Indoor air quality: tackling the challenges of the invisible

2020
Effective solutions exist to ensure that the right to breathe healthy air becomes a reality for all.

Indoor air pollution is an issue that impacts a wide range of enclosed spaces such as houses, offices, schools and public transports, in which we spend 80% of our time on average. These spaces are sometimes more polluted than the outdoor air: the WHO estimates that poor indoor air quality is responsible for 3.8 million deaths worldwide each year. In France, the number of premature deaths due to the 6 main indoor pollutants is estimated at 20,000, and the cost of this pollution to the community is estimated at 19 billion euros per year.

Behind the figures, what do we know today about the sources of indoor air pollution around the world? What problems arise depending on the areas concerned? How is the air quality of a building measured? What solutions exist to improve and preserve it?

 

Discover:

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An issue produced in partnership with Nomadéis.
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1. Indoor air quality: a multifaceted public health problem

Context
Docteur Fabien Squinazi
The French Public Health Council (HCSP)
The French Observatory on Indoor Air Quality (OQAI)
Context
Maria P. Neira
World Health Organization (WHO)
Context
Corinne Mandin
Scientific and Technical Center for Building (CSTB)
Context
Teresa Moreno, Fulvio Amato
Institute of Environmental Assessment and Water Research (IDAEA)

2. Acting for healthy indoor air: from measurement to remediation

Challenges
Dietmar Feichtinger
Feichtinger Architectes
Challenges
Sabine Fauquez, Frédéric Bouvier
OFIS
Challenges
Bill C. Wolverton, NASA & Wolverton Environmental Services
Mark Nelson, Institute of Ecotechnics, Space Biosphere Ventures (Biosphere 2) & Wastewater Gardens International

3. From public perceptions to policymaking: shining light on an invisible pollution

Perspectives
Helena Molin Valdés
Climate & Clean Air Coalition (CCAC)
Perspectives
Andrea Polli
University of New Mexico
Perspectives
Michael Pinsky, Laura Sommer
Norwegian University of Science and Technology