ShareIndoor air pollution as a health risk
On September 7, industry associations issued an urgent statement to European Union institutions to highlight the importance of indoor air quality in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Press release of AREA, EHPA, EPEE, eu.bac, EVIA, GCP Europe and Lighting Europe issued on September 7:
According to the statement, proper use of air quality systems will help reduce transmission of COVID -19 in office spaces, according to research. However, the European Union does not currently recognise indoor air pollution as a risk to human health in the way it does outdoor pollution.
Leading European indoor Environmental Quality associations have issued a statement to assert the dangers of indoor air pollution and outline proposals that would clean up indoor air.
Proper mechanical ventilation can reduce half the virus concentration by a factor of 10, and alternatives include window airing, air treatment technologies and Building Automation and Control Systems.
But the lack of a coherent EU legislative framework for addressing indoor air pollution makes the upcoming revision of EU policies a key opportunity to support reduced air transmission of COVID -19.
The statement proposes adding quality standards and policies to a range of relevant directives, frameworks, such as the Energy Performance of Buildings Directive, the Occupational Safety and Health Strategic Framework, and public procurement practices.
The statement also speaks to the opportunity presented by the Conference on the Future of Europe, saying: “The Conference on the Future of Europe must give serious consideration to granting the EU shared competence over health policy to facilitate the integration of health more strongly as a legal basis across all EU policy areas covering the built environment.”
Read the fulll statement here.