Indoor Air Quality Is UP TO 100 Times Worse Than Outdoor Air

The World Health Organization (WHO) and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) recognize radon as a human carcinogen. Radon is a colorless, odorless, radioactive gas that develops from the natural decay of uranium found in bedrock and soil. The (EPA) estimates, one in every 15 homes nationwide have a high radon level at or above the recommended radon action level of 4 picoCuries (pCi/L) per liter of air. According to the American Lung Association “State of Lung Cancer” report high levels of cancer-causing radon gas is detected in nearly 21% of Maryland homes. In the U.S., radon is the second leading cause of lung cancer. Annually, approximately 21,000 lung cancer deaths are attributed to radon exposure. Smokers are at even greater risk, with 5-10 times the risk of a non-smoker at a similar radon level. 

According to the Asthma and Allergy Foundation of America Asthma is greatly influenced by where someone lives. People who have affordable and accessible health care, clean air, and economic stability have a greater chance of managing and controlling their asthma. AAFA’s Asthma Capitals™ report ranks the largest 100 cities in the continental U.S. by how challenging they are to live in when you have asthma. AAFA publishes this report to show the nationwide burden of asthma. It is a call to action to help the more than 27 million people in the U.S. with asthma. Asthma kills 11-people per day in the U.S. Baltimore ranks 12th on the top-20 Asthma Capitals for 2023 based on emergency room visits. Baltimore ranks 3rd in asthma-related fatalities. Black people in the U.S. are nearly three times more likely to die from asthma than white people. Black females have the highest rate of fatality due to asthma.