Air Quality Matters

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Coming up, this week,

Holidays (Air con and Olympics)
A New Ventilation and Air Quality Course
Podcast review
Looking ahead


Have you ever wondered if your holiday habits are harming the environment? I share my experiences from a recent family trip to Spain, where I grappled with the balance between air conditioning and fresh air in the heat. The Paris Olympics and more.

The study of lifetime environmental exposures and their impact on health. We delve into the complexities of how these exposures interact with genetics, emphasizing the crucial importance of exposomics. 

Additionally, listen in on my discussions with Ian Walker and Brad Prezant about the effectiveness of ventilation systems in energy-efficient homes. Are recirculating cooker hoods a better option for passive houses, or should we stick to external ones? 

Finally, don't miss the exciting announcement of upcoming events like the launch of Healthy Homes with Jenny Danson and Jade Lewis, promising more valuable insights into creating healthier living spaces.

https://passiv.de/downloads/05_extractor_hoods_guideline.pdf

https://www.treehugger.com/passive-house-institutes-look-kitchen-fans-less-exhaustive-4857372

http://www.healthyhomeshub.uk/

https://aivc2024conference.org/

https://iaqm.co.uk/event/rtca24/

Support the show

Check out the Air Quality Matters website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent Farmwood Aereco Aico Ultra Protect Zehnder Group

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces & InBiot

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.

Send us a text

A conversation with Brad Prezant

Although I have followed Brad for years, I finally got to meet him last year in Copenhagen, and finally, we managed to find some time to get him on the podcast. I've been keen to bring the occupational health and hygiene lens to our discussions, and what a great guest to talk about the subject.

We talk about the voice of this discipline in indoor air quality, building assessments, and even meth labs! I think you will enjoy the discussion.

He is a public health and occupational health scientist with an epidemiology and public health perspective.

He works primarily as a consultant, with additional experience as a University-based research scientist. He has assessed indoor air quality and ventilation, as well as mould and moisture, in airports, hospitals, public buildings, and schools since 1979.

He is one of 50 people worldwide with the designation Certified Industrial Hygienist (CIH), with a sub-specialty in Indoor Air Quality.

An author of numerous professional documents published by professional societies addressing indoor mould, including a co-author of the Bioaerosols chapter in Aerosols Handbook: Measurement, Dosimetry, and Health Effects, and editor of the first edition of Recognition, Evaluation, & Control of Indoor Mold, published by the AIHA. 

He is the author of AIRAH’s Guidance Document for Schools: COVID-19 Ventilation Optimisation and was a contributor to the Harvard School of Public Health document on airborne transmission of COVID-19 in airports. He is a frequent speaker on topics related to indoor air quality, bushfire smoke, indoor moisture and mould, asbestos, methamphetamine labs, and ventilation.

Brad Prezant - LinkedIn
Prezant Environmental 

Support the show

Check out the Air Quality Matters website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent Farmwood Aereco Aico Ultra Protect Zehnder Group

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces & InBiot

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.

Send us a text

A conversation with Corrine Mandine

I couldn't think of a better person to talk to about epidemiology and its place in the air quality discussion.

We discussed this fascinating area of science, and if you have been following the podcast, you know we have had several conversations about the potential of an air quality observatory in the UK, and Corrine has direct experience with just this.

She has been working on human exposure to chemical substances and physical agents and the related health effects, first at INERIS (French national institute for industrial environment and risks) for 8 years, and then at CSTB (French scientific and technical center for building) for 13 years.

At CSTB, she coordinated the French Indoor Air Quality Observatory, a public research program created in 2001 to carry out nationwide surveys on air quality in buildings.

In 2022, she joined the French Institute for Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety (IRSN), where she leads the radiation epidemiology group. This group conducts research on human health effects of occupational, medical or environmental exposure to low doses of ionizing radiation through large epidemiological studies.

She has been involved in various European and international projects and expert committees, including at the World Health Organization and the European Joint Research Center. She is currently chairing the expert committee dedicated to outdoor and indoor air quality at the French Agency for
Food, Environmental and Occupational Health and Safety (Anses).

She was president of the International Society for Indoor Air Quality and Climate (ISIAQ) from 2020 to 2022. In 2022, she coedited the Handbook of Indoor Air Quality (Springer).

Corrine Mandin - LinkedIn
IRSN
Indoor Air Quality Observatory 

Support the show

Check out the Air Quality Matters website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent Farmwood Aereco Aico Ultra Protect Zehnder Group

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces & InBiot

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.

Send us a text

A conversation with Iain Walker

Joining me from California the leader of the Residential Buildings team at Lawrence Berkley National Labs and ASHRAE Fellow Iain Walker. Leader and developer on standards and technical committees for ASHRAE, ASTM, RESNET, IEC, the IEA and other national and international organisations.

