air should be a concern to all of us.

This section offers suggestions for how to reduce the risk associated with the sources of indoor pollutants.

The most common health effects associated with poor air quality are listed.

General Tips for Reducing Indoor Air Pollutants

• Don't permit smoking in your home;
• Ensure that fuel-burning appliances are well maintained and inspected yearly;
• Ensure adequate ventilation, especially in rooms with excess water vapour-like bathrooms;
• Monitor and control humidity levels;
• Ensure leaks and cracks in walls, floors, roofs and basements are fixed;
• Immediately clean any mould found growing in your home;
• Keep your home clean: dust and vacuum regularly;
• Don't idle your car or run other fuel-burning engines in an attached garage;
• Keep the door between your garage and home closed;
• Do not store paints, solvents or varnishes inside your home; and
• Ensure furnishings made from particle-board or medium density fibre-board are coated or sealed.