Breathing Easier ???: A Revolution in Indoor Air Quality

"90% of?people's time is spent indoors. Everyone requires clean indoor air, just as everyone needs clean drinking water."

Over 150 years ago, we learned that clean drinking water and proper sanitation were the keys to combating cholera and waterborne diseases. The U.S. Clean Air Act was passed in 1963 to safeguard both people and the environment from outdoor air pollution. Now fast-forward to today, where guidelines for indoor versions of this important legislation are being developed in an effort to combat airborne infectious diseases.

Our quest to comprehend and control airborne diseases hasn't been without its difficulties, though. One significant barrier was the medical community's ingrained skepticism of theories of airborne transmission. The antiquated "miasma" theory, which was popular in the 19th century, was the source of this doubt. According to the miasma theory, airborne illnesses like cholera were brought on by odors rather than by germs. The medical establishment continued to emphasize "contact transmission," largely ignoring the reality of infection via environmental germs, even after germ theory debunked the miasma theory.

SARS-CoV-2 was not classified as an airborne pathogen by the World Health Organisation (WHO) until the COVID-19 pandemic was well underway in the twenty-first century. This delay was caused, in part, by the medical community's limited understanding of aerosol science and the paucity of studies on airborne transmission, which were exacerbated by the lack of instruments for accurately measuring airborne microorganisms.

We now have the tools necessary to effectively manage airborne microbes thanks to the development of autonomous and affordable air quality biosensors. However, there are still a lot of unknowns about indoor microbial transmission and risk. We must create better tools to monitor the prevalence and presence of airborne pathogens and allergens to close these gaps.

The inclusion of microbiology in the expansion of guidelines and standards is one factor promoting IAQ improvement. To address airborne pathogens, scientists urged the WHO to expand IAQ guidelines in 2021. The United States made a significant advancement in 2022 when it announced the Clean Air in Buildings Pledge, which was accompanied by commitments like tax breaks and funding for research. A national IAQ pathogen mitigation standard will be developed with the support of ASHRAE within six months.

These coordinated efforts highlight a growing understanding that, despite being invisible, clean and safe indoor air is essential for both public health and biosecurity as well as a robust economy. A best practice guide was recently released by the US Environmental Protection Agency to assist facility managers in improving IAQ. Recommendations include enhancing ventilation, replacing air filters, and adjusting building systems.

Future developments in environmental sensor platforms for smart buildings are opening the door to real-time air quality monitoring. Air biosensors will soon be integrated into these platforms, revolutionizing how we evaluate building performance, confirm the efficacy of air cleaners, and improve early public health warning systems.

The possibilities are endless as we continue on our journey towards cleaner indoor air and being optimistic about the fascinating developments that are coming! #IAQ #CleanAir #IndoorHealth #Sustainability