Texas A&M Researchers Push For Policies To Improve Indoor Air Quality
New policy paper from Biosecurity and Pandemic Policy Center and Brown University outlines strategies to improve ventilation, reduce disease transmission and bolster crisis resilience.
Researchers at the Biosecurity and Pandemic Policy Center at Texas A&M University contributed to a recently released publication that analyzes policy levers available to improve indoor air quality. The paper, produced in collaboration with the Brown University Pandemic Center, has been accepted for publication in Health Security.
The paper, which builds on a workshop co-hosted by Texas A&M and Brown University, explores how policymakers at the state and federal levels can act to improve indoor air quality.
According to the authors, indoor air quality (IAQ) is a cornerstone of public health: with Americans spending roughly 90% of their time indoors, substandard ventilation and filtration contribute directly to chronic conditions such as asthma, cardiovascular disease and neurological ailments. Studies have linked high levels of fine particulate matter (PM2.5) and volatile organic compounds to increased hospitalizations, reduced academic performance in children and a measurable burden on health care systems.
The paper further argues that the COVID‑19 pandemic highlighted how poor IAQ is not only a chronic hazard but also a vehicle for acute infectious threats. Inadequate air exchange and outdated HVAC systems amplify airborne transmission of respiratory pathogens, compromising both everyday well‑being and resilience in crises. Improving IAQ therefore offers a dual benefit: it mitigates chronic disease risks while strengthening defenses against future outbreaks, yielding healthier populations and more robust infrastructure.
The authors present four strategic policy recommendations. First, they urge the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and allied federal offices to develop voluntary, health‑based IAQ guidelines — establishing clear metrics for indoor pollutants such as CO₂ and PM2.5. Second, they recommend supporting state and local governments in adopting these standards through the creation of a national model IAQ code, targeted technical assistance programs and financial incentives like tax credits and grant funding to underwrite ventilation upgrades.
Third, the paper calls for sector‑specific standards tailored to high‑impact environments: integrating continuous IAQ monitoring and enhanced filtration into schools; codifying minimum air‑change rates within infection-prevention programs for nursing homes; updating criteria in the Department of Defense’s Unified Facilities Criteria to safeguard military readiness; and adopting best‑practice ventilation guidelines to curb workplace and public‑transport transmission for employers and transit agencies. Fourth, the authors highlight the need for a coordinated research agenda — proposing the establishment of a national Center for Preventing Airborne Disease and standardized protocols for testing and certifying air‑cleaning devices — to close knowledge gaps and accelerate innovation.
By unifying these approaches into a coherent roadmap, the paper addresses long‑standing fragmentation in indoor air policy. Its recommendations offer policymakers — from federal rule‑makers to local code enforcers — a clear framework for raising building performance nationwide. The proposed guidelines, model codes and incentives are designed to catalyze cross‑sector collaboration, drive market demand for healthy‑building technologies and sustain progress over time.
The Biosecurity and Pandemic Policy Center and the Brown University Pandemic Center have released a two‑page brief summarizing the paper’s key findings and recommended actions.
