OTHER FEDERAL

AGENCIES . . . . . . . . 76

STATE, LOCAL, 

AND TRIBAL 

AGENCIES . . . . . . . . 86

OTHER 

STAKEHOLDERS . . . . 88

75

PARTNERS IN INDOOR 

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

APPENDIX B
WORKING T OGETHER

EPA has worked in conjunction with a number of federal agencies on joint efforts to protect

human health indoors. A few examples of these activities are: 

J OINT P UBLICATIONS :

With the Consumer Product Safety

Commission (CPSC):

● The Inside Story

● Asbestos in the Home

● Combustion Appliances and Indoor Air

Pollution

● What You Should Know About Using

Paint Strippers

● Indoor Air Pollution: An Introduction

for Health Professionals

With the Department of Health and Human

Services (DHHS):

● Building Air Quality: A Guide for

Building Owners and Managers

● A Citizen’s Guide to Radon

● Introduction to Indoor Air Quality

With CPSC and the Department of Housing

and Urban Development (HUD):

● Protect Your Family From Lead in Your

Home

J OINT PROJECTS :

EPA is working with:

● HUD, CPSC, and DHHS on a number

of projects related to lead-based paint

hazards.

● The General Services Administration ,

under Executive Order 13101, to 

develop guidance on environmentallypreferable products for use in federal

buildings.

● The Department of Energy to 

implement energy-efficiency and 

other improvements at EPA facilities 

to improve laboratory operations and

to take relevant lessons to a broader

audience (hospitals, computers, etc.).

● The Department of Agriculture to

develop a list of bio-based products

that may be preferable for use in the

indoor environment.

OTHER FEDERAL AGENCIES

PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • APPENDIX B

76
A number of federal agencies and departments outside EPA have responsibilities for protecting human health indoors. The efforts of the Occupational Safety

and Health Administration (OSHA) in the Department of Labor, the National

Institute for Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) in the Department of

Health and Human Services (DHHS), and the General Services Administration

(GSA) focus on protecting the health of the workforce. 

Other agencies and departments focus on reducing exposures and risks to the

general population. The Consumer Product Safety Commission (CPSC) is

responsible for protecting American families, especially children, from the

unreasonable risk of injury (including illness) and death from about 15,000

consumer products. The Department of Housing and Urban Development

(HUD) provides for safe and healthful housing through programs to reduce

exposures to formaldehyde, lead, and other toxic materials in homes.

Several agencies and departments are involved in important research activities

to ensure the protection of human health indoors. For example, the Centers for

Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), the Agency for Toxic Substances and

Disease Registry (ATSDR), and the National Institutes of Health (NIH) perform

wide-ranging public health research on pollutants indoors (e.g., lead, radon,

environmental tobacco smoke, combustion products, allergens, and

Legionnella). The Department of Energy (DOE) evaluates the health effects of

radon exposure. DOE and the National Institute of Standards and Technology

(NIST) perform research on the relationship between air movement and contaminant levels in buildings and other related issues.

A number of other federal agencies and departments also have key roles in

protecting human health indoors. Many of these agencies are members of the

Interagency Committee on Indoor Air Quality. A list of Current Federal Indoor

Air Quality Activities can be found in EPA publication EPA-402-K-99-001.

APPENDIX B • PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 77
OCCUPATIONAL S AFETY AND HEALTH ADMINISTRATION (OSHA)

Under the Occupational Safety and Health Act (OSHAct), OSHA develops

and enforces occupational safety and health standards, including those

related to exposures to toxic substances, and has proposed a comprehensive

indoor air quality standard for workplaces.

Key activities at OSHA include:

● Protecting the health and safety of American workers by promulgating

mandatory standards and by inspecting workplaces to ensure compliance with those standards.

● Regulating worker exposure to toxic substances and harmful physical

agents, including asbestos, lead, and noise.

