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EPA Awards $66,000 to Improve Santa Clara County Indoor Air

Release Date: 10/16/2012
Contact Information: David Yogi, [email protected], (415) 972-3350

SAN FRANCISCO – The U.S. Environmental Protection Agency recently awarded $66,400 to the San Jose, Calif.-based organization Breathe California of the Bay Area for reducing indoor air pollutant exposure through training and education.

“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.”

Under the grant, Breathe California will assist schools in implementing indoor air quality management plans, train 50-100 health care professionals in the Bay Area on indoor asthma triggers and how to integrate trigger education into their practices, and provide in-home and in-school asthma trigger education.

Today’s funding is part of a combined $1.2 million in funding to 32 state and local governments, tribes, and non-profit organizations to improve indoor air quality, which will better protect the health of Americans in classrooms, communities, and homes across the country.

Indoor air pollutants in homes, buildings, and schools can negatively impact the health of occupants. Some pollutants cause health problems such as sore eyes, burning in the nose and throat, headaches or fatigue. Others can cause worsen allergies or respiratory illnesses (such as asthma).

For more information on grant winners, visit: https://www.epa.gov/iaq/regional_funding.html

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