Topping the list of concerns were mold, dust mites, allergens and particles in the air. "These finding are consistent with previous Chelsea Group surveys and help complete the picture of how Americans feel about the air they breathe indoors. We also found that many of those surveyed did not fully understand why or how these particular IAQ constituents could impact health, just that they believed they did. These findings present an extraordinary opportunity for companies that provide IAQ-related products and services to assist consumers make informed decisions by educating the public about IAQ and how to improve IAQ in their homes and workplaces," said George Benda, Chairman and CEO of the Chelsea Group, Ltd.

"In addition, we were intrigued that the level of concern was about equal for mold, dust, allergens and airborne particles, although people ages 25-34 were more concerned about allergens than other age groups," he said.

Results from previous Chelsea Group surveys showed that overall concern for IAQ is at an all-time high and that a vast majority of homeowners are willing to spend their discretionary income to improve the quality of air in their homes, he said. "What this tells us is Americans are not just concerned about their indoor air. They have definite feelings about what worries them and they are willing to do something about it," said Benda.

During the April 2001 survey, 1,000 adults were interviewed by telephone over a three-day period. Participants were selected from all available residential telephone numbers in the contiguous U.S., using a random sampling technique.