Paul Scialla, founder and CEO of Delos. Paul is an expert on indoor environmental quality and healthy buildings.
Fifty-four years ago, gripping images of the burning Cuyahoga River in Cleveland, Ohio, helped galvanize support for the first Earth Day and encouraged unprecedented efforts to combat outdoor air and water pollution. Recent wildfires, record heat and the Covid-19 pandemic should light a fire for environmental action on a new front: indoor air quality.
As sure as what goes up must come down, outdoor pollution inevitably finds a way indoors. Research conducted by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency found that concentrations of some pollutants can be up to five times higher indoors than outside. That’s mainly because limited ventilation in enclosed spaces can trap pollutants. This is particularly concerning as research shows that most people spend about 90% of their time indoors.
The consequences of poor IAQ can be severe, especially for people with health concerns. Indoor air is subject to a wide range of pollutants, coming both from outdoor air that flows inside and from source contaminants within the building. The risk of exposure to pollutants also extends to a wide range of pathogens. Fine particulate matter (PM2.5) is also considered an extremely dangerous air pollutant and is the most common component of wildfire smoke.
Exposure to airborne pollutants and pathogens inflict harm indiscriminately, but the risks are often significantly higher in low-income communities. These communities are often situated in closer proximity to hazardous sites such as industrial sites and motorways, and buildings in these areas are more likely to have inadequate ventilation. Research published by the American Journal of Public Health in 2018 found that the burden from PM2.5 was disproportionately higher among people in poverty and people of color.
Responding to these IAQ challenges requires a concerted, sweeping action by the government, private sector, nonprofits and individuals, similar to the efforts that have helped reduce outdoor air and water pollution. I have seen some progress in that direction, initially catalyzed by the pandemic and expanding because of concerns about dangerous and more frequent conditions, such as wildfires and drought-driven dust storms.
The U.S. EPA launched the Clean Air in Buildings Challenge early last year to encourage building owners and operators to take action. They also devote an entire section of their website to IAQ, providing information on the health risks associated with poor IAQ, as well as offering solutions for homes, schools, offices and other large buildings.
Additionally, in October 2022, a White House Summit on Improving Indoor Air Quality sought solutions from public health experts, ventilation specialists, educators and others with relevant expertise.
In February of this year, the EPA invited public comments on its plans to update the Indoor airPLUS program, to “help reduce the likelihood of common and serious health problems like heart disease, cancer, asthma and other respiratory issues.” The voluntary program encourages homebuilders to minimize the risks from airborne pollutants.
Commercial building owners and operators are beginning to recognize that improving IAQ is not only the right thing to do, but it is also becoming an increasingly easier thing to do. Advancements in technology can help reduce the costs of improving ventilation—a key element for improving IAQ—in large commercial buildings.
The federal government could further promote this trend by offering a tax credit to help businesses and building operators offset the cost of IAQ upgrades and solutions. It is time to consider the kind of legislation that followed the first Earth Day by reintroducing and expanding upon the Healthy Workplaces Act beyond Covid-19, or enacting a companion law to the Clean Air Act.
The Clean Air Act of 1970 had a profound impact because it paved the way for state and federal regulations that limit emissions based on clear standards. In contrast, the current framework for IAQ relies on building codes and standards that typically set minimum thresholds, rather than standardized and validated IAQ scores or health-based targets.
In the interim, business leaders are facing increasing pressure to take action on behalf of their greatest asset: their employees. Business leaders cannot afford to sit idly by. Failing to address indoor air quality issues can impact productivity, airborne transmission of viruses and bacteria, absenteeism and more.
Airtight buildings can help prevent particulate matter from entering indoors. Business leaders and building owners can prepare for wildfire smoke and other harmful outdoor pollutants by sealing exterior cracks and crevices to prevent residues from seeping inside their office space. However, it is important to remember that with more airtight buildings, increased ventilation options such as upgraded HVAC systems or supplemental purification become even more important. It is recommended that HVAC filters be upgraded to MERV 13 or higher, and the filters need to be changed routinely.
Large-scale HVAC upgrades can be effective at improving ventilation. However, the onus for this option often falls on the building owners and can be both cost- and time-prohibitive. Building owners should keep this in mind and prepare properly if considering this option.
A more immediate and cost-effective solution for business leaders to consider is localized interventions. Hyper-localized delivery of filtered air can help create a healthier air quality environment in occupied spaces and can limit the need for HVAC upgrades to address localized air concerns. Localized air purification allows business leaders the flexibility and increased operational efficiency in targeted areas that need improvement, such as densely populated spaces or areas with poor ventilation.
Recent events have been a powerful reminder of the need for proactive action to ensure adequate ventilation and air filtration in buildings. This is even more vital for business leaders operating in class B or C buildings, older buildings or buildings without adequate HVAC and ventilation systems that address localized air concerns, and implementing air purification solutions can be a highly effective option.
This much is clear: the health impacts of poor IAQ are likely to worsen as climate change gives rise to increasingly severe and frequent wildfires and extreme weather conditions, and airborne pathogens will continue to spread indoors. Let’s learn from the past and take action to build a healthier future.
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