July, 2003
For Immediate Release

Indoor Air Quality - A Real Health Concern
The air you breathe indoors can be two to five times worse than outdoor air

London, ON - Summer can be a challenging time of year when the air outdoors puts many Canadians at risk. Smog and other pollutants in the air can rise to dangerously high levels. Unfortunately, staying indoors may result in exposure to even higher levels of dirty, polluted air. According to the Environmental Protection Agency in the U.S., levels of indoor air pollution may be two to five times higher - and occasionally up to 100 times higher - than outdoor levels. Many people are surprised to learn this. With Canadians spending about 90% of their time indoors, this is an issue of concern.

In today’s energy-efficient, airtight homes, smoke, pollen, pet dander and other particles become trapped without proper ventilation. These particles, some of which are more than 300 times smaller than a human hair, can trigger or aggravate many serious breathing and health problems including allergies, asthma, bronchitis, and respiratory disease.

Here are some simple, practical tips to help improve the air in the home during the summer months:

• Air filtration can help reduce indoor air pollution in the airborne particles at home. Choose a high efficiency electrostatic filter such as Filtrete™ Filters from 3M and replace the filter the first week of every new season (every 90 days in the furnace and every 60 days in a room air conditioner.)
• It hardly ever happens anymore, but don’t let anyone smoke in your home.
• Wash bedding frequently in hot water to keep dust mites to a minimum.
• Window coverings are a great way to keep the hot summer sun from heating your home. Make sure that the window coverings are not a magnet for dust, especially if someone in the home has allergies or asthma. Use window coverings made of washable fabric.

For more information on improving indoor air, visit the website at www.filtrete.ca.

Filtrete and 3M are trademarks of 3M. Used under license in Canada.

Contact 3M Canada PR department.

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