● Proceeding with a comprehensive indoor air quality standard that

would mandate proper operation and maintenance of building systems, control of point sources of indoor pollution, control of fumes

and dusts during renovation and remodeling activities, and proper

training of maintenance staff.

● Assisting and providing guidance to federal and state compliance officials in evaluating indoor environmental quality in non-industrial

workplaces (including the occurrence of Legionnaires’ disease and

occupational asthma).

C ONSUMER PRODUCT S AFETY C OMMISSION (CPSC)

The Commission enforces five federal statutes: the Consumer Product

Safety Act, the Flammable Fabrics Act, the Poison Prevention Packaging

Act, the Federal Hazardous Substances Act, and the Refrigerator Safety Act.

CPSC’s mission is to:

● Protect the public against unreasonable risks. 

● Assist consumers in evaluating comparative safety.

PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • APPENDIX B

78
● Develop uniform safety standards so as to minimize conflicting state

and local regulations.

● Promote research and investigation into causes and prevention of

product-related deaths, illnesses, and injuries.

CPSC uses a variety of approaches to identify product hazards, including

an internationally-recognized hospital emergency room reporting system

and a toll-free hotline. The Agency assesses these hazards using a risk-based

approach grounded in the best scientific data. Once the hazards are

assessed, CPSC uses a wide range of tools to correct them, including:

● Voluntary standards and guidelines

● Product recalls and corrective actions

● Mandatory rulemaking (e.g., performance standards, bans, and labeling)

● Consumer education

Because CPSC is a federal agency, its product safety work and uniform 

safety guidance and standards ensure businesses a level playing field for

domestic and imported consumer products. CPSC evaluates and acts on

health hazards associated with the use of products in the following areas:

fire (e.g., cigarette lighters and upholstered furniture), mechanical (e.g., 

children’s products, household/structural products, power tools and 

equipment, and sports and recreational products), electrical (e.g., lights),

and chemical (e.g., fuel-burning appliances). Some specific CPSC activities

relating to human health indoors include:

● Evaluating carbon monoxide (CO) detectors to protect against CO 

poisoning and submitting recommendations for changes to the

Underwriters Laboratories standard for CO detectors.

● Developing voluntary standards to limit combustion pollutant emissions

from kerosene heaters, unvented gas space heaters, and camping heaters.

● Working with the gas water heater industry to develop an effective

voluntary standard to address the ignition of flammable vapors.

APPENDIX B • PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 79
● Reducing consumer exposures to lead and protecting against childhood

lead poisoning by investigating the release of lead from imported vinyl

miniblinds and requesting the industry cease using lead as a stabilizer

in these products.

● Conducting a study of leaded paint and developing a strategy for use

by state agencies for identifying and controlling leaded paint.

● Assessing the potential toxicity of fire-retardant chemicals.

● Identifying the potential for emissions of bioaerosols from portable

humidifiers and developing guidelines for cleaning and maintaining

these humidifiers to reduce bioaerosol emissions.

● Investigating and analyzing monitoring data on biological pollutants

in homes, as part of the Harvard Six-City Study.

● Assessing the impact of selected residential heating, ventilating, and

air-conditioning systems and control technologies on indoor air quality.

● Evaluating carpet systems to determine if the chemicals they emit into

the air might be responsible for the health complaints reported by

consumers.

● Measuring and assessing the risk of indoor air pollutant emissions

from wood-burning stoves.

● Promulgating several regulations requiring child-resistant packaging

for medicines and household chemicals to reduce the number of

deaths to children under the age of five from accidental ingestion.

● Assessing the potential for noise-induced hearing loss from consumer

products.

● Developing and disseminating consumer information booklets on

asbestos, formaldehyde, biological pollutants, lead, combustion 

pollutants, and carbon monoxide detectors.

PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • APPENDIX B

80
DEPARTMENT OF E NERGY (DOE)

Under the Energy Organization Act, the Atomic Energy Act, and the Energy

Conservation and Production Act, DOE:

● Conducts research on the health effects of ionizing radiation, 

including radon.