Board member of IEA Annex 5 Air Infiltration and Ventilation Center for the US. And much besides.

He also happens to be one of the reasons I started this podcast. He is one of my favourite people to talk to in this industry. You come away energised, usually a little wiser, and almost always having spent a couple of hours talking about something completely different from what you expected. However, importantly, you wish more people could have had a chance to listen.

And that was one of the triggers for this, the Air Quality Matters Podcast.

We discussed the intersection of sustainability and air quality, got massively diverted onto cooker hoods and probably need to do a part two at some point.

Iain Walker - LinkedIn
Iain Walker - LBNL

Support the show

Check out the Air Quality Matters website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent Farmwood Aereco Aico Ultra Protect Zehnder Group

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces & InBiot

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.

Send us a text

A conversation with Iyad Al-Attar

We discussed the intersection of sustainable urban development and air quality and how zooming out from the building level brings a different perspective on air quality.

As you might expect, we discuss the state-of-the-art and performance gaps in the filter sector.

It was an expansive and fascinating conversation with a prolific figure in air quality and filtration in the industry.

Iyad is a mechanical engineer, air quality consultant, and a visiting academic fellow at the School of Aerospace, Transport, and Manufacturing at Cranfield University.

He is the strategic director, instructor, and advisory board member of the
Waterloo Filtration Institute.

In 2020, Eurovent Middle East appointed Dr. Al-Attar as the first associated consultant for air filtration and most recently he became the Indoor Air Quality (IAQ) patron for EUROVENT.

A strong advocate for global government to play a significant role in the governance of embedding air quality monitoring and enhancement as a pillar of the built environment.

He is reading for an MSc in sustainable urban development for air quality inclusion at the University of Oxford, where his research addresses the importance of air quality inclusion as a rudiment of sustainable urban development.

Iyad Al-Attar LinkedIn
Waterloo Filtration Institute
Eurovent
Oxford University

Support the show

Check out the Air Quality Matters website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent Farmwood Aereco Aico Ultra Protect Zehnder Group

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces & InBiot

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.

Send us a text

A Conversation with Douglas Booker

Join us in this thought-provoking episode of the Air Quality Matters podcast, where we uncover the hidden links between indoor air quality and environmental justice with, Douglas Booker.

A geographer, entrepreneur, and lecturer at the University of Leeds, Douglas dives deep into the unequal distribution of indoor air pollution and the urgent need for action despite gaps in our data.

From discussing socioeconomic factors to the pivotal role of community involvement in research, Douglas offers a perspective on how environmental justice issues ripple across air Quality.

Ever wondered why lower socioeconomic groups bear the brunt of poor indoor air quality? This episode tackles the complex web of procedural justice, highlighting disparities in indoor environments, especially in the UK.

Douglas shares insights from initiatives like Born in Bradford, which combine air quality data with health outcomes to drive meaningful interventions. We emphasize the importance of informed consent, improved product labelling, and the critical need for affected communities to have a say in policy-making, ensuring that any solution is both just and practical.

Douglas Booker LinkedIn
Douglas Booker Leeds
NAQTS 
Clean Air Champions UK
Born In Bradford

Support the show

Check out the Air Quality Matters website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent Farmwood Aereco Aico Ultra Protect Zehnder Group

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces & InBiot

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.

Send us a text

A conversation with Sotirios Papathanasiou

This week, I spoke with one of the leading voices on air quality over the last half-decade.

Sotirios has produced one of the must-read blogs over the last half-decade and published books on air quality for both adults and children. I have been following him for years, so we finally got to sit down and record this long-overdue conversation.

We discussed how the view of air quality has changed and continues to change, and as a communicator in space, his perspective on this is fascinating.

For several years, he has worked with a sensor manufacturer, and we discuss this middle tier of sensors that sit above low-cost sensors, their value in the market, and how this technology is developing, in particular, Particle Matter!

Change is on the horizon for Sitirious, so this is a great opportunity to take stock of the last few years and what might be next.

Support the show

Check out the Air Quality Matters website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent Farmwood Aereco Aico Ultra Protect Zehnder Group

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces & InBiot

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.

Send us a text (https://www.buzzsprout.com/twilio/text_messages/2264976/open_sms)

Have you ever wondered how to make complex air quality systems understandable for everyone, especially those most vulnerable? Join me as I reflect on two major milestones: 20 rewarding years in Ireland and a first year of my consultancy. 

This episode is a personal journey through the pillars of my work—consultancy, communication, and diverse projects like teaching and course development. Plus, I share some updates about the podcast's successful effort over the past six months to bring essential conversations about air quality and the built environment to a wider audience. And some exciting news on some partnerships for the next 6.

Communicating technical information to homeowners who may not fully grasp the systems being installed can be quite a challenge. 

