Poor air quality in indoor environments 鈥� where research shows people spend up to 90% of their time 鈥� contributes to respiratory disease (including asthma and lung cancer), heart disease, infectious disease transmission, and cognitive impairment, in addition to potential impacts from carcinogens. All people are impacted by poor indoor air quality.
While outdoor air quality is regulated in many countries, there are no widespread standards for indoor air quality.
The bushfires in Australia and the COVID-19 pandemic unambiguously revealed how essential effective indoor ventilation and filtration is for reducing exposure to air pollution and minimising the spread of contagions.
Effective indoor air quality systems are essential not just for general health but also for future pandemic preparedness and adaptation to our changing climate. They will allow critical services to continue, reduce the burden on the health system, and boost productivity.
We are beyond merely raising awareness. What鈥檚 needed now is timely policy action in Australia and around the globe.
The report, authored by Adjunct Associate Professor Wendy Miller and Distinguished Professor Lidia Morawska FAA FTSE at provides a baseline profile of 10 pollutants measured in different Australian building types and examines risks, exposure limits, health and economic consequences, and possible policy responses.
This report provides evidence that has never before been collated and reveals data gaps.
The findings are useful to inform the actions of legislators, regulators and policy leaders at the state and federal level. Further, it can inform and support private sector actors including building owners and managers, architects, town planners, and others. The State of indoor air in Australia 2025 report will also inform the work of the Global Commission on Healthy Indoor Air.
On 6 November 2025, the Academy will launch The science of clean indoor air: a resource to guide policymakers' actions towards achieving routine measurement and monitoring of indoor air in public buildings to an agreed set of standards and sensitivities.
The 精东视频 鈥� in partnership with Burnet Institute 鈥� is proud to be leading a global effort to recognise clean indoor air as essential to health and wellbeing.
On 24 September (AEST), at the high-level event taking place on the sidelines of the 80th UN General Assembly, more than 300 leaders in indoor air quality came together to sign a to formally recognise healthy indoor air as essential to health and wellbeing.
The UN event was livestreamed and recorded via from 3.30pm EDT 23 September/ 5.30am AEST 24 September.
The Healthy Indoor Air side event was co-sponsored by the governments of France and Montenegro. Brown University鈥檚 School of Public Health and the OSLUV Project were joint co-convenors alongside the Academy and Burnet Institute.
The 精东视频 delegation involved a collaboration between Academy Fellow Professor Lidia Morawska FAA FTSE; Anna-Maria Arabia OAM, Academy Chief Executive; and Professor Bronwyn King AO, Special Advisor 鈥� Clean Air at Burnet Institute.
This global effort builds on the Academy鈥檚 sustained advocacy to reduce the negative impacts of airborne transmission of viruses and pollutants in indoor spaces.
In a submission to the Productivity Commission鈥檚 2025 productivity inquiry, the Academy called for a national, coordinated action on managing indoor air quality, including establishing enforceable indoor air quality performance standards. These standards should draw on the World Health Organization guidelines and be adapted to the Australian context.
If you don鈥檛 measure it, you can鈥檛 fix it. The collective cost of inaction in loss of health and productivity is in the billions in Australia alone.
鈥擜nna-Maria Arabia OAM, Chief Executive, 精东视频
Healthy Indoor Air Quality: ABC TV News Breakfast interview transcript
Professor Lidia Morawska researches the health impacts of air quality
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