● Establishes guidance for energy-efficient buildings and promotes their use. 

● Evaluates the impact of energy conservation standards on habitability.

Key research at DOE includes:

● Developing, testing, and evaluating energy-efficient and cost-effective

techniques to maintain indoor environmental quality.

● Developing methods and protocols for measuring emissions from key

building materials and products.

● Determining the relationship between organic pollutants in large

buildings and residences and energy-conservation methods.

● Developing methods to model and measure infiltration and interzonal

airflows and assess ventilation of U.S. housing and associated energy use.

● Assessing the potential to improve productivity of office workers by

providing better indoor environments (in conjunction with the

National Institute for Occupational Safety and Health).

● Supporting the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating, and Air

Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE) in developing effective ventilation

and indoor air quality standards.

● Developing practical measurement techniques for ventilation rates

and efficiencies.

● Minimizing or eliminating the adverse energy impacts of radon 

mitigation technologies.

● Developing an understanding of any cellular and molecular effects of radon.

APPENDIX B • PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 81
DEPARTMENT OF HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES (DHHS)

Under the Public Health Services Act (PHSA), DHHS performs research and

other activities on the cause, diagnosis, treatment, control, and prevention of

disease related to indoor pollution. These activities include:

● Identifying pollutants and other environmental conditions responsible

for human disease and adverse effects on humans.

● Evaluating the health costs of pollutants (with EPA and others).

There are a number of institutes and agencies within DHHS that are 

doing work to protect human health indoors. The National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health (NIOSH) within the Centers for Disease

Control and Prevention (CDC) answers inquiries on indoor environmental

quality in non-industrial workplaces (e.g., offices) and performs site investigations to solve environmental problems in these workplaces.

Other activities at CDC include:

● Providing information to state health departments and members of the

public concerning the health effects of indoor environmental pollutants.

● Developing reliable tests for tobacco smoke exposure.

● Providing assistance to state and local health departments in conducting

screening and surveillance activities in order to minimize the adverse

effects of environmental lead contamination.

● Providing assistance to states to address asthma including a variety of

training and program development efforts, transfer of best practices,

and modes for surveillance.

The Agency for Toxic Substances and Disease Registry (ATSDR) within

DHHS provides assistance and advice on indoor environmental contaminant exposures related to hazardous waste sites.

Several institutes within the National Institutes of Health (NIH) are 

also doing work to protect human health indoors, especially in the area 

of asthma.

PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • APPENDIX B

82
APPENDIX B • PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 83

DEPARTMENT OF HOUSING AND URBAN DEVELOPMENT (HUD)

HUD has been actively involved in a number of key indoor environmental

issues. Through the National Manufactured Housing Construction and

Safety Standards Act, HUD has provided for safe and healthful conditions

in manufactured housing. Standards for formaldehyde emissions from

pressed wood products have been promulgated under this Act. In addition,

HUD is working to improve the air distribution systems in these types of

homes. 

Through the Residential Lead-Based Paint Hazard Reduction Act, HUD

works to reduce lead exposures in U.S. housing. Key activities in this area

have included:

● Demonstrating lead hazard abatement strategies and preparing a

workable plan for abatement in public housing. 

● Surveying public awareness of lead-based paint hazards to determine

the impact on hazard disclosure on real estate transactions.

● Evaluating the effectiveness and cost of the methods used by HUD

grantees to reduce hazards in privately-owned housing occupied by

low-income households.

● Studying the effectiveness of educating families on special lead-dust

cleaning practices.

● Developing model provisions for state and local housing codes that

incorporate best hazard control practices.

● Research on lead paint identification, evaluation, and control methods. 

HUD also determines HUD/FHA and Public and Indian housing policies

on radon issues.

Finally, conducting general or targeted community awareness of education

programs on environmental health and safety hazards under their “Healthy

Homes” Initiative, HUD considers allergens and asthma, asbestos, combus-
84

PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • APPENDIX B

tion products, insect and rodent pests, mold and moisture, pesticide

residues, and radon key targets for intervention.

