Nonoccupational exposures to indoor air pollutants: a survey of state programs and practices

A national survey of health department activities in 1982 revealed that 32 states (63 per cent) had a program or person(s) responsible for evaluating exposures to one or more nonoccupational indoor air pollutants (NIAPs). Only four states (8 per cent) had existing or proposed NIAP exposure standards. Twenty-nine (57 per cent) of the states had a program to evaluate nonoccupational exposures to formaldehyde, but these varied widely. There is a need for coordinated, consistent approaches to defining and controlling emerging environmental public health problems such as indoor air pollution.