The Indoor Air Coalition (IAC) is made up of members from local, state and federal organizations, citizens and private sector business representatives and is committed to promoting environmental health by improving indoor air quality.

Americans spend on average 90 percent of their time indoors, with children spending upto 10 hours a day in child care centers and schools. In addition, childhood asthma is on the rise — a 72 percent increase in prevalence since 1982 — and this dramatic increase is blamed at least in part on poor indoor air quality. Therefore the quality of our indoor breathing environment is very important, because ‘when you can’t breathe, nothing else matters.’

The IAC meets the 2^nd Wednesday of each month from 10:00 AM to noon at the American Lung Association® of Washington, Seattle office (2625 3^rd Ave, between Cedar and Vine.)

Everyone interested in Indoor Air issues is welcome to attend!

Projects include:

Improving indoor air quality in home-based child care facilities -

Between 1997-99 IAC members taught over 300 family child care providers about the importance of indoor air quality, and helped them take steps to improve the air that their children breathe each day. By increasing providers' knowledge about indoor air quality and by providing mitigation, volunteers hoped to make changes that reduce the incidence of childhood asthma. This program has now evolved into Little Lungs Breathing, which through small-group presentations, focuses on improving indoor air quality in homes and child care facilities.

Improving indoor air quality in schools:

Good indoor air quality contributes to a positive learning environment for students, productivity for teachers and staff, and a sense of comfort, health, and well-being for all school occupants. These combine to assist a school in its core mission – educating children. The primary focus of the IAC is on improving the breathing environment in schools:

• By encouraging school personnel to take steps to improve air quality and to implement EPA’s Indoor Air Quality Tools for Schools.
• By facilitating walk-thrus with building science specialists.

The IAC collaborates with community-based organizations to make indoor environments healthier and supports legislation that is protective of health and that provides a safe, healthy breathing environment for everyone.

Since 1989, the Indoor Air Coalition has been committed to promoting health by improving indoor air quality through public outreach, communication, collaboration and policy development.

Indoor Air Coalition Contact:
Air Quality Manager
American Lung Association® of Washington
(206) 441-5100, or 800-LUNG-USA (within Washington state only)