BURLINGTON, Vt., Oct. 30, 2017 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Seventh Generation, a leading household and personal care products company and pioneer in the environmentally conscious products space, and the American Lung Association are partnering to raise awareness about surprising sources of indoor air pollution. The organizations fielded a survey to shed light on the average consumer’s knowledge – or lack thereof – of what affects indoor air quality and how to improve the quality of air in the home.
The survey found there is a strong need for education around the subject, with 68 percent of respondents indicating they are not entirely familiar with the subject of indoor air quality. In fact, only 36 percent of consumers are concerned about the quality of their indoor air. However, nearly 40 percent of respondents said they are open to learning more about how to improve the quality of the air in their home.
“The American Lung Association has a wealth of knowledge on indoor air quality, an issue we are working to educate consumers on as part of our company mission to help improve the health of the next seven generations,” said Joey Bergstein, Chief Executive Officer of Seventh Generation. “We are encouraged the survey found that consumers are eager to learn more about indoor air quality and we are proud to partner with the American Lung Association to help raise awareness about common indoor air pollutants as we continue to provide new solutions for not only the surfaces and people within the home, but the air inside and around it as well.”
The Current Perception of Indoor Pollution
With regard to perceptions around what has an adverse impact on indoor air quality, the survey found:
- Over half of Americans (57 percent) are likely to change their cleaning habits if minor changes could improve their indoor air quality; however, 60 percent are unaware that using an aerosol spray product may worsen indoor air quality
- 32 percent of respondents don’t consider the impact on their family’s health prior to purchasing a new cleaning product
- Americans believe dust and mites (85 percent), pet dander (75 percent), and cleaning supplies and household chemicals (71 percent) most negatively affect indoor air quality.
“Many Americans may be surprised that indoor air quality can harm their family’s health,” said American Lung Association Assistant Vice President of National Policy Janice Nolen. “However, people can take some simple steps to improve indoor air quality that can have a big impact on the health and well-being of their families.”
Improving Indoor Air Quality
Do your health symptoms improve when you leave your home and return when you come back? Can you see or smell mold or mildew? Have you recently remodeled or added new furniture or carpeting or painted? If the answer to any of these questions is “yes” then you may have poor indoor air quality. Volatile Organic Compounds, or VOCs, are one source of indoor air pollution. VOCs are gases emitted into the air from products or processes, which can react with other gases and form pollutants once released into the air. Common sources of VOCs in the home are tobacco smoke, paint, air fresheners, car exhaust in an attached garage and pesticides. To help educate consumers on how to improve indoor air quality and prevent VOCs from entering the air, the Lung Association and Seventh Generation have provided some tips below:
- Declare your home a smokefree zone.
- Keep humidity levels under 50 percent by using a dehumidifier or air conditioner, as needed.
- Standing water encourages the growth of mold and other pollutants, so fix all leaks and drips in the home.
- When doing home improvement projects, make sure that work areas are well ventilated.
- Plywood and other pressed-wood products, as well as paints, adhesives, solvents and polishes contain VOCs. Look for products made with low or no VOCs.
- Test your home for radon, an invisible gas that causes lung cancer.
- Look for cleaning products that do not contain or have reduced amounts of ingredients such as ammonia, fragrances and flammable ingredients, like propane and butane.
To learn more, please visit www.seventhgeneration.com or Lung.org.
About Seventh Generation
For nearly 30 years, it’s been Seventh Generation’s mission to help you protect your world with our environmentally conscious and effective household products. Our products are solutions for the air, surfaces, fabrics, pets and people within your home -- and for the community and environment outside of it. Seventh Generation offers a full line of laundry, dish and household cleaners, baby products including Free & Clear diapers, training pants and baby wipes, plus recycled paper products and recycled plastic trash bags, and feminine care products including Organic certified tampons. The company derives its name from the Great Law of the Iroquois Confederacy that states, "In our every deliberation, we must consider the impact of our decisions on the next seven generations." For information on Seventh Generation cleaning, paper, baby and feminine personal care products, to find store locations, and explore the company's website visit www.seventhgeneration.com. To read more about Seventh Generation's corporate responsibility, visit the Corporate Consciousness Report at: www.7genreport.com.
About the American Lung Association
The American Lung Association is the leading organization working to save lives by improving lung health and preventing lung disease, through research, education and advocacy. The work of the American Lung Association is focused on four strategic imperatives: to defeat lung cancer; to improve the air we breathe; to reduce the burden of lung disease on individuals and their families; and to eliminate tobacco use and tobacco-related diseases. For more information about the American Lung Association, a holder of the Better Business Bureau Wise Giving Guide Seal, or to support the work it does, call 1-800-LUNGUSA (1-800-586-4872) or visit: Lung.org.
1Survey Methodology: Allison+Partners Research + Insights team surveyed 1,010 online respondents over the over the age of 18, using the Survata publisher network in August 2017
CONTACT:
Brandi Thomas
Seventh Generation
60 Lake Street
Burlington, VT 05401
T: (802) 658-3773 x 760
M: (315) 727-5345
bst@seventhgeneration.com