M. European Parliament's Renewed Focus on Indoor Air Quality

In a significant Resolution of the European Parliament (A9-0037/2021), a renewed emphasis has been placed on the importance of IAQ. While the EU's framework for outdoor air quality policy is well-structured, the resolution acknowledges the fragmented nature of existing legislation covering IAQ. This recognition underlines the need for a more comprehensive European policy approach to air pollution, ensuring coherency between ambient air quality, health and safety at workplaces, chemical regulations, and building legislations, with the goal of safeguarding the well-being of workers and the general public from potentially hazardous substances present in indoor environments.

The European Parliament's resolution also sheds light on the evident knowledge and policy gaps in IAQ. Despite the reduction in emissions of particulate matter (PM10), data from the European Environment Agency reveals that a considerable segment of the urban population across Europe remains exposed to air pollution levels exceeding the World Health Organisation guideline values. This exposure is not limited to outdoor pollutants, as the resolution acknowledges the potential consequences of indoor air pollution, urging the European Commission to explore legislative remedies for all relevant sources of indoor air pollution.

Furthermore, the resolution highlights the socio-economic implications of this pollution, emphasising that marginalised socio-economic groups often experience heightened exposure due to proximity to pollution sources both outdoors, such as traffic and industrial areas, and indoors, like inefficient heating methods. In addressing these challenges, the resolution urges the European Commission to consider new indicators for air quality indices, reflecting factors such as population density around monitoring sites, to comprehensively assess the exposure of the general population to pollutants.

As part of its forward-looking recommendations, the European Parliament calls for the Commission to independently regulate IAQ or integrate it within sustainable building legislation, particularly focusing on confined spaces in public and commercial real estate. This move underscores the European Parliament's recognition of the need for comprehensive and tailored policies to address the diverse sources and implications of indoor air pollution, while aligning IAQ efforts with broader environmental and public health goals.