While awareness about indoor air quality (IAQ) is growing — particularly in light of post-pandemic health concerns, Awaab’s Law to combat damp and mould in homes, and rising rates of respiratory illness — monitoring and fixing indoor air quality remains a significant scientific, technical, and social policy challenge. How do you capture the true, total picture of indoor environments in homes, classify the results, and apply interventions that work?

This webinar will explore the core challenges Leonard Carey came across in indoor air quality monitoring whilst working with Leeds City Council Public Health, University of Leeds, and Green Doctors — and start a discussion on how to collaborate to solve some of them.

Leonard will explore five pivotal issues where science, technology, and public health intersect:

1. Spatial and temporal resolution: how many sensors do you really need, and how often do you need to sample the air in different rooms?
2. Classification: challenges in identifying pollutant sources.
3. Data interpretation and health risk assessment: making sense of raw data — understanding what pollutant levels mean in real-world health terms, and how to communicate this to residents.
4. Mobilising change: who can make improvements, and how can funding be accessed? How do we ensure solutions are implemented long-term?
5. Cost and accessibility: exploring how more advanced monitoring can be used for the most vulnerable.

This session will appeal to:

• Built environment professionals (architects, engineers, facilities managers)
• Health and environmental journalists
• Policy makers and regulators
• General audiences concerned about home air quality

By addressing the technical and human dimensions of IAQ monitoring, this webinar will provide a timely and accessible entry point into one of the most pressing environmental health issues of our time.
 

About Leonard

Leonard Carey has a Masters in Computer Science, is the co-founder of Dampsmart and has spent over 30 years working in data analytics and mobile communications.  He has developed technology and data analytics in conjunction with universities that is helping councils, buildings managers, health advisors and charities find new ways to understand and tackle indoor air quality, heat, ventilation and insulation problems in homes. For the last 12 months, he has been working with Leeds City Council Adults and Health team, and Green Doctors, to classify PM2.5 and VOC readings in homes in order to deliver tailored health and energy advice to residents.

Banner image: © Bonsales