Greer Hamilton
Username
Greer Hamilton
Proposer First Name
Neelakshi
Proposer Email
neelakshi.hudda@tufts.edu
Proposer Last Name
Hudda
Proposer Company/Organization
Tufts University
Proposer Phone
(617) 627-3522

Boston 2022 Areas of Focus

Proposer Job Title
Research Assistant Professor
Proposer Additional Info
This session is being jointly proposed by Dr. Neelakshi Hudda (Tufts University, Research Assistant Professor, neelakshi.hudda@tufts.edu, 617-627-3522) and Dr. John L. Durant (Tufts University, Professor, john.durant@tufts.edu, 617-627-5489). Neelakshi Hudda and John Durant are air pollution researchers in the Department of Civil and Environmental Engineering at Tufts. Together they have over 30 years of experience in making air pollution measurements and developing air quality models in support of public health investigations and mitigation studies. Dr. Hudda has expertise in in-vehicle exposure modeling, aviation pollution characterization, and mobile monitoring; Dr. Durant has expertise in chemical analysis of airborne particles, designing air pollution monitoring campaigns, and air quality modeling. They both have expertise in conducting studies of air pollution in indoor air and are currently involved in several studies of infiltration of traffic-related air pollution in residential buildings near busy roadways in the Boston area.
Proposed Session Description
Near-highway corridors are among the most heavily polluted spaces in urban areas. Housing developments, particularly affordable multi-family housing, are increasingly being sited adjacent to highways and busy roadways in cities. Ventilation-system design and occupant behavior both significantly impact indoor air quality and consequently the health of occupants. In this session we will summarize the most recent scientific evidence for near-highway air pollution intrusion into indoor spaces and its health impacts, and present results from recent pollution monitoring in LEED-certified, near-highway multi-family housing projects in Massachusetts. We will engage participants in developing a guidance document to guide the design and implementation of best practices that will improve the health and comfort of residents living in near-highway housing.
Diversity and Inclusiveness
Our research team that will speak and chair the session is diverse in terms of gender, race, ethnicity and career stage. Further, our session aims to present a diverse set of viewpoints from various stakeholders on the structured discussion. Finally, social justice and environmental equity are core to the community engaged research project from which we will present data and the issue of siting affordable housing near highways.
Learning Objectives
1) Describe how near-highway pollution impacts indoor air quality (IAQ) and health of residents in near-highway housing.
2) Describe health benefits of installing and maintaining ventilation systems that improve indoor air quality.
3) Explain the difference between the IAQ impacts of whole building ventilation strategies versus individual-level behaviors.
4) Engage in discussions to identify the opportunities and challenges for implementing codes and standards aimed at improving IAQ for residential buildings.
Has this session been presented before?
Yes
When and Where?
Preliminary results from the research study were shared at the 2021 International Society of Exposure Science (ISES) annual conference; however, the audience at the conference and the anticipated audience at NESEA are quite different. ISES conference attendees tend to be mostly academics and researchers involved in exposure science and assessment. In contrast, at NESEA we anticipate a much more diverse audience including policy makers, IAQ practitioners, HVAC designers and installers, and public advocates.
Session Format
Presentation followed by facilitated discussion or breakout groups
Session Format Details
In the first 10 minutes we will summarize scientific evidence for indoor air quality impacts and health effects, and present data from our on-going titled Sustainable Air Quality in Affordable Housing (SAQIAH). This will be followed by 25 minutes of structured panel discussion and during the last 25 minutes the audience will be invited to join the discussion. We will present a succinct summary of the state-of-the-science regarding what is known about health effects of indoor pollutants of outdoor origin. We will show detailed data on air quality monitoring we recently collected in three near-highway affordable housing buildings and in over 15 units within those building that have different ventilation systems. Indoor air quality and comfort perception survey data collected in over 50 affordable units in these buildings will also be presented. This data will be shared with the aim of stimulating a discussion with panelists and audience members regarding the development of a guidance document for optimizing ventilation in buildings that considers the health benefits and industry best practices related to indoor air quality management. We will pose the following or similar questions to the panelists and also have an open discussion among the attendees: • How can the awareness of the health implications of living in polluted near-highway housing be increased among all stakeholders? • What mitigation steps need to be taken to address the matter and are the current building codes and practices sufficiently protective of human health? • What guidance do practitioners (developers, designers, builders) need to ensure that health is factored into building design? What is the role that building managers can play? • How can we engage residents to experience the full health protective benefit of ventilation systems?
Recommended Length
60-minute session
90-minute session

Strongest Content Connection - Boston 2022

Comments about your speaker roster
Two members of our research team, Dr. Hudda (Tufts University) and Ms. Greer Hamilton (Boston University), will present data from our study and summarize the broader context of our work and its relevance to the larger body of knowledge on the health effects of traffic-related air pollution. We plan to invite four panelists including a representative from the Massachusetts Board of Building Regulations and Standards, an affordable housing developer, an HVAC designer, and a community housing advocate. We have names in mind for panelists (and can provide details) but we equally welcome input and suggestions from NESEA on possible panelists.
Anything else you'd like to tell us about your session proposal?
The proposers welcome feedback from NESEA on how to tailor this session to be a success at the conference.
Reviewer 1
Iworsky, Heather
Reviewer 2
Rosenbaum, Marc
Curator
Rosenbaum, Marc
Proposal #
176
Session #
201
Committee Decision
Accepted

Presenters

Full Description
In this session attendees will consider the following questions: (1) are current building codes sufficiently protective of health; (2) how can ventilation systems in multi-family housing near busy urban roadways be better designed to reduce indoor exposures to pollution generated outdoors and indoors; and (3) how can resident’s knowledge of proper operation and maintenance of ventilation systems paired with individual-level behavioral interventions lead to improved health?