Why is indoor air quality (IAQ) so important?

The U.S. EPA estimates that the average person spends 90 percent of their time (roughly 18,000 breaths) indoors, where pollutant levels can often be two-to-five times—occasionally even more than 100 times—higher than typical outdoor levels. The EPA lists indoor air pollution as one of the top five environmental risks to public health.

One of the most prevalent health concerns triggered by indoor air pollutants is asthma, which affects 25 million Americans, according to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America (AAFA). Daily limitations from asthma and other respiratory illnesses can be seen across adults and children alike: Poor air quality is estimated to create a combined loss of US$15 billion annually for businesses due to worker inefficiency and sick days, and asthma is the nation’s leading chronic cause of school absenteeism, accounting for 10 million missed school days per year.

What is the connection between indoor air quality and social equity?

While respiratory illness is on the rise The AAFA’s 2022 Asthma Capitals™ report shows the condition disproportionately affects vulnerable and disadvantaged populations, including low-income, women, and people of color. Good IAQ is a critical part of asthma and allergy management, but the people most at risk of chronic respiratory illness may not have knowledge of, or economic access to, mindfully manufactured products that support good IAQ.

Manufacturers have an opportunity to alleviate this equity gap by ensuring products that promote good IAQ are more accessible to everyone. At Tarkett, we’re applying this approach holistically: Instead of creating a few products with low VOC emissions and healthier materials offered at premium price points, we prioritize healthier materials that support good IAQ across our entire portfolio.

What else can we do to support good IAQ?

To reduce exposure to asthma and allergy triggers, source products that are certified Asthma & Allergy Friendly®. This certification was developed by AAFA and Allergy Standards Limited and is earned only by products that pass rigorous testing against strict standards. Tarkett offers a variety of floorcoverings with this certification, including iQ® homogeneous sheet collections, several heterogeneous sheet options, iD Latitude LVT, and Powerbond® RS hybrid carpet, the world’s first soft-surface flooring to earn the designation.

To learn more about asthma, allergies, and the role of social equity, read our latest white paper on indoor air quality.