Green|Spaces Chattanooga was declared a crime scene this morning by local authorities! The building has been wrapped in caution tape and surrounded by lit siren lights, bringing attention to the very serious matter—the death and illness of thousand of Americans caused by polluted air.
Many Americans don’t realize how some of the simple household objects can affect our health in negative ways. As Americans, we spend an average of 90 percent of our time indoors, and with contaminated indoor air, we are at risk to respiratory disorders, heart attacks, strokes, premature births and asthma. According to The American College of Allergies, half of all illnesses are caused or aggravated by polluted indoor air. The US Environmental Protection Agency says that indoor air pollution levels can be up to 100 times higher than outdoor pollution.
On average, American homes contain more than 50 synthetic chemical products. Some of the harmful products could even be paints and furniture containing volatile organic compounds. Green|Spaces co-director Anj McClain says, “The crazy thing about air pollution, whether indoor or outdoor, is that it is all preventable.” Green|Spaces would like to remind people “that choices that seem convenient in the moment can create big impacts, and that there are options for better choices.” So take the first step in cleaning your —and our—air!
To learn more, go to GoodNewsFromGreenspaces.blogspot.com where there is live web feed reporting from the crime scene, or visit 63 East Main Street and see the scene for yourself.
-Dana Zakshevsky
