The unidentified operator is using the capture hood balometer to measuring the air velocity and volume of supply air from HVAC system in the clean room.


According to the American Lung Association's (ALA) new nationwide survey, more education and training are needed for health professionals to confidently address the health impacts of indoor air pollution with their patients. With people in the United States spending up to 90 percent of their time indoors, where air quality is often two to five times more polluted than the air outside, early risk identification alongside optimized cleaning systems is key to minimizing exposure and health impacts for patient groups who are at greatest risk.

The Lung Association surveyed more than 900 healthcare professionals in all 50 states and the District of Columbia to gauge attitudes, beliefs, and understanding of practices related to indoor air pollution and its health impacts. Key findings include:

• Nearly all respondents agreed that providers should assess patients' exposure to indoor air pollution and play an active role in helping patients understand the impacts of indoor air pollution.

• Only one in four respondents were satisfied with their current knowledge of the health effects of indoor air pollution. Only two in five felt well-prepared to discuss health impacts with their patients.

• Nearly half of respondents reported discussing indoor air pollution with only a few or none of their patients, citing barriers such as lack of knowledge and time constraints.

• While familiar with some common indoor allergens—dust mites, pet dander, mold, and secondhand smoke—respondents reported significantly lower familiarity with the health effects of pollutants like particulate matter and volatile organic compounds (VOCs)—all of which pose substantial health risks.

• When patients report indoor air pollution symptoms, three in four providers were likely to recommend interventions to mitigate exposure, including reducing the source of pollution, using a HEPA air cleaner, and increasing ventilation.

• Respondents were most likely to discuss limiting indoor air pollution with patients with asthma and other respiratory conditions and patients over the age of 65.

"As trusted messengers of health-related matters, providers can effectively communicate the risks and offer mitigation strategies for patients," says Harold Wimmer, President and CEO of the American Lung Association.

Improving indoor air quality (IAQ) has long been a priority of commercial cleaning operations. Poor IAQ can cause both short- and long-term health effects, including headaches; eye, nose, and throat inflammation; coughing and painful breathing; bronchitis; skin irritation; reduced immune response; impacts to the central nervous system and cognition; exacerbations in respiratory diseases like asthma and COPD; strokes; heart attacks; and even cancer. Cleaning can address indoor contamination hot spots before they become airborne.

Healthcare professionals can enhance their understanding of IAQ by collaborating with cleaning teams to learn how outdoor pollutants become indoor problems, which cleaning methods mitigate occupant exposure, and what innovations are available to establish safe and healthy indoor environments. 

Read the ALA's full report here.