Clean indoor air

Why indoor air quality is important

Australians spend 80-90% of their time indoors. The quality of the air we breathe outdoors is regulated, but the quality of indoor air is not.

There are many well-recognised indoor air hazards, including air pollution and airborne diseases. Indoor air quality has significant impacts on health, cognitive function, and productivity.

The young, the elderly, those with existing health conditions and those in marginalised communities suffer most from poor indoor air quality. This makes clean indoor air a fundamental requirement for an inclusive society.

Workplaces have an obligation to provide a safe workplace for employees. Air quality is not excluded from occupational health and safety regulations.

In 2024, Burnet welcomed the Victorian Government's $9.87m investment in the Pathway to Clean Indoor Air project through the Community Support Fund.

The project will run for 2 years and aims to reduce the health, social, and economic impacts of indoor airborne infections and hazards. Air quality monitoring and low-cost solutions, including ventilation and air cleaning (filtration) interventions, will be tested in schools, workplaces, and public spaces.

The innovative project, led by Burnet, brings together a consortium of experts from various institutions to co-design and deliver the program of work, in partnership with the Victorian Government. Consortium partners include the University of Melbourne, Monash University, Training Centre for Advanced Building Systems Against Airborne Infection Transmission (THRIVE) and Amazon Web Services (AWS).

Indoor air hazards

Indoor air hazards include pollution and airborne pathogens.

Pollution

Indoor pollution includes:

• smoke from bushfires or wood heaters
• vehicle emissions
• pollens and allergens
• gas from stoves
• chemicals from paint, furniture and cleaning products.

Even though most air pollution originates outdoors, being inside doesn’t protect us. Pollutants move freely through windows, doors and vents. Most of our exposure to outdoor air pollution happens when we are indoors.

PM2.5 particulate pollution

PM2.5 is the scientific name for tiny airborne particles that can penetrate deep into the lungs and bloodstream. Sources of PM2.5 include smoke from fires and wood burners, vehicle exhaust and industry emissions. According to a 2024 study published in the British Medical Journal there is no safe level of exposure to PM2.5. Even minimal exposure causes an increase in hospital admission for cardiovascular disease.

Airborne pathogens

Airborne pathogens, including airborne viruses and bacteria, can easily transmit from one person to another in buildings that are poorly ventilated, with no air purification or disinfection systems. This has a major impact during pandemics.

Climate change and indoor air quality

Climate change is increasing the frequency of events that impact indoor air quality, such as:

• bushfires, which cause smoke pollution
• floods, which cause dampness and mould.

Benefits of clean indoor air

Clean indoor air can improve people’s health and cognitive function. It can also prepare us for future pandemics.

Schools can benefit from improved academic achievement, an inclusive environment for students with asthma, and lower absenteeism due to illness.

Businesses can benefit from improved productivity and staff taking fewer sick days.

Health

Our short-term and long-term health is directly impacted by the air we breathe. Poor air quality can also exacerbate pre-existing diseases and interfere with the treatment of other conditions, including cancer.

Recent studies have found an association between poor air quality and the 10 leading causes of death in Australia in 2022:

• coronary heart disease
• dementia, including Alzheimer’s
• COVID-19  
• cerebrovascular diseases  
• lung cancer
• chronic lower respiratory diseases
• diabetes
• bowel cancer
• blood and lymph cancers
• urinary diseases.

Cognitive function

A 2014 study by Harvard, Syracuse and SUNY Upstate Universities found that people in buildings with better air quality experienced improved mental abilities. On average, cognitive function test scores doubled in buildings with enhanced ventilation and low levels of exposure to dangerous chemicals commonly found in paints, glues, cleaning products and printers.

A 2018 study of commercial airline pilots flying in simulators found that better air quality resulted in significantly better advanced manoeuvres.

Productivity

A range of studies have investigated the impact of improved ventilation and indoor air quality on productivity in the workplace. They have estimated improvements in productivity of between 1% and 4%.

Pandemic preparedness

Improving indoor air quality is essential to preparing for future pandemics. Indoor air quality systems would allow schools, workplaces, and public buildings to remain open and be regarded as safe spaces during pandemic conditions.

Action towards clean indoor air

We need to take a comprehensive public policy approach to introduce indoor air quality standards to new buildings and renovations as well as embarking on a ‘retrofit program’ to improve indoor air quality in older buildings.

