‘Influence of ventilation design on the prevalence of anti-microbial bacteria in homes’
Funder: AHRC (AMR Indoor and Built Environment Pump Priming call)
Funding amount: £250k
Principal Investigator: Prof Tim Sharpe, Professor in Environmental Architecture, Glasgow School of Art
Co-Investigators: Prof Cath Noakes, Professor in Environmental Engineering, Leeds University
Dr Louise Fletcher, Lecturer in Environmental Engineering, Leeds University
Dr Gráinne McGill, Researcher, MEARU, Glasgow School of Art
Project partner: Prof Stephanie Dancer, Consultant Microbiologist, NHS Lanarkshire
Summary:
This project will investigate how contemporary housing design affects the indoor microbiome, and what the effects of this might be on anti-microbial resistance. In the early 19th century, the way that houses were designed led to considerable improvements in public health, largely as a result of improvements in sanitation, but also access to fresh air and sunlight.
In recent years however, commercial interests and building legislation have largely dictated design issues. During this time the ways that buildings have been designed and constructed has changed significantly, mainly as a response to issues of climate change. Improved thermal performance and increasing airtightness has been able to isolate the building from the external environment. Whilst this will have benefits in terms of reduced carbon dioxide emissions, lower running costs and better comfort, it is becoming increasingly clear that levels of ventilation, and consequent standards of indoor air quality (IAQ) are reducing and there is emerging evidence that this might have negative health impacts.
Whilst there are a number of dimensions to IAQ, one area that has not been researched is the prevalence and nature of microorganisms. People – especially vulnerable groups such as the old and very young – spend a great deal of time in the home, and so any change to the indoor microbiome may significantly affect occupants’ health. There is a concern that isolation from the outside environment may reduce diversity and result in proliferation of harmful microorganisms, including those that have antimicrobial resistance.
This study aims to close this gap in knowledge by undertaking an assessment of contemporary housing to determine the ventilation characteristics and relate this to the presence and nature of microorganisms in the home, with the specific aim of identifying factors that would impact on the presence and proliferation of anti-microbial resistant microorganisms. It anticipated that this could lead to changes in the way that we design buildings, in particular ventilation provision, and the project will aim to address this through a programme of academic, industry and public dissemination.
AMR Dissemination event and HEMAC Network meeting
Tuesday 3rd December 2019, Glasgow School of Art
12:30 Registration and Networking Lunch
13:15 Introduction and background to the project (Tim Sharpe, MEARU, Glasgow School of Art)
AMR project dissemination
14:15 Discussion
14:40 Tea and Coffee break
Update from HEMAC Committee members
15:00 PHE IAQ guidelines for selected VOCs (Sani Dimitroulopoulou, Public Health England)
15:15 An emphasis on demand controlled ventilation and indoor air quality regulations (Jelle Laverge, Ghent University)
15:30 The inside story: Health effects of indoor air quality on children and young people (Tim Sharpe, MEARU, Glasgow School of Art)
15:45 Moisture: using vapour excess as a means of controlling ventilation in dwelling (Ian Mawditt, FourWalls)
16:15 HEMAC Follow-on funding: Overview of planned activities (Tim Sharpe, MEARU, Glasgow School of Art)
16:35 Final remarks
16:45 Close
HEMAC network 