Research Article: Evaluation of the Capacity for Local Health Departments to Help the Public Address Poor Indoor Environmental Quality

Abstract

The public is becoming aware of the role that the indoor environment plays on their overall health. Nationwide health objectives recommend that the local public health infrastructure provide resources and services to help the general public identify and address poor indoor environmental quality. The authors surveyed certified and non-certified municipal, local, and state regional health departments in Illinois to identify free publicly available resources to help the general public address indoor environmental quality in their homes, schools, and non-industrial workplaces. Most local health departments surveyed indicated that they are not capable of adequately addressing indoor environmental issues in their community. Available services in Illinois appear to be limited primarily to literature distribution and phone consultation in most of the health departments statewide. A general survey of state health departments indicated that Illinois is representative of a nationwide inability to adequately address indoor environmental quality issues through local health department services.