GENERAL SERVICES ADMINISTRATION (GSA)

GSA provides indoor environmental quality guidelines for federal (GSAowned) buildings and leased space. Key activities include:

● Providing information to consumers who purchase office furniture

from the Federal Supply Service schedule.

● Coordinating radon testing and mitigation in GSA-controlled buildings.

● Funding indoor air quality research by the National Institute for

Occupational Safety and Health in GSA buildings.

● Providing an indoor environmental quality program that has:

■ An ongoing component that includes responding promptly to 

concerns and, when possible, correcting problems discovered.

■ A pro-active component that includes conducting indoor environmental assessments as part of a survey program.

GSA also coordinates the development, printing, and distribution of indoor environmental publications for federal agencies and provides several publications on

indoor environmental quality through the Consumer Information Catalog. 
APPENDIX B • PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 85

NATIONAL I NSTITUTE OF STANDARDS AND T ECHNOLOGY (NIST)

The focus of studies at NIST has been on the relationship between ventilation

and contaminant levels in buildings. Activities at NIST include:

● Developing models to account for air movement and contaminant 

dispersal in buildings.

● Developing an understanding of factors affecting the mixing of carbon

monoxide in buildings as it relates to the location of detectors.

● Performing simulation studies of approaches to the ventilation of 

residential buildings. 

● Developing test methods and procedures for studying air change characteristics, pollutant levels, and their relationship in large buildings.

● Developing a practical guide to procedures for assessing ventilation

rates in commercial buildings. 

● Developing test methods for lead in paint (in cooperation with HUD

and EPA).

● Maintaining national radium and radon measurement standards.
86

PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • APPENDIX B

The quality and structure of state, local, and tribal indoor environmental

programs vary significantly from state to state. Some states have strong or

moderately strong indoor environmental programs, while others have

essentially no programs at all. 

State, local, and tribal programs provide public information, problem assessment, and response, but often these activities are divided among several

agencies, particularly at the state level, as a reflection of the multifaceted

nature of indoor environmental issues. Some states, like California, Florida,

and Vermont, have interagency indoor environmental groups to coordinate

activities across state agencies. The strongest state programs are those which

have been mandated by state legislation. In these states, much of what has

been achieved has been through voluntary compliance. Many state and local

governments do have some regulatory authority in specific areas (e.g.,

asbestos, lead, radon, and environmental tobacco smoke). A substantial 

component of many state programs is to assist local governments and tribes

to address indoor environmental issues at the local and tribal level. 

State-level indoor environmental programs are often hampered by the 

lack of a routine funding mechanism, with the exception of state radon 

programs which can receive federal funding. Agencies sometimes respond

to problems identified through publicity or public outcry. Such response is 

frequently reactive and crisis-driven. In some states, there is no organized

structure in place to educate or empower the public about their indoor

environment, and funding may decrease when the issue drops out of the

media spotlight. 

Like state government, local health and/or environmental offices often have

no established indoor environmental programs. They may create a mechanism to respond to a current crisis, routine public inquiries, or public outcry.

The scarcity of local government programs is being offset by grassroots

coalitions and non-profit organizations, extension educators, and local 

professional organizations working independently and in cooperation with

each other and federal, state, and local officials on public outreach and 

program implementation. Some funding and training for indoor environmental

STATE, LOCAL, AND TRIBAL AGENCIES
APPENDIX B • PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 87

activities is available for and utilized by local governments, local health and

environment officials, and non-profit organizations. More limited funding may

be available for local indoor environmental needs on a competitive or ad hoc

basis from federal and/or state agencies.

Some tribal governments have established radon and indoor environmental

programs receiving federal funding. The close-knit nature of tribal councils and

the high regard of elders has proven effective in implementing grassroots environmental programs and allowed for good coordination of environmental program activities. Economic and cultural issues make some environmental issues

a particular challenge. Involvement of the tribal council and elders assures

awareness of cultural sensitivities and increases the opportunity for success.

