What Can Health professionals Do to Lower their Patients’ Exposure to the Harmful Health Effects of Air Quality?

Health professionals play an important role in protecting children from air-pollution-related illnesses. In addition to encouraging families to follow the prevention recommendations in the family page, professionals can identify potential indoor air pollution triggers (see Additional Resources section) and conduct an environmental health history for patients with environmental concerns, especially those with respiratory conditions like asthma. You can then add air quality concerns to your patient’s asthma action plan, council on trigger reduction, discuss the benefits of using MERV 13 air filters in HVAC systems and/or portable HEPA air cleaners with patients, and advocate for healthy indoor school or daycare environments for children.