Air Quality Quiz
Indoor Air Quality Awareness Quiz
The following quiz will help you determine how important clean air is to your family and home.
Please check all that apply to your family and your home.
___No one in my house has allergies
___No one in my house has asthma
___No one in my house gets frequent colds and sore throats
More than 15 million Americans have asthma and more than 28 million suffer from hay fever and other allergies, conditions that may be aggravated by airborne particles such as dust, pet dander and pollen. And according to a study by the Commonwealth of Massachusetts, indoor air contaminants are responsible for more than half of all illnesses.
___ No one in my house smokes
___ I do not have an indoor pet
Tobacco smoke actually contains over 4,000 compounds, many of which are strong irritants. And most homes built after 1979 have tighter insulation that helps to trap irritants such as tobacco smoke and pet dander indoors.
___I never have a sink full of dirty dishes
___I never have tables or countertops that haven’t been wiped clean
___I don’t have any food stored in unsealed containers
___All of my trash cans are sealed or covered
___My carpets are always freshly vacuumed
___None of my bathtubs and other surfaces have any mold or mildew
___I have no sheets that need washing
Even the cleanest homes can allow indoor pollutants to flourish. Typical household activities such as cooking, cleaning and redecorating can spread indoor air pollutants.
Scoring: Add up the number of check marks to determine your IAQ awareness:
8-12 = Your IAQ is okay. While you may have already taken important steps to improve the quality of the air in your home, there are still particles and allergens that exist at microscopic levels that can make indoor air irritating.
3-7 = Your IAQ could be better. While you are doing well in some IAQ areas, you may need to be more diligent in removing contaminants from your home.
1-2 = Your IAQ is a challenge. It’s time to get serious about taking steps to improve your indoor air quality.