The strongest indoor environmental programs were found in states where

there was a funding mechanism, upper management support of the program,

and/or full time staff dedicated to indoor environmental efforts. However,

even states with strong programs generally face constraints which prevent

them from doing the kind of proactive outreach which would prevent indoor

environmental problems and crises or have serious gaps in their programs.

For example, some statewide/regional programs cover such a large geographic area that individual city or county assistance could be more effective.

Some states have a strong indoor environmental quality program in schools,

but do not address homes at all. In other states, efforts for lead or pesticides

may be targeted to specific audiences due to staff limitations (e.g., integrated

pest management in schools, lead awareness to real estate professionals).

Pesticides programs are frequently housed in state agriculture departments,

which will follow up on indoor environmental concerns regarding pesticides

misuse if contacted. 
88

PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • APPENDIX B

Many different entities in the private sector impact the state of human

health indoors. A few of the key stakeholder groups that have a role in 

protecting human health indoors, and their potential roles in solving indoor

environmental problems, are discussed below.

C ONSUMER , E NVIRONMENTAL , AND HEALTH PROFESSIONALS

Consumer, environmental, health, and other professionals are knowledgeable

of the symptoms and effects produced by environmental pollutants and can

advise the public on possible mitigation of environmental exposures. They

use diverse approaches to protecting human health indoors, including developing information and education programs to educate the public about

indoor environmental quality, conducting research to identify problems and

recommend solutions, and participating in the policy-making process.

MANUFACTURING AND NATURAL RESOURCE I NDUSTRIES

Manufacturers can ensure good indoor environments by designing products

and materials that eliminate or reduce exposures to toxic chemicals, pesticides,

and other pollutants to safe levels. These include consumer and commercial

products, building materials, office equipment, and furniture. Manufacturers

can also label their products so that they will be properly used and maintained. If a supplier provides raw materials (e.g. chemicals) to be formulated

further into a product, the supplier can provide the formulator with sufficient

health and safety information to allow the formulator to determine if the raw

material can be safely used in the intended application. Manufacturers and

suppliers can conduct research and adopt test procedures (e.g. emission test

procedures) and standards to ensure that the products and materials that they

sell are safe for use in indoor environments.

OTHER STAKEHOLDERS
APPENDIX B • PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 89

BUILDERS AND ARCHITECTS

Builders and architects can work to design and build structures that eliminate indoor environmental problems or enhance indoor environments. By

thinking about the quality of the indoor environment in the design stage, in

construction practices, and in remodeling, builders and architects can have

a substantial impact on the health and safety of the building occupants.

Builders and architects can help achieve safe indoor environments by

selecting building materials that will not release harmful levels of toxic

chemicals into occupied indoor environments (either when the materials are

new or as they age) and by designing buildings to be in compliance with

indoor air quality ventilation standards. During the remodeling of occupied

buildings, builders and architects can help protect the safety of tenants by

isolating them from pollutants generated during construction work. 

BUILDING O WNERS , MANAGERS , AND E NGINEERS

Building owners, managers, and engineers ensure good indoor environmental

quality by properly operating and maintaining buildings. Building owners,

managers, and engineers can foster a good indoor environment by adopting

ventilation maintenance procedures to eliminate and prevent contamination

and ensure an adequate supply of clean air to occupants; using zone ventilation or local exhaust for indoor sources; developing specific procedures for

use of cleaning solvents, paints, pesticides, and other products and materials

within the building; and abiding by recognized standards of care for building

maintenance. Their role includes establishing a process to educate building

occupants about their roles in maintaining good indoor environmental quality

and encouraging an active exchange of information about indoor environmental problems. They can develop and adopt formal protocols to investigate

