The newly established Indoor Air Quality Research Centre
(IAQRC) brings together expertise from seven leading
research organisations. It aims to increase public awareness
of indoor pollutants, and related health outcomes, and to
advocate for improved indoor air quality in Aotearoa New
Zealand.
The IAQRC comprises a multi-disciplinary team
with specialist indoor air quality research expertise. It
includes researchers from BRANZ, GNS Science, Massey
University, NIWA, University of Otago, Victoria University
of Wellington, and the University of Canterbury.
The
mission of the IAQRC is to advance the understanding of
indoor air quality in New Zealand by co-ordinating research,
and sharing knowledge and resources. It also aims to provide
practical advice to the public to improve indoor air
quality, including mitigating the transmission of Covid-19
indoors.
“Covid-19 can spread on air currents but good
ventilation can quickly remove particles carrying it. Its
spread can be minimised by bringing as much fresh air as
possible indoors, as recommended by the IAQRC,” says IAQRC
member and BRANZ Principal Scientist Dr Manfred
Plagmann.
“Opening several windows on more than one
side of a room can create a cross-draft that will exchange
air in the room with fresh air in about 10 minutes,” he
says.
Over the last few months IAQRC members have
provided advice to Government organisations on how to reduce
the risk of Covid-19 transmission indoors and improve air
quality in public buildings.
There are many other
sources of in-home air pollution. Some of these, such as
wood-smoke from fires, stoves and log-burners, are more
obvious than others, such as chemical vapour from
furniture.
“To understand how we can reduce health
risks associated with poor indoor air quality, we first need
to understand what pollutants people are being exposed to in
their homes, schools and workplaces.
“We look forward
to providing more practical solutions to help New Zealanders
improve indoor air quality while advancing our collective
understanding of indoor air pollutant risks,” says Dr
Plagmann.
The IAQRC encourages researchers, businesses
and members of the public to visit its website, which is a
repository of the latest research and independent advice on
how to improve indoor air quality.
The IAQRC welcomes
interested researchers to join the centre. https://iaq.org.nz/
IAQRC
Members (in alphabetical order)
Dr Julie Bennett
(University of Otago), Dr Mikael Boulic (Massey University),
Dr Guy Coulson (NIWA), Dr Perry Davy (GNS Science),
Professor Mark Jermy (Canterbury University), Dr Mark Jones
(BRANZ), Dr Ian Longley (NIWA), Dr Bill Trompetter (GNS
Science), Professor Robyn Phipps (Victoria University of
Wellington), Dr Manfred Plagmann (BRANZ), Dr Caroline
Shorter (University of Otago), Anna Walsh
(BRANZ).
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