Date and Time
The PHRC welcomes Brett C. Singer, staff scientist, head of Sustainable Energy and Environmental Systems and lead of the Indoor Environment Group at the Lawrence Berkeley National Laboratory, as the 2020 Hankin Distinguished Lecturer. His lecture is entitled Advances, Challenges, and Opportunities for Indoor Air Quality in U.S. Homes.
The COVID-19 pandemic has accelerated a decades-long process of Americans becoming more aware of indoor air quality (IAQ) as a health driver in their homes. And while appreciation for the roles of design, construction quality, mechanical equipment performance and durability varies, there appears to be wide appreciation that occupant actions — such as smoking and use of products containing toxic chemicals — can degrade IAQ. There is more awareness that outdoor air pollution impacts IAQ, especially during wildfires; but recognition of mundane sources like natural gas burners, cooking, candles and hobbies is still developing.
Over the same period, researchers have documented the importance of housing disparities to community health and IAQ has improved in many homes due to lower indoor emissions, decreases in outdoor photochemical air pollution, advances in building and equipment technologies and codes and standards. Despite this progress, we continue to build homes with substantial deficiencies for controlling IAQ. And many existing homes have severe and persistent IAQ hazards.