Air Quality

Outdoor air can contain pollutants. Air pollution has been linked to specific health problems—such as asthma, heart disease, and lung cancer.

Air Quality Can Affect Your Health When the amount of pollution in the air increases – for example, from wildfires – risks to your health can also increase. People highly affected by air pollution, or what the Environmental Protection Agency...

Arsenic is a natural element found in rocks and soil and is often found in well water. It can also come from human activities and is used in some consumer products. Over time, arsenic causes cancer along with other health...

Benzene is the name of an aromatic hydrocarbon, C 6H 6. In liquid form, benzene is clear, colorless, and flammable.

Carbon Monoxide in Your Home Carbon monoxide (CO) is a poisonous gas you cannot see or smell. It is produced when liquid, solid or gas fuel is burned — such as natural gas, propane, oil, charcoal, wood and wood pellets...

Chemicals in Carpets Most carpet is made with synthetic (human-made) materials. However, carpets can also be made of wool or other natural materials. Most carpet has at least two parts: the cushion or pad for support and noise reduction, and...

Formaldehyde is a colorless gas at room temperature that sometimes has a noticeable smell.

Climate Change Affects Your Health Climate change is impacting the health of people living in Vermont now. Some existing health threats will intensify and new health threats will emerge. Climate change also affects social and environmental determinants of health, including...

Investigators both in the U.S. and abroad have shown relationships between short- and long-term exposure to air pollution and the increased risk of heart attack and other forms of heart disease.

Air Quality in Your Home National studies have shown that air pollution in our homes can be more of a health concern than air pollution outside. Indoor pollutant levels may, in fact, be many times higher than outdoor levels. There...