That’s why we’re tackling the topic of vulnerability in ventilation communication head-on. This episode shines a spotlight on the ethical responsibility of companies to make their systems user-friendly and accessible. We'll discuss the necessity of clear communication, comprehensive support, and continual feedback to ensure everyone's air quality improves, regardless of their background. 

We turn to the Healthy Buildings Barometer 2024 , which offers critical insights into European homes and their impact on residents' health—and loads more besides.

https://www.airqualitymatters.net/

https://www.bpie.eu/publication/healthy-buildings-barometer-2024-how-to-deliver-healthy-sustainable-and-resilient-buildings-for-people/

https://aivc2024conference.org/

Support the show (https://www.buymeacoffee.com/Airqualitymatters)

Check out the Air Quality Matters (https://www.airqualitymatters.net/podcast) website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel (https://www.youtube.com/@airqualitymatters-SimonJones/featured)

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent (https://www.eurovent.eu/) Farmwood (https://farmwood.co.uk/) Aereco (https://www.aereco.co.uk/) Aico (https://www.aico.co.uk/) Ultra Protect (https://www.ultra-protect.co.uk/air-quality-matters) Zehnder Group (https://www.zehndergroup.com/?utm_source=SoMe&utm_medium=link&utm_campaign=AQM_p%20odcast)

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces (https://www.safetraces.com/) & InBiot (https://en.inbiot.es/?utm_source=airqualitymatters&utm_medium=podcast)

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.

Send us a text

What would you say to an incoming UK Government about air quality?

Can poor indoor air quality make us sick? Absolutely, and it’s costing the UK billions.

In this episode of Air Quality Matters, join me alongside a distinguished panel—Baroness Natalie Bennett, Dr. Douglas Booker, Matt Towner, and Professor Sarah West, as we untangle the web of public health issues tied to the air we breathe indoors. With political winds shifting, our conversation is timely and essential, revealing how better ventilation and stricter regulations could revolutionize how we live and work.

The episode underscores the essential role of government intervention and the power of cross-party collaboration in tackling this crisis. Professor Sarah West emphasizes the urgency of holding landlords accountable for ensuring adequate ventilation, especially for vulnerable populations. Matt Towner makes a compelling case for systemic solutions, shifting the burden away from individuals and towards a holistic approach. Our dialogue concludes with an urgent call for clear governmental leadership and a strategic roadmap to enhance indoor air quality nationwide.

From international examples like Japan's innovative use of CO2 monitors to Germany and Belgium's robust public awareness campaigns, we explore actionable strategies that the UK could adopt. The episode also delves into the benefits of systematic air quality monitoring, the role of environmental sensors, and the critical need for providing actionable guidance along with tools.

Highlighting initiatives such as the Welsh government's Air Quality Act, we discuss how statutory targets can drive accountability and progress.

Baroness Natalie Bennet - Linkedin
Douglas Booker - Linkedin
Sarah West - Linkedin
Matt Towner - Linkedin

Gaelan Komen - Linkedin
Policy Connect 

Support the show

Check out the Air Quality Matters website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent Farmwood Aereco Aico Ultra Protect Zehnder Group

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces & InBiot

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.

Send us a text

Have you ever wondered how to make complex air quality systems understandable for everyone, especially those most vulnerable? Join me as I reflect on two major milestones: 20 rewarding years in Ireland and a first year of my consultancy. 

This episode is a personal journey through the pillars of my work—consultancy, communication, and diverse projects like teaching and course development. Plus, I share some updates about the podcast's successful effort over the past six months to bring essential conversations about air quality and the built environment to a wider audience. And some exciting news on some partnerships for the next 6.

Communicating technical information to homeowners who may not fully grasp the systems being installed can be quite a challenge. 

That’s why we’re tackling the topic of vulnerability in ventilation communication head-on. This episode shines a spotlight on the ethical responsibility of companies to make their systems user-friendly and accessible. We'll discuss the necessity of clear communication, comprehensive support, and continual feedback to ensure everyone's air quality improves, regardless of their background. 

We turn to the Healthy Buildings Barometer 2024 , which offers critical insights into European homes and their impact on residents' health—and loads more besides.

https://www.airqualitymatters.net/

https://www.bpie.eu/publication/healthy-buildings-barometer-2024-how-to-deliver-healthy-sustainable-and-resilient-buildings-for-people/

https://aivc2024conference.org/

Support the show

Check out the Air Quality Matters website for more information, updates and more. And the YouTube Channel

The Air Quality Matters Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

Eurovent Farmwood Aereco Aico Ultra Protect Zehnder Group

The One Take Podcast is brought to you in partnership with.

SafeTraces & InBiot

All great companies that share the podcast's passion for better air quality in the built environment. Supporting them helps support the show.