Reducing pollution at the source

Safer Solutions for Safer Renovations

Researchers and professionals working in the area of indoor air pollution agree that it is more desirable and efficient to control chemical pollutants at their source by not creating them in the first place.

Building products and materials should be required to conform to minimum standards in relation to their chemical composition and emissions, just as they are required to meet other standards in relation to their efficacy, fire hazard and durability.

The current approach to managing indoor air pollution has placed more emphasis on ventilation systems to dilute pollution to so-called ‘safe levels’. This approach is highly energy intensive and provides no incentive to manufacturers to remove hazardous chemicals at the source and simply moves the chemical pollution to the outside air.