WASHINGTON — The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced it will provide a combined $1.2 million in funding to 32 state and local governments, tribes, and nonprofit organizations for indoor air quality projects. EPA said the funding will support the recipients’ efforts to improve indoor air quality and better protect the health of Americans in classrooms, communities, and homes across the country.

Education projects, training, and outreach efforts supported by the funding will help reduce the environmental health risks of indoor air contaminants such as radon and asthma triggers, said EPA. From organizing and training speakers on how to educate parents of children with asthma, to providing technical assistance that will help school districts develop indoor air quality management plans, these projects are designed to help protect children and families. EPA emphasized selecting projects that assist low income and minority families that are disproportionately impacted by poor indoor air quality.

“EPA is proud to be working with our awardees across the nation to improve the air we breathe at school, work, and home,” said Gina McCarthy, assistant administrator for EPA’s Office of Air and Radiation. “American communities face serious health and environmental challenges from air pollution. This effort gives us an opportunity to improve indoor air quality by increasing awareness of environmental health risks.”

EPA said the projects will help improve indoor air quality and reduce the associated health risks by:

• Increasing effective indoor air quality practices through community level education and outreach.

• Promoting positive indoor air quality management practices in schools by working with school districts and teachers.

• Increasing the number of homes tested for radon, homes built with radon-resistant features, and existing homes mitigated for radon.

• Creating awareness to reduce asthma triggers in the home and encourage the use of asthma management plans through community-based asthma programs.

For more information, visit www.epa.gov/iaq/regional_funding.html.

Publication date: 11/5/2012