IAQ in the News
See what's being reported on and discussed in the world of Indoor Air Quality. Read brief article summaries, with links to the full original publications.
A CFD study on the effect of portable air cleaner placement on airborne infection control in a classroom
This study examines how the placement of portable air cleaners (PACs) can help reduce airborne infections in classrooms. Results show that PACs are most effective when...
COVID Rates Are Rising Again. Why Does It Spread So Well in the Summer?
COVID cases surge in the summer due to factors like human behavior, virus mutation, and environmental conditions. New variants of the virus may contribute to...
Meeting IAQ and Decarbonization Goals Using Smart Building Systems
Buildings need good air quality (IAQ) for occupant health but using more ventilation to achieve it can waste energy. AI-powered...
How to keep your indoor air clean during a renovation – 5 steps to protect your health and air quality
Turn off HVAC to prevent dust from damaging the system. Use high-MERV filters if you must keep it on...
EU authorities urged to scale-up indoor air quality (IAQ) enforcement
A group representing HVACR specialists published a manifesto urging the new European Parliament to make good IAQ a basic human right...
The detrimental effects of vaping on Indoor Air Quality
Vaping negatively impacts IAQ similar to cigarette smoking. The aerosol from vaping contains fine particulate matter (PM), ultrafine particulate matter...
A new discovery about carbon dioxide is challenging decades-old ventilation doctrine
No sensor can monitor how many infectious aerosols are swirling around us in real time. But carbon dioxide, or CO2, can act as a convenient proxy. People exhale...
HVAC expert shares key to lower energy bills and higher air quality: 'The most efficient an air conditioning or heating unit will ever be is when it's off'
According to the Department of Energy, homes and commercial buildings account for 40% of energy usage in the United States, and outdated HVAC systems...
Air Pollution Linked To 135 Million Premature Deaths In New Study: Here's How You Can Mitigate It's Impact
The Air Quality Life Index (AQLI) 2023, released by the Energy Policy Institute, University of Chicago has revealed that ‘Since 2013, about 59 per cent of the world’s increase in pollution has come from India alone,’ As per reports...
Outdoor Air Quality Alerts Across the Midwestern U.S. It Could Pollute the Indoors, Too
Wildfire smoke can infiltrate the indoors. This is especially problematic for older buildings that are less airtight. As we spend most of our time time indoors, we are exposed to most of the "outdoor" pollution while...
For Indoor Air Quality Tech, What Happens When the Outdoor ‘Fresh Air’ Is Bad?
The pandemic forced buildings to improve ventilation, bringing in more outdoor air. This can be expensive and not ideal during wildfires or cold weather. New technologies are emerging to...
Natural ventilation to improve indoor air quality (IAQ) in existing homes: The development of health-based and context-specific user guidelines
Considering the existing built environment and the need to conserve energy (embodied as well as consumed), maximizing the benefits of natural ventilation makes a lot of sense...
Cooking with gas can lead to high NO2
Gas ranges offer more responsive heat control to stir fry our veggies, so we should all use gas to cook with, right? Well, hang on a minute… As we at AirGuard keep saying… watch out for pollution indoors, where we all spend most of our time...
Using smart IoT sensors in schools to monitor IAQ/IEQ
We must have missed this scandal, but certain US schools have been using sensors to check school areas for vaping (!). Now, many of those schools have come to their senses (pun intended) and will be using the same “smart” sensors to identify and address...
New Brunswick is dragging its feet
In June 2023, the provincial legislature in New Brunswick unanimously approved an Opposition Motion to update its Clean Air Act. However, the government has just announced it will not improve on the original 1997 Act...
Advancing Laboratory Safety: The Evolution Towards Dynamic Air Quality Control
This text describes a new approach to laboratory air quality control, called Demand-Based Control (DBC). Traditionally, labs maintained a fixed high air change rate (ACH) to ensure safety, which was expensive and inefficient...
Indoor Air Quality - Addressing a Public Health Issue On the Rise
Only 4% of countries met WHO's air quality standards in 2023. Both outdoor (wildfires) and indoor (building materials) factors contribute to air pollution. Exposure to fine particulate matter (PM2.5) linked to respiratory illnesses and even death...
In Photos - First-ever 'living air purifier' to combat indoor pollution
Neoplants, a bioengineering company, created the world's first "living air purifier" called Neo Px. It uses a pothos plant and specially engineered bacteria to capture and eliminate indoor pollutants...
Feds launch indoor air quality research program
The BREATHE program aims to improve indoor air quality nationwide by creating smart buildings that continuously monitor and enhance air quality. ARPA-H, a funding agency for health research, is launching this initiative to address...
Effort for better air quality in CT schools gets bipartisan support
Efforts in Connecticut are underway to address poor air quality in schools, impacting learning and health. A proposed bill aims to inspect 20% of school districts yearly until...
