Dr. Howard Smith Oncall

Vidcast:  https://youtu.be/nGnwNFZs32g The all too common sight of smog reminds us that outdoor air is often hazardous.  A just published study from Washington State University’s Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering now alerts us to indoor air pollution dangers. As our homes become increasing air-tight with more chemical-laden dry wall and insulation, the air we breathe indoors becomes more questionable. The study looked at a variety of homes built at different times and of different materials.  Most of the houses had higher than normal levels of formaldehyde that increased with increasing room temperatures during any given day.  One source of the formaldehyde was found to be gypsum wallboard. Since we don’t want to wear gas masks at home, we should all let some fresh air into our homes when that air is in fact safe.  The study also encourages us to spend more time outdoors in open, green spaces away from the urban sprawl so that we can breathe in truly fresh air. Yibo Huangfu, Nathan M. Lima, Pa