NSW Parliament has launched an inquiry into indoor air quality, looking at its impact on our health, productivity, work health and safety, and equity of access to public spaces.
The Chair of the inquiry, Dr Amanda Cohn MLC, said that indoor air is not regulated, unlike outdoor air, despite Australians spending about 90% of their time indoors.
"There are many spaces at risk of poor air quality due to lack of regulation, such as classrooms, offices, medical centres and public buildings, such as libraries and museums," Dr Cohn said.
"We would like to hear from groups and individuals who have insights into the impact of poor indoor air quality. We're interested in lived experience, expert evidence and organisational submissions."
According to a report released this month by the Australian Academy of Science, exposure to indoor air pollution affects respiratory, cardiovascular, reproductive and mental health.
"The quality of indoor air has a big impact on our health, including the spread of airborne illnesses like COVID-19, measles, whooping cough and influenza," said Dr Cohn.
"Research has linked poor indoor air quality to increased risk of cancer and cardiovascular disease. Poor air also exacerbates existing conditions, such as asthma, allergies and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease," Dr Cohn said.
"We're keen to learn about potential solutions to improve indoor air quality in a range of buildings including schools, health services and public buildings," Dr Cohn said.
