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Review
. 2017 Nov 25;14(12):1455.
doi: 10.3390/ijerph14121455.

Integrated Management of Residential Indoor Air Quality: A Call for Stakeholders in a Changing Climate

Marie-Eve Levasseur  1 , Patrick Poulin  2 , Céline Campagna  3 , Jean-Marc Leclerc  4
Affiliations
Review

Integrated Management of Residential Indoor Air Quality: A Call for Stakeholders in a Changing Climate

Marie-Eve Levasseur et al. Int J Environ Res Public Health. .

Abstract

A paradigm change in the management of environmental health issues has been observed in recent years: instead of managing specific risks individually, a holistic vision of environmental problems would assure sustainable solutions. However, concrete actions that could help translate these recommendations into interventions are lacking. This review presents the relevance of using an integrated indoor air quality management approach to ensure occupant health and comfort. At the nexus of three basic concepts (reducing contaminants at the source, improving ventilation, and, when relevant, purifying the indoor air), this approach can help maintain and improve indoor air quality and limit exposure to several contaminants. Its application is particularly relevant in a climate change context since the evolving outdoor conditions have to be taken into account during building construction and renovation. The measures presented through this approach target public health players, building managers, owners, occupants, and professionals involved in building design, construction, renovation, and maintenance. The findings of this review will help the various stakeholders initiate a strategic reflection on the importance of indoor air quality and climate change issues for existing and future buildings. Several new avenues and recommendations are presented to set the path for future research activities.

Keywords: adaptation; climate change; health; indoor air; indoor environment; public health.

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Conflict of interest statement

The authors declare no conflict of interest.

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