Fact Sheet: Building Related Illness (BRI) or Environmental Illness

National Resources Defense Council

* In the last 50 years, we have invented 70,000 chemicals never before seen by the human body.

* Only 1,000 of those chemicals have been tested for effects on our nervous system

* Only 100 of those chemicals are regulated in their use

* 250,000 violations of those regulations are recorded every 2 years

World Health Organization

* 30% of U.S. homes contain enough pollutants to create Building Related Illness

Environmental Protection Agency

* "Indoor air pollution in residences, offices, schools and other buildings is widely recognized

as one of the most serious environmental risks to human health."

*Indoor air pollution ranks among the top 5 threats to public health today.

* 30,000 Americans per year die prematurly from IAQ problems.

* 80% of our lives are spent indoors.

* 90% of all EPA regulated toxins are more prevalent indoors

than outside.

* Radon may be responsible for up to 20,000 lung cancer deaths per year

*93% of humans studied (in the EPA 1994 National Human Adipose Survey

have traces of DDE (a DDT byproduct)...a known hormone interupter.

*100% have traces of styrene plastic (styrofoam) in their fat tissues.

Stryene is listed by EPA as a known carcinogen and mutagen.

*67% studied showed traces of heptachlor...a PCB chemical used

for termite and ant control...known to cause birth defects, hormone

and thyroid interruption.

National Academy of Sciences

* 15% of Americans have some degree of Environmental Illness from cumulative exposure

to toxins and carcinogens

*4-8% of Americans may now be sensitized to Formaldehyde

National Cancer Institute

* The rate of cancer among American children is rising at the rate of 1% per year

probably due to growing exposure to new chemicals in the environment.

* Leukemia in children increased 27% between 1973 and 1990

* Brain Cancer increased 40% in the same period