Exploring the particles that linger in the air
What's in the air?
Indoor air quality or IAQ is often worse than outdoor air quality where we spend most of our time.
OUR BLOG
Introducing the Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network
Chicago Clean Air Resilience Network or Chi-CARN’s goal is to transform how communities prepare for and respond to air quality emergencies from an individualized burden to a sustainable, collective, and data-backed preparedness infrastructure. Our shared infrastructure allows any nonprofit, community, or neighborhood organization in Chicago to access equipment such as N95 masks, high-CADR air purifiers, and specialized equipment like PortaCount machines and far UVC lights.
Pollen Allergy Season: Why It’s Changing and How to Protect Your Air
Pollen is an air-quality issue as much as it is a clinical one, and the same forces reshaping weather are shifting when, where, and how much pollen is in the air. We wrote this guide to explain what pollen is, how it affects health, why seasons are changing, and practical ways to reduce exposure.
Radon at Home: Why Testing Matters and How to Fix High Levels
Radon is the number one cause of lung cancer among non-smokers and the second leading cause overall in the U.S., with the National Center Institute attributing 15,000 to 22,000 deaths per year to the long-term health impacts of indoor radon exposure
Healthy Indoor Air Gains Global Spotlight with Landmark UN Commission
The UN Clean Air Summit was a landmark event for clean air advocates everywhere, being the first coordinated, international effort to establish healthy indoor air as a human right, and to push for a global indoor air quality standard to guide action on this crucial issue.
How to Prevent Mold in the First 48 Hours After Flood
Research across homes, schools, and workplaces shows consistent associations between damp, moldy indoor environments and increased respiratory symptoms, including wheezing, coughing, and asthma exacerbation. These effects don’t require exotic “black mold”; moisture and visible or hidden growth are the signal to act, regardless of species
Bones Breathe Too: Why Indoor Air Quality Matters for Osteoporosis
Bones need more than calcium to stay strong. New research shows that indoor air pollution—from cooking, gas stoves, wildfire smoke, and even traffic exhaust that seeps indoors—can accelerate bone loss and worsen osteoporosis. The molecules in polluted air spark inflammation, disrupt blood flow, and even leach heavy metals from bone tissue. Cleaner indoor air may be a hidden ally in protecting bone health as we age.
PREPARING FOR WILDFIRE SMOKE
Your first line of defense against wildfire smoke is staying in the know. Reliable sources such as local news, weather apps, or dedicated websites offer real-time updates on wildfires and air quality indexes. This critical information allows you to plan your activities and adjust your daily routines when smoke reaches hazardous levels.
Want to understand the Air Quality Index better? Check out our blog post with downloadable PDFs and charts.
KNOW BETTER, BREATHE BETTER.
“I must fight with all my strength so that the little positive things that my health allows me to do might be pointed toward helping the revolution. The only real reason for living.”
FRIDA KAHLO