Have We Been Getting This All Wrong? Rethinking the Built Environment Through an Accessibility Lens
Have we been getting this all wrong when it comes to the built environment and air quality?
Perhaps to move the needle, we could be thinking about it in a much more focused way—a way that helps and supports parts of the community that need it most, with the consequence of helping everyone else at the same time.
This is the premise that guided my recent conversation with Plum (Victoria) Stone , founder of The Safer Air Project in Australia, and it's a perspective shift that has profound implications for how we approach indoor air quality.
Plum's journey to founding the Safer Air Project is deeply personal and professionally informed. With a background in health policy and public affairs, specialising in cancer and social inclusion in terminal illness policy, Plum has a unique understanding of the challenges faced by those with chronic health conditions. Her own experience with long COVID, coupled with her husband's immunocompromised state, brought the issue of indoor air quality into sharp focus. The pandemic highlighted the vulnerability of these individuals but also revealed a systemic gap in our approach to indoor air quality, particularly when viewed through the lens of accessibility.
As Plum explained, the pandemic exposed a critical flaw in how we think about the built environment. While much of the world moved on from COVID, a significant portion of the population, including those with chronic illnesses, remained vulnerable. The narrative shifted, but the risk didn't disappear. This wasn't just about direct exposure to vulnerable individuals; it was about the ripple effect on families and caregivers, further exacerbating the accessibility challenge. The built environment, specifically its failure to adequately address ventilation and infection risk, became the problem.
The conversation highlighted the staggering statistics: a significant percentage of the population lives with chronic health conditions, making them more susceptible to the negative impacts of poor indoor air quality. Plum's experience trying to get HEPA filters into her children's schools underscored the resistance and lack of understanding surrounding this issue. It wasn't until she framed it as an accessibility issue, comparing it to wheelchair access, that she finally saw progress. This "light bulb moment" revealed a powerful truth: the fight for better indoor air quality is, at its core, a fight for social justice and inclusion.
The Safer Air Project aims to bridge this gap by bringing the lived experience of those with chronic health conditions to the forefront of the policy debate. The project's report, launched in Australian Parliament, powerfully combines personal stories with expert analysis, making the case for mandated indoor air quality standards. It's not just about mitigating the risk of airborne infections like COVID; it's about creating spaces that are truly accessible to everyone, regardless of their health status.
Plum's vision extends beyond policy advocacy. The Safer Air Project is also working with patient organizations to empower them to advocate for safer air in their own communities. The "invisible inclusion program" seeks to partner with businesses, encouraging them to prioritize indoor air quality as part of their diversity, equity, and inclusion initiatives. The goal is to raise awareness and create a network of advocates who can drive change at the local level.
The conversation also explored the practical challenges of implementing widespread change. While standards like ASHRAE 241 provide a framework, the need for real-time performance standards is crucial. The Safer Air Project advocates for a "Swiss cheese" approach, combining ventilation, filtration, and UV technologies to create bespoke solutions for different settings. The focus is on achieving the lowest practicable level of risk, not just during pandemics, but at all times.
One of the most compelling points raised by Plum is the idea of shared responsibility. Just as we have laws against drunk driving to protect others, we need to recognize that indoor air quality is a shared concern. We all breathe the same air, and we all have a stake in making it safe. The Safer Air Project's work is a call to action, urging us to move beyond hygiene theater and embrace engineering solutions that prioritize the health and well-being of everyone.
This conversation with Plum Stone has fundamentally changed my perspective on indoor air quality. It's not just a technical problem to be solved; it's a social justice issue that demands our attention. By reframing the conversation around accessibility, we can unlock new avenues for change and create a built environment that truly serves everyone. The Safer Air Project's work is a powerful reminder that clean air is not a privilege; it's a fundamental human right.
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