Maintaining Good Indoor Air Quality is a Balancing Act
Maintaining good indoor air quality is crucial for facility managers. Indoor air can become polluted from various sources, including finishing materials. A balance needs to be achieved between IAQ, energy consumption...
How to improve your indoor air quality at home
Follow these tips to improve your indoor air quality at home, including saying goodbye to pollution sources like candles and air fresheners. Vacuum frequently, reduce dust, and use less-polluting cleaning products...
It threatens us all: How dirty air became the world’s silent killer
Air pollution is a major global problem, causing more deaths than AIDS and malaria combined. Children and the elderly are the most vulnerable; 60 per cent of the air pollution-related deaths that occurred in 2019 were among children under...
2024 Air Quality Awareness Week Toolkit
The US Environmental Protection Agency hosts Air Quality Awareness Week (AQAW) from May 6th to 10th, 2024. This year's theme is "Knowing Your Air". The week coincides with World Asthma Day and aims to educate people about air quality and its impact on health...
Older Office Buildings Adopt Open Protocol Systems For Energy Efficiency
Office building owners in Singapore are increasingly adopting **open protocol systems** for energy management, integrating new energy systems with older infrastructure to enhance efficiency and reduce environmental impact. These open protocols facilitate easy...
How Central Heating Changed Everything About Our Homes
Central heating revolutionized how people lived by ensuring consistent warmth throughout homes. This shift, starting in the late 1970s, led to increased expectations of comfort and transformed living spaces. Central heating not only improved living conditions but...
The Not so Silent Office Productivity Killer
Noise can be a significant productivity killer in office environments. A survey reveals that distractions from noise, especially conversations, can impact productivity, with men being affected more than women...
Is It Possible For An Office To Be Too Quiet?
Communication barriers, decreased productivity, and lack of creativity are the potential negative effects of a completely silent office environment. Hence, progressive firms implement solutions...
Selling Whole-Home Humidification
Whole-home humidifiers are gaining popularity due to health and comfort benefits. They integrate with existing HVAC systems and improve indoor air quality by reducing static electricity, allergies...
Survey Reveals Disparities In IAQ Prioritization In K-12 Schools
A survey of K-12 educators found a gap between teachers and school administrators on indoor air quality (IAQ) prioritization. While 96% of teachers linked good IAQ to student performance...
Low-cost sensor-based investigation of CO2 and volatile organic compounds in classrooms: Exploring dynamics, ventilation effects and perceived air quality relations
This study examined classroom air quality (CAQ) and found high levels of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) alongside CO2. VOCs increased with occupancy and insufficient ventilation...
Air Quality Monitor Market size to grow by USD 2 billion from 2022-2027
The global air quality monitor market size is estimated to grow by USD 2 billion from 2022 to 2027, according to Technavio. The market is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 6.99% during the forecast period...
You may be breathing in more tiny nanoparticles from your gas stove than from car exhaust
A Purdue University study found cooking with gas stoves emits tiny nanoparticles, potentially linked to asthma and other respiratory illnesses. These particles are smaller than 3 nanometers, making them difficult...
How vaping has an unhealthy impact on indoor air quality
Vaping, despite being marketed as a "safer" alternative to smoking, negatively impacts indoor air quality. The key culprit is particulate matter (PM), especially the fine PM2.5, which reaches harmful levels similar...
Indoor Air Quality: Out Of The Shadows, But Still On The Back Burner
A recent report by the National Academy of Sciences (NAS) highlights the health risks of indoor air pollution, particularly fine particulate matter (PM2.5). While the report is valuable...
EPA has tightened its target for deadly particle pollution − states need more tools to reach it
The EPA recently tightened the air quality standard for fine particulate matter (PM2.5), impacting millions in violation areas. While this stricter standard is beneficial...
Chronic exposure to air pollution may increase risk of cardiovascular hospitalization among seniors
A Harvard study found chronic exposure to fine air pollutants (PM2.5) increases seniors' risk of heart disease hospitalization. Examining data from 60 million people...
Air Pollution Is a Creeping Tax on American Life
Air pollution worsening due to climate change, posing a hidden but high cost...
DIY Tips for Better Home Air Quality: Simple Steps for a Healthier Environment
Healthy homes need healthy air! Pollutants lurk indoors, harming your lungs and well-being. But fear not! DIY solutions are here...
Indoor Air Pollution: A Silent Threat to Child Growth in Ethiopia
Ethiopian study links indoor air pollution to stunted children, highlighting a global issue. The situation is attacked with education & awareness campaigns, kitchen ventilation improvements, and policy changes to combat this invisible threat...
Avoid complacency as Hong Kong air pollution creeps back
According to the latest air quality report (AQR) released by Hong Kong's Environmental Protection Department, air pollution returned to “normal levels” last year. Even though pollutants such as respirable suspended particulates...