- 3.1: Health and Housing
- 3.2: Building, Maintenance and Renovation
- 3.3: Home Hazards
- 3.4: Integrated Pest Management
- 3.5: Training
- 3.5: Research
- 3.6: Program Links
Our mission:
To reduce the impact of asthma across New England, through collaborations of health, housing, education, and environmental organizations with particular focus on the contribution of schools, homes, and communities to the disease and with attention to its disproportionate impact on populations at greatest risk.
Indoor Asthma Triggers
Asthma triggers are substances, events, or activities, that "bring on" asthma symptoms such as coughing, wheezing, and shortness of breath. Allergens, viral infections, irritants, exercise, breathing cold air, and weather changes are all considered asthma triggers. Exposure and sensitization to the following allergens and irritants found in the home and other indoor environments are major factors in the development and/or exacerbation of asthma.
- Chemicals (such as fragrances and pesticides)
- Dust mites
- Mold/Moisture/Damp environments
- Pests (especially cockroaches and mice)
- Pet dander
- Secondhand smoke
- Wood smoke
Preventing and controlling indoor environmental asthma triggers is an important component of an asthma management plan. Home-based interventions such as the use of dust mite-impermeable bedding covers, improved cleaning practices, high-efficiency particulate air vacuum cleaners, mechanical ventilation, have shown to improve repiratory conditions and reduce symptom days (see research below).
Preventing and Controlling Asthma Triggers in Indoor Environments
General
Asthma Home Checklist (ARC)
Management of Indoor Environmental Asthma Triggers (EPA)
Trigger Controls (American Lung Association)
Air Purification
For Information on Air Purifiers , see our Research section.
Chemicals in Household Products
see Chemicals (Cleaners, Fragrances, Pesticides, Other)
Dust Mites
Controlling and Preventing Dust Mites
Mold and Moisture
Preventing and Getting Rid of Mold and Moisture (Housing and Urban Development)
Pest Control
The Asthma Regional Council has extensive resources on eliminating pests in the home through the use of Integrated Pest Managment.
For information on the Effectiveness of Home-based Environmental Interventions to Reduce Allergens, see our Research section.
Pet Dander
Pet Dander Control (Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America)
Secondhand Tobacco Smoke
The Case for Smoke-free Housing (ARC 2007)
Reasons to Explore Smoke-free Housing (National Center for Healthy Housing)
Wood Smoke
Information and Resources on Wood Smoke (Environment and Human Health, Inc.)
EPA has an updated version of the "Strategies for Reducing Residential Wood Smoke," which provides a comprehensive list of strategies to help communities reduce wood smoke from residential heating appliances. The key audience for this document is state, tribal, and local agencies.
The Strategies Document can be found here.