The Health Impacts of Building Materials on Air Quality and Public Health

The advancement of modern construction techniques has given rise to a unique set of challenges, particularly in relation to the health impacts of building materials. Interior air quality and general public health are notably influenced by the materials used in buildings. A significant current problem is the correlation between the development of fungus and respiratory diseases in inadequately cleaned or maintained buildings. The presence of volatile organic compounds (VOCs) emitted from these materials further complicates the situation, raising concerns over public health safety.

Recent studies have highlighted the detrimental health effects caused by poor indoor air quality, which includes the exacerbation of respiratory diseases linked to fungal growth. Empirical evidence supports the assertion that inadequate building maintenance contributes to the proliferation of harmful microorganisms, which can exacerbate these health conditions. While some efforts have been made to address the issue through improved maintenance protocols and building material innovations, gaps remain in understanding the long-term impacts on public health and effective solutions have yet to be widely adopted.

This Research Topic aims to evaluate the health impacts of various environmental factors stemming from building materials, with an emphasis on understanding their contribution to interior air quality and overall public health. Special attention will be paid to the impact of fungal growth and VOC emissions in relation to respiratory diseases. The ultimate objective is to formulate recommendations that promote the use of non-toxic, safer materials, and green architectural practices to improve public health outcomes.

To gather further insights into improving interior air quality and public health through sustainable building practices, we welcome articles addressing, but not limited to, the following themes:

- The relationship between building materials emissions and indoor air quality

- Strategies for mitigating VOC emissions in construction

- Prevention of fungi growth through better maintenance practices

- Health risk analysis of current building materials

- Innovations in green building materials and architecture

We invite submissions from across disciplines, including original research articles, reviews, case studies, and policy analyses, that contribute to a deeper understanding and solutions to these pressing public health challenges.

Article types and fees

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• ... View all formats

Articles that are accepted for publication by our external editors following rigorous peer review incur a publishing fee charged to Authors, institutions, or funders.

Article types

This Research Topic accepts the following article types, unless otherwise specified in the Research Topic description:

• Brief Research Report
• Community Case Study
• Curriculum, Instruction, and Pedagogy
• Data Report
• Editorial
• FAIR² Data
• General Commentary
• Hypothesis and Theory
• Methods
• Mini Review
• Opinion
• Original Research
• Perspective
• Policy Brief
• Review
• Study Protocol
• Systematic Review
• Technology and Code

Keywords: Indoor Air Quality, Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs), Fungal Growth, Respiratory Diseases, Green Building Materials

Important note: All contributions to this Research Topic must be within the scope of the section and journal to which they are submitted, as defined in their mission statements. Frontiers reserves the right to guide an out-of-scope manuscript to a more suitable section or journal at any stage of peer review.