About

Vision

Our vision is to establish an interdisciplinary network that integrates researchers and stakeholders across natural environment, built environment, health and social science disciplines to strengthen evidence about the solutions for protecting health from air pollution at the indoor-outdoor interface as we transition to a low carbon future.

Our Strategic Priorities

(1) Convene an interdisciplinary, multi-sectoral network of leading researchers, diverse stakeholders and the public to improve understanding of key trade-offs and future challenges relating to the consequences of climate change and clean air policy measures on exposure to air pollutants in the connected indoor and outdoor environments

(2) Facilitate interactions between early career and established researchers across air pollution, building design, public health and behavioural science disciplines to help grow capability in transdisciplinary research in this domain

(3) Undertake targeted evidence synthesis, modelling studies and empirical research to guide network discussions

(4) Co-produce agenda setting papers for science and policy audiences outlining critical policy and research needs aligned to the clean air programme

(5) Disseminate the findings of the network to the wider research community, stakeholders and the public and promote impact on policy, practice and future research.

Key Research Objectives

The aim of HEICCAM is to provide underpinning research that can inform and influence policy and practice to safeguard human health. Following are the key research questions that the network will address:

(a) What are the likely trade-offs in exposures to air pollutants of indoor and outdoor origin (particles, second-hand tobacco smoke, NO2, radon, VOCs, O3) and associated health impacts arising from planned population-wide improvements in home energy efficiency measures?

(b) How will the balance of such exposures and health risks vary depending on plausible future air pollutant multi-sector emission and climate change scenarios?

(c) How do the patterns of risks and benefits differ for key vulnerable groups (children, elderly, those with illness) and what measures are needed to ensure their health is best protected?

(d) How can monitoring of indoor air be augmented to improve empirical data to underpin policy, including pre/post intervention assessments, detailed atmospheric chemistry and particle measurements, new sensor capabilities and new VOC source identification?

(e) What is the role of occupant behaviour change in relation to regulation of building design and refurbishment to promote associated air-pollution related health objectives and what are the likely enablers and barriers to development of successful plans and implementation?

(f) How should policy and regulation be developed to ensure home energy efficiency measures are implemented in ways that minimize adverse effects for health from air pollution and maximize the benefits both in relation to retro-fit programmes and new builds?

(g) What alignments are needed in climate change, air quality and housing policies to optimize health co-benefits and to reduce health inequalities arising from air pollution in the connected indoor and outdoor environments?