EPA awards $8 million in funding to universities studying indoor air quality

The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) announced on Tuesday that it has donated nearly $8 million in funding to nine institutions for research on indoor air quality, including Washington State University, University of Oregon and Portland State University in the Pacific Northwest.

Each of the universities will receive almost $1 million for their projects, which will help the public, industries and lawmakers better understand how indoor air quality, climate change and human health are related.

Washington State University will employ a Smart Home indoor air quality database to study the links between climate change, air quality, energy consumption, ventilation rates, occupant behaviour and indoor pollution. The University of Oregon research will centre around the effects of modifying indoor microorganisms, including seasonal air, household building operation attitudes and weatherization. At Portland State University, the funding will be used to create a model of current and future health risks for an older population, considering urban ozone and extreme heat amongst other factors.

"This research will help us better understand the effects of climate change on indoor air quality," EPA Office of Research and Development Deputy Assistant Administrator for Research Tom Burke said. "Gaining a better understanding of the interaction between air quality, climate, and energy in an indoor environment will help guide the design of buildings and provide knowledge to respond effectively to changes in indoor air quality that will better protect human health."