Many other nations have already taken actions to improve indoor air quality, including implementing regulations, standards or guidelines for building design and operations.

In Australia, the Victorian Government’s Pathway to Clean Indoor Air in Victoria is an example of a program aiming to build evidence and knowledge to help guide policy change.

There are key actions that will accelerate the pace of change:

Set indoor air quality standards

Recommendations for indoor air quality standards based on expert consensus were published in Science by Morawska et al in March 2024. The experts proposed standards for PM2.5, carbon dioxide, carbon monoxide and ventilation rate, which could serve as a global blueprint. Once standards are legislated, leaders will have targets to drive action.

Educate the community

A clean indoor air campaign would increase public awareness of the importance of clean indoor air. An informed public should understand simple measures of indoor air quality and know what actions to take to improve it.

Monitor and display indoor air quality data

CO2 monitors should be installed in shared indoor spaces. This should start with high priority settings, such as hospitals, schools, childcare centres, aged care facilities, disability services, public transport, workplaces, and retail precincts. Employees, consumers, school children and their families should be informed about the quality of the air in these settings and know the actions they can take to improve indoor air quality.

Implement engineering solutions

Refreshing the air or purifying air can be achieved using well established techniques and technologies, including:

• Natural ventilation, such as opening windows and doors and modifying window configuration to improve air flow.
• Mechanical ventilation: airflow controlled by Heating, Ventilation and Air Conditioning (HVAC) systems.
• Air purifiers that clean the air by passing it through several filters that can remove dust, viruses, bacteria, smoke particles and dangerous gases.
• Germicidal ultraviolet light (GUV), which inactivates bacteria and viruses in the air. Burnet Institute is investigating how effective GUV is for disinfecting air and reducing COVID-19 infection in Victorian residential aged care facilities.

Clean indoor air around the world

Governments, schools and businesses around the world are recognising the benefits of clean indoor air and investing in a range of programs.

South Korea

South Korea was the first country in the world to introduce an Indoor Air Quality Control Act in 2005. Recent amendments were adopted in 2023.

Belgium

In 2022, the Belgian government introduced a new legal framework to improve indoor air quality in all enclosed areas accessible to the public. This includes a CO2 monitor display being mandatory in all public indoor spaces.

Netherlands

Legislation governing ventilation in schools and workplaces came into force in 2023, obliging employers to guarantee air quality and, if necessary, take measures to improve it.

USA

In July 2024, the Indoor Air Quality and Healthy Schools Act was introduced to US congress. The bipartisan legislation would require the US Environmental Protection Authority to:

• establish a list of significant indoor contaminants
• develop health-based, voluntary guidelines to reduce exposure risks
• develop or recognise voluntary indoor air certifications for buildings
• establish a national assessment of IAQ in schools and childcare facilities
• support development of technical assistance, guidelines and best practices to improve IAQ in these facilities.

Canada

A Bill – Improving Air Quality for Our Children Act, 2023 – is currently being considered by the Legislative Assembly of Ontario. The Bill calls for indoor air quality measurements, standards, and action plans to be implemented by publicly funded schools and childcare providers.

Amazon

In 2023, Amazon Web Services rolled out a real-time air quality monitoring network in its offices around the world. They aim to increase worker productivity and meet occupational health and safety requirements.

JP Morgan Chase

JP Morgan Chase, the largest bank in the US, is building its new global headquarters on Park Avenue in New York, to be opened in 2025. The 60-storey skyscraper will have net zero operational emissions and indoor air quality that ‘exceeds the highest standards in sustainability, health, and wellness’.

Schools

In the United States in 2021, Boston Public Schools commenced a world-leading indoor air quality program, partnering with Boston University. This involved installing air quality monitors and air purifiers in all classrooms, hallways and nurses’ stations in 120 schools. A public dashboard displays real time data, engaging the whole school community.

Many US states, including Illinois, California, Colorado, Connecticut, New York and New Mexico have also implemented indoor air quality measures in public schools as have schools in Germany, Latvia and Serbia. In 2023, the UK launched the SAMHE project (Schools’ Air quality Monitoring for Health and Education), placing indoor air quality monitors into over 1000 schools.