Health Hub: Indoor Environmental Quality and Mold

Photo of someone showing moldy material

IAQ has been identified by the EPA as one of the top five most urgent environmental risks to public health. Most Americans spend up to 90% of their time indoors and many spend most of their working hours in an office environment. Studies conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and others show that indoor environments sometimes can have levels of pollutants that are actually higher than levels found outside. Therefore, the quality of indoor air inside offices, schools, and other workplaces is important not only for workers' comfort but also for their health. While there is no OSHA standard on indoor environmental quality, including mold, there are steps union activists can take to take on poor IEQ in their workplaces.