indoor environmental complaints from occupants, thereby encouraging an

atmosphere of trust. 
90

PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • APPENDIX B

DIAGNOSTIC AND MITIGATION SERVICES

Diagnostic and mitigation firms respond to hazards and complaints in problem

buildings. They may work closely with building owners, managers, and engineers or individual homeowners to investigate indoor environmental quality

issues. Professionals in these firms span a broad range of occupations, including

industrial hygienists, mechanical (ventilation) engineers and technicians, microbiologists, architects, chemists, air pollution scientists, industrial engineers, risk

assessment personnel, abatement personnel, and others. The services of most of

these firms include evaluations of ventilation systems, measurement of indoor

pollutants, and characterization of the sources of pollutants in buildings.

Through these efforts, they can be instrumental in turning a problem building

into a healthy building.

REAL E STATE I NDUSTRY

The real estate industry has begun addressing a variety of indoor environmental issues in the past few years as a result of both client demand and

legal requirements. The real estate industry, discovering a need to know

more about radon, lead, asbestos, the safe application of pesticides, and

underground storage tanks, is partnering with government and industry

organizations to provide the necessary training to its members to facilitate

transactions and improve customer service.

U NIONS

Unions can protect human health indoors by ensuring a clean and healthy

indoor environment for their members. They can work with building owners,

managers, and engineers to ensure that employees are afforded an optimum

work environment. If problems occur, they can come to the aid of employees

who feel that they have been improperly exposed to pollutants in their workplaces and can work with building designers, owners, managers, and engineers in the design and operation of healthy workplaces.
APPENDIX B • PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION 91

STANDARD - SETTING ORGANIZATIONS

Standard-setting organizations (e.g., building code organizations, the

American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM), the American National

Standards Institute (ANSI), the American Society of Heating, Refrigerating,

and Air-Conditioning Engineers (ASHRAE), Underwriters Laboratory (UL),

NSF International, and the American Conference of Governmental Industrial

Hygienists (ACGIH)) can play an important role in protecting human health

in indoor environments. Depending on the organization, they can provide a

range of services. One important service of some standard-setting organizations is to foster healthy indoor environments by developing or enhancing,

providing for efficient use of, and, and in some cases, enforcing model building codes. Other services standard-setting organizations may provide are 

setting uniform methods of testing, establishing levels of accepted practice,

or developing and maintaining consensus standards. Some may provide 

certification opportunities, laboratory testing and toxicological assessments

related to certification, and conformity assessments and compliance monitoring. Education and training services may also be provided. Standard-setting

organizations can help product manufacturers, code writers, designers,

builders, enforcement officials, and others perform their functions in a more

effective and efficient manner. Standard-setting organizations can also play

an important role providing the public with some assurance that their homes,

schools, and workplaces, and the products that go into them, are safe.

RESEARCH ORGANIZATIONS

Many research organizations work to protect human health indoors. Some

of these organizations address policy issues, such as providing critical

analyses of the potential risks for pollutants indoors, addressing land use

and building design issues, or setting future strategies for protecting indoor

environments. Scientific research organizations address a wide range of

issues related to indoor environments, including proper building design

and operation, health and comfort impacts of poor indoor environments,

measurements of indoor pollutants and the characterization of emissions
92

from products and materials used indoors, and exposure mitigation (e.g.,

ventilation, air cleaning, source control, and individual behaviors). Because

research in indoor environments is relatively new, these organizations play

a key role in determining future areas of concern for indoor environments. 

I NDIVIDUALS

Individuals are the strongest force in protecting human health indoors.

Consumers protect their own health and the health of those around them by

properly maintaining their homes and making informed choices about consumer goods and services. Building occupants (e.g., office workers) do the 

same by properly using products and equipment within the building. With

knowledge, individuals can take many actions to avoid personal exposures.

The value of individual behavior cannot be minimized in our efforts to develop

and implement a nationwide strategy to improve indoor environments.

PARTNERS IN I NDOOR E NVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION • APPENDIX B