Peak Exposure Focused Assessment Method for Sustainable Indoor Air Quality Management

Particulate matter (PM) is one of the most harmful pollutants in the indoor air, causing over two million deaths annually. Despite these health risks, current research often misrepresents exposure and neglects the role of peak concentrations, thereby underestimating its health impacts. This research addresses these gaps by developing a population-scale, time-resolved indoor PM exposure model for residential buildings. The parametric, multi-zone, and archetype-based model enables accurate large-scale exposure representation. These exposure estimates are then integrated into a burden of disease assessment using the Disability-Adjusted Life Years (DALY) metric. By comparing health impacts across different peak impact scenarios, this approach enhances the evaluation and optimization of indoor air quality (IAQ) strategies across European residential environments. Furthermore, the research will also consider the impact of these strategies on energy use. By focusing on peak concentrations and improving exposure representation, this research contributes to the paradigm shift towards health-based assessments in the build environment and legislation. It aims to advance a holistic, health-centred approach to IAQ system assessments across diverse residential environments, thereby facilitating energy-efficient management of healthy IAQ.

Keywords:Particulate matter, Indoor air quality, Public health

Disciplines:Architectural sciences and technology, Building physics, Sustainable building, Modelling and simulation