Indoor Environment
BREATHE Center studies have shown that children living in Baltimore City often live in homes where the indoor air quality is worse than outdoor air quality.
In a study of preschool children's homes, the average fine particle pollution in the air was 40 micrograms per cubic meter of air (µg/m3) while average outdoors was 10 µg/m3.2 That’s four times the amount of particulate matter inside versus outside.
But what is fine particulate air pollution, known as PM2.5, and why should you care?
PM2.5 Size
Fine particle air pollution, known as PM2.5, can travel deep into the respiratory tract, reaching the lungs and entering the blood stream.
PM2.5 and Risk
PM2.5 at or below 5 μg/m3 has little to no risk from exposure. If the level goes above 5 μg/m3, the air is considered unhealthy for people with existing breathing issues such as asthma.3 The average indoor PM2.5 level in Baltimore was 40 μg/m3.
Common PM2.5 Sources
Outdoors, PM2.5 is produced by vehicle exhaust and fuel burning. Indoors, PM2.5 is produced by smoking, cooking, and using fireplaces.
Smoking indoors not only affects the person smoking, but others who are in the space. Indoor PM2.5 exposure is associated with poorer respiratory and cardiovascular outcomes.
Baltimore’s smoking rate has been consistently above state and national averages since 2002. Although all rates were decreasing at a similar pace initially, since 2008 Baltimore’s rate has been declining less rapidly, widening the gap between the city and the rest of the state and the country. As of 2016, Baltimore City was still five years behind Maryland in terms of reducing smoking rates.
Baltimore residents who are 26+ years old are driving the difference in smoking rates between Maryland and Baltimore City. On the other hand, younger age groups seem to have smoking rates comparable to other locations.
The number of adults who smoke is not evenly distributed across the city. In the map on the left, the darker the area, the more adults living there smoke. These differences occur because smoking habits are shaped by different social circumstances.
Drag the slider to compare adult smoking rates to the change in smoking rates between 2002 and 2016. The darker blue areas mean there was a significant decrease in smoking prevalence. The dark purple areas mean there was an increase.
Gas stoves are another source of indoor particulate matter. Cooking on a gas stove three or more times a day without proper ventilation increases PM2.5 to unhealthy levels, especially for those already experiencing breathing issues such as asthma.
Gas is the most commonly used resource to heat homes in Baltimore City and it is also responsible for increases in PM2.5 inside and around homes with active service lines.
Most of the homes in Baltimore City are being heated by gas. Only a few areas, mostly in the downtown area, are predominantly using electricity.
In terms of gas use, Baltimore City is above US, Baltimore Metropolitan Area, and Maryland with more than 60% of homes using gas versus 35-45% in other geographies.
Another indoor exposure of concern is allergens from animals, especially pests like mice and cockroaches. Exposure to an allergen found in mouse urine that is circulating in the air increases the risk for developing allergic sensitivity. For children who have allergic asthma, exposure to these allergens can worsen their asthma, doubling the risk of needing to go to the emergency room.4
Take Action
Improving air quality at home is a great way to improve indoor environment and reduce the risk of new or aggravated breathing issues.
Using HEPA air filtration reduces indoor PM2.5 by 30-60%
Receive tax benefits for making environmental home upgrades
Increase the frequency of laundering bed linens
For children with allergic asthma, it’s helpful to add air purifiers, launder bed linens frequently, add allergen covers for mattress and pillows, and keep food that might attract mice out of bedrooms.