Air Quality Engineering

It is estimated that poor outdoor air quality is responsible for 50,000 deaths in the U.S. each year, and produces many other non-lethal, adverse health effects. Moreover, in industrialized countries, people spend much of their time indoors and are often exposed to poor indoor air quality. A wide variety of domestic and workplace activities produce airborne contaminants that deleteriously impact air quality. Emissions of substances from building materials into the indoor environment also can erode indoor air quality. There are a wide range of research needs with respect to improving indoor and outdoor air quality. In particular, emphasis should be placed on mitigating, controlling, reducing, and eliminating the environment/health-damaging airborne emissions from such sources as industrial processes and engines.